@neonfoxtongue: Kudos on your monthly money chats! Finances can be a sore subject, and it’s interesting to see how other couples proactively manage things.

My husband and I are also tackling our money issues – though the roles are reversed for us. I pay off my credit cards each month, but can be a bit too miserly with money; he had some debt, hates discussing money and has daily Starbucks cravings he trying to conquer. Right now, our goal is to discuss our finances and spending in non-emotional ways. We’re scheduling twice monthly ‘money chats’ so we know where we are financially and can ensure that the bills will be paid. We keep emotions neutral and try our best to see the other’s point of view on our spending. The money chats are also a good time to make decisions about joint-spending – e.g. how much will be spend on so-and-so’s wedding gift, should we get tickets to that play we keep meaning to see, etc. I’m hoping to make this a part of our routine and help my guy get over his avoidance of money issues and help me to be a bit more generous with myself and others spending-wise.