However you plan your finances, always make certain that you have a little put aside for the inevitable rainy day. In these days of economic uncertainty, many suddenly lose their jobs. Even the best workers can find their positions fold up overnight. It is nice to know that you have a few dollars salted away against such an experience, for ‘ ‘it can’t happen to me” simply may reverse itself one day, and you find yourself alone on the pavement, jobless.
Also, one never knows when sickness o: adversity may strike. It is always nice to have some funds that you can call on in a hurry if need be.
Make sure that each partner has a certain amount of money “for your own personal needs.” No wife likes begging for a few dollars for a new dress. Even those living on a tight budget should allow something for the little personal extras that make life livable. Birthday, Christmas, wedding gifts; the odds and ends; dental accounts; extra costs related to unexpected guests; a sudden trip that was not anticipated; things for in-laws and relatives. The list can be quite large. These things must come into your budgeting. Often, unless these things are considered and taken into account, trouble may start here and quickly increase.
Finance is often cited in divorce cases as being a big factor in breeding marital unhappiness. It is sad to see this happen, for in most cases it is totally unnecessary. A sensible partnership, working together in harmony, should be able to take care of the finances in a manner that suits both.
I must mention here that often one partner is obviously better at handling money than the other. Often it is a good idea to let the more financially astute member take care of the overall financial situation.
Many wives make excellent financiers. They frequently run rings around men, when it comes to balancing the budget, doing the banking, working out the finer details, caring for the income-tax returns, and so on. If this is so, husband, don’t think your wife is ‘ ‘taking over.” Sensible husbands will realize the value of a woman with these capabilities and happily let her take the financial reins and look after the books, often completely.
Do not think you are giving up your manliness, or masculinity, or surrendering your position as head of the house. You are not. You are being smart and merely “delegating responsibility.” Most bright general managers of major businesses learnt years ago that the task of delegating responsibility is the smartest move they ever made. What G.M. could be bothered with the hack work of running the company’s books? Hardly one. He is more interested in the total concept.
Get this idea into your head, and you are way ahead. Likewise, the wife shouldn’t feel that she is being given a boring assignment of merely routine work. If this is her special capability, she should be proud to be able to look after the finances of the “company”—the husband-and-wife partnership. It is a responsibility of no mean order, and many women thrive on it.
In any case, the situation will often become obvious. Sharing, being sensible, being in agreement and happy with what is taking place are all very important features of the family budgeting system.
With care and common sense, virtually any married couple today can achieve most of the comfort and financial pleasures that they so desire.
*22/76/5*
