Think about what you should be doing with respect to your financial health. Here are some suggestions to consider putting on your list. You might derive the most benefit from discussing this with your spouse. If you really want to be adventurous, invite another couple to discuss it with you.
1. Do you have an up-to-date will. For the sake of your family, stop making excuses and get this done now.
2. However small it is, develop a savings plan and take it off the top. Even a little bit, consistently done, will build up.
3. Arrange to have some paid up life insurance on you and your spouse for the sake of your children.
4. You and your spouse should jointly prepare at least a general budget that gives you a plan for how to use your income.
5. Do you have a line for fun in that budget?
6. Explore how some pretax dollar arrangements can benefit you without costing the church more money. It can, for example, be used to buy that life insurance.
7. If your children are first grade and above, it would be of value to show them your budget so that they understand what the parameters are.
8. See if you can set aside wedding and funeral honorariums for special family experiences.
9. Both you and your spouse should share the stories of how money was handled in your family of origin and identify some hot-button subjects from those experiences that will help each of you do a better job of discussing your own finances.
10. Determine as a family some main priorities of your charitable giving. If you establish a percentage that you are going to give away, it will help as you decide whether you can respond to the multiple requests that come your way.
11. Do you and your spouse have a system for paying bills and keeping financial records that keeps you both aware of your financial health?
12. Consider having a financial planner review your finances and guide you and your spouse in planning for the future.
Financial realities are often a source of tension within marriages. Consider these and other actions that might enable you and your spouse to strengthen your partnership in facing such challenges.
