Financial troubles and lack of communication are the top reasons couples file for divorce, according to marriage.com, said licensed financial advisor Susan Wieneke. Budgets are important, she said, as is learning how to talk about finances.
Talking about finances it not natural at all, she said. “It needs to be practiced.”
Susan Wieneke
Wieneke also serves as part of a “mentor couple” for marriage preparation, which includes discussing finances. She recently joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley for show that debuts 9 a.m. Aug. 6 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM to discuss good budgeting and financial management, including tips for young adults and couples starting out.
Wieneke suggested that couples put all the money issues on the table: spending habits, financial goals, income, potential for growth and debt. “Don’t hide anything,” she said. “There doesn’t need to be an agreement on all of the goals. You will have several goals but it’s important your spouse knows that.”
Giving an example from her life, Wieneke said she and her husband agreed they would travel to visit relatives and to all of their children’s games. When their son made a Canadian football team, they still wanted to travel to his games. Driving was more affordable than flying, so they bought a minivan. “That was an agreed-upon goal, so we could go ahead and achieve that goal,” she said. “But not everything is going to be agreed upon.”
While many young adults have expenses like college loan payments in addition to other expenses of daily living, Wieneke stressed the importance of young people to give as well — and that the most important, number one budget item is tithing.
“While the Church doesn’t prescribe a set amount,” she said, “we are to be good stewards sharing our money, time and talent.” Tithing is something to prayerfully consider and to think of a gift as a witness to the power of trusting God with money, she said. “It can teach us detachment from worldly things, and taking care of each other.”
Setting tithing as the number one budget item helps flow the rest of a budget, Wieneke said, as far as how much people will pay for other things. “And it will change your mindset.”
Wieneke mentioned one piece of financial advice she wishes she would have learned when she was younger. To learn what it is and other helpful budgeting tips, and to hear the full interview with more budgeting advice, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic.” It also airs on Relevant Radio at 1 p.m. Aug. 7 and 2 p.m. Aug. 8.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with retired Delta Airlines executive Bill Lentsch, who describes his role starting Oct. 1 as the archdiocese’s chief operating officer, and Dianne Johnson, retired registered nurse and founder of the Curatio apostolate, who is joined by Katherine Haik, Curatio president.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at:
soundcloud.com/PracticingCatholic
tinyurl.com/PracticingCatholic (Spotify)
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