MONEY MATTERS

raditionally, in India, couples have mostly been regarded as a single unit when it comes to financial planning. Sharing the financial gains and burdens becomes part and parcel of married life. There are individual traits when it comes to handling finances, and they can be an asset or a deal breaker in a relationship. This arises due to different saving and expenditure habits; and not being able to come to a common consensus. A 2014 revealed that 70 per cent of married couples fought over money, and it ranked ahead of chores, sex, togetherness, amongst other reasons. On the financial front, 55 per cent couples argued over expenditure, 37 per cent on saving habits, 21 per cent on financial deceit, and 11 per cent on being excluded from any finance-related decisions. So, is there a right or wrong way of dealing with finances as a couple? Read on.