Discussing money in relationships shouldn’t be awkward
Dear lovers — married or would be married — let’s have a little money talk. There are conversations on various matters that concern couples, so many that seem to crowd out an important aspect of relationships — money. This is probably due to the view of money conversations being awkward.
Having awkwardness related to such an important conversation would make people shy away from it, and this can have adverse effects. What if you could have the conversation in a fun and interesting manner through money dates?
Let us show you how this can work with four simple steps.
1. Keep the romance: Go on money dates
Though it is money talk, you don’t want it to be all rigid and boring by making the atmosphere tense and setting the wrong pace for conversations. You can choose to have an affordable fun outing that ends up with dinner. Alternatively, especially if you are married, you can decide to cook each other’s favourite meals and have fun at that. The idea is to keep the atmosphere beautiful and calm.
2. Stick to a schedule
With so much happening around us these days, we can unintentionally forget even the most important things. In order not to fall into this 21st-century trap you should commit to reminding each other about the date in a fun way. You can step up your game by setting secret love alarms on your partner’s phone; popping up a few days to the date. The alarms should have short beautiful heartfelt messages and a reminder attached.
3. Discuss your money goals together
If you want to be serious about financial progress, you have to set goals. Starting an investment plan, together or individually, is a good way to realize your financial goals in a rewarding manner. If you don’t have financial goals you are building up for already you can set one and review on subsequent money dates. For reviews, you would both get to assess how well you are doing with your commitments and how to improve if there is a need to.
You can set up a joint savings account with your loved one, using Circles.
4. Start a budget game
Even though you might invest together, you would spend individually. A date like this presents a good time to assess individual spending. It is a moment for individual reflections, and not a time to castigate one another. So take turns to speak and encourage each other to do better where there is slack. You can design individual budgets and grow together.
Taking out time to speak about your money would not only help improve your financial life but help reduce stress and anxiety according to Brittney Castro; a financial expert. Also, it would help promote transparency between both of you and that would help strengthen your bond. You should get started with it and share your experience with us when you do; if you don’t mind.
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Hello Ope…thanks for your writings…can you come talk to a group on WhatsApp?
I learnt a lot from this. I will put this points into practice soon…
Awesome! Thanks for reading.??
This is an apt reminder. Thank you
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It was nice write up I learnt alot okay
Great to hear!
Thanks for this. Teaching my kids abot money is a priority to me.
This write-up is good for the week. We meeeuv!!!!
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This message is a timely one for me, even though I’ve begun practising a few of the aforementioned tips.
It’s a great way to begin the week and it comes at the right time as end of the month approaches.
Thanks guys!
It’s always a delight to receive an email from my favorite financial adviser, Ope, because she always has something relevant, thought provoking and practical to say and offer about my (your) finances.
Truth be told my financial education and wellbeing has improved ever since I joined Cowrywise. Thanks to Ope with her gentle forcefulness. Lol. I am now more savings, budget and investment oriented. Only regret is why I didn’t come across Cowrywise sooner. Where have you been all my life??
I still have a long way to go to make up for lost time but, baby steps.
Uwésè (Thank you in Bini)
Baby steps can lead to much progress!??
Why are you so sure that Ope is female though??
You’re welcome GOC.?
Stale yeahh?
But, I can bet Ope is a female.
I relate so much to your talks. If I’m not learning something new, I’m realizing I’m not the only one who thinks this way ??
Good morning
Pls want logging into my Cowrywise
Is not going mam/sir
Pls help out
You can afford it doesn’t mean you should buy it, is it really necessary? Think!
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Spending a huge chunk of money on liabilities.
This is a major bad money habit too.
Thanks for sharing it, Ajayi.
Thank you. This is really helpful
Thank you, Ope.
10. Don’t compare yourself with other people.
People often spend money on what is not needed trying to please friends, family and colleagues. To cultivate a good saving habit you have to start living your life as a self-life, not public life. If you don’t have it now does mean you will never have it. Life na turn by turn, go through life at your own pace. Life is sweeter when don’t live to please anybody.
“Life is sweeter when don’t live to please anybody.”
This point on comparing one’s self is such a good point. Thanks for sharing it.
Please I didn’t not received my referred bonus payment to my stash while other people have received their own what is the problems please
This is copacetic.
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Great job
How do we hack black tax?
Hi Ifeoma.
This blog post on Black Tax might help – https://cowrywise.com/blog/black-tax/
Thanks for golden , professional advice. How can l go about Halal investment plan
Candidly, no 6 is on point. Spending errors are stringent but not in the real sense of it. One is guilty of that. I learnt from all 9 points. Kudos
This is so apt! Ope, you need to address how we can say NO (and not feel quilty) to family issues that are springing up. They are the cause of my savings depleting. *sobs*. Thank you for sharing this. Always love to read from you.
Hi Oyepeju.
Gloria shares how locking up her savings helps her say no without feeling guilty in this article – https://cowrywise.com/blog/chose-cowrywise/
This article on Black Tax might also help – https://cowrywise.com/blog/black-tax/
I hope both help!
Thanks for the education Ope.
You’re welcome, Marv Annie.
This is really the message for the now.
We need to imbibe the culture of savings and inculcate it into our children at a very tender age if possible include the culture into our value system even in our school curriculum.
Very timely piece.
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This is informative
I’ve learnt a lot. Thanks and keep it up.
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Insightful !
I needed to be reminded of this very important truth. Thanks alot
Thanks alot Ope, good one.
How can I see my deposit
Hi Henry.
You can see all your Savings/Investment or Stash funds when you log into your Cowrywise profile.
Which specific deposit are you referring to, please?
Timely words
Thanks ope
Thanks for this insight it is a good one and i know it will help me because I have struggle alot on how how to to gain financial freedom.
I appreciate this great information and financial education. It has given me insight into my financial plan. thanks.
This piece will be really helpful. Thank you for sharing Ope
Truth be told,i saw one of my bussiness partner using this app for saving money and I be like WTF am app is this, he then explain to me And I be like wow?then I started using the app, I won’t lie here, my financial life changed immediately for good,how can I thank cowrywise,
Thanks to the organizers?♀?♀
Yeah ope…..that investment part about buying point (ARM Or so)….ion understand….pls could you put me through
Thanks for the charge
This is very great, insightful and helpful.The lessons were very instructive and many salient points to note.Please is there a WhatsApp group cowry wise created or perhaps you did.I would love to join.Thanks so much.
Pls I really need hlpe
Wow, this so encouraging, I think I have to stick to it. Thanks
? rooting for you!
Hi Ope, I want to start emergency savings. What percentage of my income do I save . Been battling with this …
Hi Jesutofunmi.
There’s a guide that breaks it down for you. Here it is – https://cowrywise.com/blog/emergency-funds-savings-work/
Though there’s no one size fits all, it is advised you save up to six months of living expenses.
This is so that if anything ever happens, you’re covered for at least six months!
Thanks Alot Ope.
No 8 really got me.
This is awesome. . Thank you for this insight. I want to know more about the automatic save and invest. Is it that as I make payment in my cowrywise account , it’s automatically save and automatically invest. Please shed more light
I have never been tutored like this all my years. This is exactly my problem but now cowrywise is my deliverer.
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Thank you cowrywise. You are a true financial saviour
Learnt a lot from those, my bad habit is 2:- spending more than I earn.. The article is really nice.. Thank you Ope.
Thank you Ope, this is insightful I’m definitely going to start breaking this bad habits
Thanks for the piece!!!
In the case of a University student who is yet to start earning or probably earn but not so much.
What advice would you give to the person about Cowrywise and bad money habits
I have learnt a lot. Thank you Ope I’ll start saving better and setting more goals
Energyyyyyy ??
If I thought cowrywise will have a children’s school I could have get admission for them, because it teacher a lot of way out of poverty .I’m very comfortable with cowrywise,God will continue to leaft you up as you’re trying to leaft us up.
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Thank you cowrywise ?? For clearing bad habits
Anytime ??
Thank you ?? For clearing bad habits
I learnt a lot from this. Thank you?
I semt money into my account I have not seen it what’s the problem
Hello Daniel, I’m sorry about that. Please has this been rectified now? If not, please send us an email at support@cowrywise.com. Looking forward to help ?
Nice one ope. Kinda like cowrywise now. Pray it blossoms more. I’m actually a student. 100 level but I have big dreams ahead. No income though but I’m saving from my allowance. Don’t know and still thinking of the possible best income. I don’t wanna go into fraud. But I’ll make it someway. I believe. Thanks for the piece of advise
I’m rooting for you and all your (legal) money moves ???
10. Impulse Buying : Don’t buy anything you don’t plan for especially all those Pre order shoes , Bags , dresses we buy online, we might think it is ‘awoof’ but something you don’t plan for still doesn’t worth buying at all.let’s make plans and put a stop to impulse purchase.
Thank you Ope for all tips.
Financial intelligence, is the ability to control ones expenses. Do spend your money in asset than lability. For asset, are those things that puts money in our pocket and labilities are those that takes money out of our pocket. Thanks to you all.
All this are great write up thank you Ope!
I uses PiggyVest but I don’t know how to use the investment features of this Cowrywise app.
A guide will be so much appreciated by me?
I understand my mistake and I’m very thankful for reminding me!
@ope thank you very much for this piece. Just started using this app but kinda like it.
Just that i don’t know how to use the investment plan
Hmm! What an eye opener. Thanks
Sure!
How can I get loan to enjoy this business because me I don’t understand I can place orders app
I have just been tutored by you, I hope to be financially wiser henceforth.
Good advice
Great advice. Thanks for this. People also need to stop spending immediately an dime enters their pocket.
Great advice. Thanks for this. People also need to stop spending immediately an dime enters their pocket.
Wow, thank you for the advice.
Thanks doesn’t seem enough to express how I feel right now. Just know am deeply grateful. God bless you Ope. Am taking baby steps already!
What an eye opener…. More grace Open.
Wow!! I love this write up…I really learnt a lot from it
Thank you Ope for this wonderful reminder. I’m sure to put them into practice ASAP
I’ll recommend the book rich Dad poor dad by Robert kiyosaki. Most of the bad Money habits listed in the article above, was derived from this book. You will find more of bad money mistakes you should avoid in the book written by Robert.
Great
This is just a trick of wooing you to save your money with them. Saving money has never made anyone grow. The risk inherent in Saving is very low, therefore, you earn low return. Saving is not a good investment, channel your money into a productive venture where high returns can be earned.
Ask them for how much interest they will pay on your savings, I can bet it with anyone, it won’t be more than 10% per annum, however, if you are taking loan from, you’ll be deceived with single digit interest rate. E.g 3% flat, which is equivalent to almost 36% per annum. Arithmetically, they will make over 26% on your hard earned money you’re saving with them. My people, please be wise and shine your eyes. These people are just ripping you off. Use your money for productive business venture, you will earn higher returns from it. However, the risk is very high. As I said earlier, high risk begets high returns, while low risk ventures earn low returns.
Thanks for this
Thank you very much