On Marriage and Money

December 7, 2009 at 5:55 pm, by Jennifer Castoro

As the Great Recession (Depression? Obsession? Sick-of-hearing-about-it-ession?) of 2009 nears its (hopeful) end, it’s only natural to take stock of what went down, pardon the pun, this past year and where we stand now. And according to the State of Our Unions report from the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia (phew!), we’re standing a bit closer to our spouses than we were before the poo flew. Their findings showed that tough times encourage family solidarity and, subsequently, a decrease in divorce. Not too shocking. The report also notes that disagreements over money are a big predictor of a split. (Read our piece on how to talk about money with your husband so you don’t squabble over it, too!) And, not surprisingly, the report found that “thrifty” couples are the happiest. Apparently, a large credit-card balance = wedded doom.

So, has the Great Belt-Tightening of 2009 brought you closer to your hubby? Or are you finding yourselves stressed to the max?

(As always, you can check out our Can This Marriage Be Saved? column for advice that’s helped other couples stay together, or search for a therapist to help you talk it out.)

2 Responses to “On Marriage and Money”

1. Written on December 7, 2009 at 9:15 pm, by Gena

   Always enjoy reading your columns!

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2. Written on December 11, 2009 at 12:41 pm, by Glynis Buschmann

   The economy has actually made my husband & I closer in various ways. We already have a very warm & loving relationship, but we are doing more things close to home. For the holidays, we are celebrating with family & friends rather than going away. Christmas gifts are more heartfelt, practical gifts than expensive ones. For New Year’s Eve, we are getting together with friends for appetizers & wine, rather than a big splashy party somewhere. Our focus has been more about spending time with people we care about than material things.

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