Nothing beats being financially fit. You’ve just found this out and ready to do all it takes to become financially fit, but the challenge is how to convince your SO. This is quite understandable; your SO is probably not aware or ready for the changes that will come with this decision. Perhaps, if they know, they will also be as thrilled as you are. But do you know that there are ways you can bring your SO on board this journey? Yes, there are, and this is what we will be discussing in this piece.
1. Be clear about your goals
You owe your SO a detailed explanation of your financial goals. This should be done at a time and place you both find convenient. This talk should center entirely on your goals. Make them understand this is not pursuance of some selfish interests but a sacrifice to a better future.
Demonstrate your resolve and drive home your points using certain phrases like “I really want…” or “My goal is…” For instance, you could say, “My goal is to be debt-free in six months, so I want to commit $X to the servicing of the debt, and this will require some adjustments.”
For partners still in the dating phase, your financially fit goals might be personal. However, stating them expressly to your SO will make them understand and support rather than discouraging you. Conversely, married partners or those living together might have these as shared goals. In this case, deeper discussions might be required. However, the focus should always be the goals and not the reactions.
Being clear about them means there will not be any shame, blame, or resentment from either of you, both now and in the future.
2. Make your dreams inspiring
Rather than being all blunt about the changes that will come with your new dream, make it as inspiring as it can be. For instance, rather than saying, “I don’t think we will have eat-outs again,” you could say, “My goal is to take us on a romantic trip to Italy. So, I think we should reduce the frequency of our eat-outs to save some money for the trip.” The latter sounds better and inspiring compared to the former.
Come out first with the big dream, but never forget to add the sacrifices needed to make to make such dreams a reality. This will inspire you’re SO and make them relate with your vision. Ultimately, they can justify the sacrificial behavioral shifts that will come with such dreams. But when you put the sacrifices first, it may appear restrictive and undermining.
3. Identify each other’s strong points
Understanding each other’s strengths will help you to bring you SO onboard your financial journey. For instance, in the case where your partner is not a big fan of numbers, you would need to handle the budgeting. If cooking is not your strong point, but your SO is an excellent cook, then let them handle the cooking.
Once you have identified the strong and weak points, tackling the goals collectively becomes easier. The progress will be faster with no friction whatsoever; after all, you both know what is at stake.
4. Retain your non-negotiables, but frugal hack them
There are some aspects of your relationship that you just have to keep; they are the non-negotiables. However, you can find ways to cut costs on these things without altering the original intentions and results.
For instance, if your weekly date night is you non-negotiable, consider less-expensive arrangements rather than the usual expensive ones. Overall, the idea is to keep these activities and arrangements but at reduced costs. This will require some creativity, but in the end, it will be great for your budget.
5. Add some fun
You can make your SO an accountability partner; all you need is to make the whole arrangement fun. How about you both set great debt-payoff or savings goals and see who achieves theirs first? Introduce some simple reward systems, and have them come at specific milestones, for example, once you have saved or paid off $X. Another form of reward would be free “coupons,” where the winner of such coupons get special treatment, such as an in-house dinner or a weekend massage.
These will encourage both of you and keep you on track. You both need to be on the same page to be financially fit.
Take the first step
Getting started is always the hardest when it comes to life-changing decisions like this.
Click here to schedule a FREE 20-minute consult call with a member of our team, we will help you to get started and change your financial future.
