A Interview with my Wife on our Finances

My wife and I are a team. We’re constantly having to make sure we have good communication and stay on the same page. I’m looking forward to sharing with you a conversation I had with her regarding our finances!

John: When we started living radically to change our financial future, what was the hardest part for you initially?

Courtney: In the beginning, I had a problem following any financial guidelines. Before we got married, I didn’t give a thought to budgeting or planning out where my money went each month. I guess I just spent the way I wanted and hoped it would all work out.. a very scary way of living now that I look back on it! Rules were tough for me because I had never imposed them on myself financially, and it took a while for me to see that the budget we had agreed on together was actually something I had to follow… for real!

John: Is there anything we could have done to make that transition easier?

Courtney: I think that I would have done it the same way over again, but I would tell couples making this decision to change their financial habits to realize that the first few months are rough. Be patient with yourself and with your spouse, but don’t allow excuses.

John: What would you consider to be the largest contributing factor to financial security?

Courtney: Before we started living the way we are now, the words money and security in the same sentence were laughable to me. Talking about money or budgeting really stressed me out. Now that I know where every dollar is going, and seeing the emergency fund get bigger and bigger as a buffer between us and any emergency had provided a huge amount of security for me. Also, being to look back at the last few years and see the progress we have made gives me so much hope for continued financial success.

John: What is your favorite thing about our current financial plan?

Courtney: Other than the peace of mind it gives me to know that I don’t have to worry about our finances, the part that has been the most fun for me has been seeing how this process has grown me as a person. If you would have asked me to sit down and write a budget two or three years ago, it would have been like pulling teeth! Now I’m actually interested in financial topics and it’s FUN! It’s like an adventure that we’re on; a mission that we’ve deemed essential to accomplish. Not everyone understands our zeal for this mission, but that makes it fun too. I know our relationship has been strengthened significantly through this process, as well.

It’s been great to see how we balance each other in this area. John has always been the careful planner, both financially and in “real” life. I am the free spirit who’s tempted to just jump into something and then panic! I’m learning that every successful marriage has one planner and one free spirit; I’ve heard it said and sincerely believe that if you’re married to someone just like yourself, one of you is unnecessary! John’s careful planning and calculation has built us a very strong foundation and a great game plan, and my enthusiasm keeps pushing us forward. Seeing that process work itself out has been a blast.

John: Where do you see us ten years from now?

Courtney: Hopefully ten years from now we will be completely without debt! It seems s far away but we’re already making such encouraging progress. I can’t wait to see what it’s like not to have to pay the bank each month for our house. What freedom! I pray that God continues to bless us abundantly so that we can accomplish this goal and bless others in the process!