Love and Money: The Dual Pillars of a Sustainable Marriage

As a much younger single lady, without thinking too much, I will probably go for the answer love as the sustainer and most vital ingredient in any marriage, while this is true, experience in my 8-year-old marriage and also learning from the experience of others as well has thought me better that both love and Money are the very key ingredient to a sustainable marriage.

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When considering or embarking on marriage, the vast majority of couples rightly emphasize the love and emotional connection between partners as crucial. After all, without genuine affection, intimacy, romance, and friendship, a marriage may feel quite hollow. However, another practical aspect requiring attention is financial stability. Some couples especially in Africa think it's taboo to discuss money in romantic terms, the truth is money impacts married life profoundly. Not only does financial struggle add massive stress that can break a relationship, but differences around spending styles and financial priorities if not discussed prior to marriage for a better understanding of each other's expectations. That's why both nurturing lasting love between spouses as well as building financial responsibility together constitute key ingredients for marital success.

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Let's talk about love

I listen to some singles these days especially ladies emphasizing on their spouse to be very rich before considering marriage, what sustains you when you hit a financial storm in marriage? That's love, believe it or not, life is all about ups and downs, the reason why the "for better for worse" comes in between vows. Marriage is an intimate relationship whereby partners commit to journeying through life’s ups and downs side-by-side. Sustaining emotional closeness by continually expressing affection, making time for quality conversation, retaining a sense of humor, seeking mutual understanding, and ultimately knowing each other, as well as oneself, comprises the nourishing soil from which marital fulfillment blossoms. Without love binding couples and giving them faith to weather inevitable outside storms together, relationships often flounder. The reason we have high rates of divorce these days is because of the love of money, rather than the spouse they married, financial blessings mean little if not shared with someone special, because when there is no money, the marriage hits the rock, we see that happening every day.

Money ignites the spark

Whole love sustains a marriage in down moments, but that doesn't mean it has to be down the whole time, how do you feel as an individual when you can fulfill your financial responsibilities, happy and fulfilled right, then imagine doing this alongside your spouse, money drives dreams, including shared aspirations couples nourish. Envisioning and strategically saving for goals like pursuing educational opportunities, launching entrepreneurial ventures, traveling to coveted destinations, purchasing or building first homes, or even basic desires like retiring comfortably or sending your children to college can not happen without money. While the excessive emphasis on accumulating wealth risks reducing the quality of life, when partners openly discuss financial hopes and form strategic budgets together, they have means to fund more fulfilling marriages aligned with deeper values. Whether simple or lavish, money spent consciously allows couples to experience cherished events and lifestyles far outstripping what either could independently. Shared investment thereby fuels opportunities to bond through fresh adventures

Marriage cannot be reduced to only a romantic fairytale or pragmatic financial partnership. At its richest, matrimony intertwines emotional and practical support to create a true marriage. When sustained by continued affection and financial stability, the lifelong promise of loyalty in sickness and health, through adversity and joy, indeed offers a foundation upon which to thrive for decades if not the proverbial death do us part. With active dedication from both individuals to meet each other’s intimate needs as well as exercising mutual responsibility in monetary matters, trust grows. In an increasingly complex and uncertain world, establishing this bedrock provides priceless value.