How To Manage Money With Your Spouse When You Earn More

When it comes to managing your money, there can be a lot of challenges if you and your spouse have different incomes.

If you’re the primary breadwinner in your family, it can be tough to manage your money when your spouse earns less. You may feel like you have to carry the financial burden yourself, and this can put a lot of stress on your relationship.

So, how can you manage your money as a couple when one of you earns more than the other.

Here are some tips to get started.

1. Talk to your spouse about money management goals

The first step is to talk to your spouse about your financial goals. This is important because you need to be on the same page in order to make sound financial decisions as a couple. Sit down and discuss what you both want to achieve financially.

Come to an understanding about shared money goals

What are your goals? Do you want to save for a house, a new car, or retirement? Do you want to pay off debt? Do you want to build up your emergency fund?

Once you know what your shared goals are, you can start working together to come up with a plan to achieve them.

Be supportive of each other’s financial goals

If your spouse wants to save up for a big purchase, or start investing for a business, be supportive of their goals. Help them come up with a plan to reach their goals, and offer encouragement along the way.

Discuss how much each of you should save each month

This will depend on your income, your expenses, and your goals. You may want to have a certain percentage of your income automatically deposited into savings each month. Or you may want to set up a budget and save a certain amount each month. Whatever you decide, make sure you’re both on the same page.

If one of you is earning a lot more than the other, it’s important to be fair. You may want to contribute a larger percentage of your income, or you may want to split everything evenly. Talk about what feels right for both of you and make sure you’re both comfortable with the arrangement.

Remember, communication is key when it comes to managing your money as a couple. By talking about your goals and working together to create a plan, you can make sure you’re both on the same page and working towards a shared goal.

Watch this video to know how to create a financial plan like you’re building your financial home.

2. Create a budget that reflects both of your incomes

The next step is to create a budget that reflects both of your incomes. This will help you make sure you’re spending wisely and not overspending.

Include all sources of income

When you’re creating a budget, it’s important to include all sources of income. This may include your salary, your spouse’s salary, interest from investments, and any other sources of money that come in.

Make sure you’re including all sources of income so you can get an accurate picture of your financial situation. This will help you make better decisions about how to spend and save your money.

Track spending for one month

The best way to create a budget is to track your spending for at least one month. This will give you a good idea of where your money goes and where you may be able to cut back.

There are a few different ways you can track your spending. You can use a budgeting app, write down everything you spend in a notebook, or use a spreadsheet.

Whichever method you choose, just make sure you’re including everything. This includes small purchases, like coffee or snacks, as well as bigger expenses, like rent or groceries.

Determine necessary expenses

Once you’ve tracked your spending for a month, you can start to determine which expenses are necessary and which ones you can cut back on.

Necessary expenses are those that you need in order to live, like housing, food, and transportation. You may also need to include things like child care or medical expenses.

Non-necessary expenses are things that you don’t necessarily need, like entertainment, clothes, or travel. You can cut back on these expenses if you need to save money.

Some expenses may be both necessary and non-necessary. For example, you may need a car to get to work, but you may not need a luxury car. It’s up to you to decide where you want to cut back.

Cut back on discretionary spending

Once you’ve determined your necessary expenses, you can start to cut back on your discretionary spending or make some changes to your lifestyle in order to save money.

For example, you may need to cook at home more often, or you may need to find free or cheaper entertainment options.

Stick to your budget

Once you’ve created your budget, it’s important to stick to it. This may mean making some sacrifices, but it will be worth it in the long run.

If you find yourself struggling to stick to your budget, there are a few things you can do to make it easier.

1. First, try breaking your budget down into smaller amounts. For example, you may want to set a weekly budget instead of a monthly one.

2. Second, make sure you have a plan for what you’ll do with any extra money. This way, you won’t be tempted to spend it on something unnecessary.

3. Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself if you do overspend. Just try to do better next time.

Reevaluate the budget monthly

It’s a good idea to reevaluate your budget on a monthly basis. This will help you make sure that your budget is still realistic and that you’re still on track to meet your financial goals.

If you find that your budget isn’t working, don’t be afraid to make some changes. You may need to adjust your budget as your income or expenses change.

Making and sticking to a budget can be a challenge, but it’s worth it. Having a budget will help you take control of your finances and reach your financial goals.

To get started in budgeting, you can download my FREE budgeting templates or watch my budgeting videos on Pinay Investor YouTube Channel.

3. Keep communication open

It can be difficult to manage money when you and your spouse have different incomes. You may feel like you need to keep track of every peso you spend, while your spouse may not be as concerned about money.

That’s why it’s important to keep the lines of communication open when you’re managing your money as a couple. If one of you is feeling stressed about money, talk about it. If there’s an issue with your budget, don’t be afraid to bring it up.

Talk about how you will manage your money jointly

It’s important to talk about how you will manage your money jointly. You may want to put all of your income into a joint account, or you may want to keep separate accounts and contribute a certain percentage of your income to the household expenses.

Figure out what works best for both of you and stick to that plan.

Create a Joint Account

One way to do this is to create a joint account for all of your expenses. This way, you can both see where your money is going and make sure that you’re on the same page when it comes to spending.

Give each other an allowance

Another option is to give each other a certain amount of money each month to spend as you please. This can help to avoid arguments about money and allow each of you to have some financial independence.

Don’t keep secrets about your finances

It’s important to be honest with your spouse about your finances. If you’re hiding debt or spending money behind their back, it will only cause problems in your relationship.

Be open and honest with each other about your finances and work together to find a solution that works for both of you.

Work together to make financial decisions

When it comes to making financial decisions, it’s important to work together as a team. Discuss any major purchases or investments before you make them, and consider each other’s opinions. You should also have a plan for dealing with debt so that you’re both on the same page.

Seek professional help if you need it

If you’re having trouble managing your money, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. There are many resources available to help you get your finances on track.

You can talk to a financial advisor, take a personal finance class, or read books or articles about money management. Whatever you do, make sure you’re getting the help you need to manage your money in a way that works for you and your spouse.

READ: 10 Tips for Creating Financial Harmony in Your Marriage

Final Thoughts

Money is one of the most common sources of tension in a relationship, and it can be even more challenging to manage money when you and your spouse have different incomes. That’s why it’s important to communicate openly about money and work together to come up with a plan that works for both of you.

If you’re the one earning more money, it’s important to be respectful of your spouse’s feelings and not to make them feel like they are less important.

One way to do this is to make sure that you are both on the same page when it comes to finances. This means being transparent about your income, spending, debts, and savings. It also means having regular conversations about financial goals and planning for the future.

If you can approach money management as a team, it will be easier to reach your financial goals and maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse.

Do you and your spouse have different incomes? How do you manage money with your spouse without ending up having arguments? Let me know in the comments below.