Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Money Leading Cause Of Marital Arguments

by Mary Freeman

Extension Communications Writer

Studies show that couples argue more about money than any other topic. There are ways to get a handle on both finances and conflicts, according to family resource management experts with Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.

Dr. Lynn Russell, a family resource specialist and Franklin County Family and Consumer Sciences agent Joy Buffalo, have collaborated on a series of 12 newsletters called `Marriage and Money.' The letters offer information on home buying, keeping records, handling credit, investing and shopping.

Buffalo and Russell made sure the letters didn't just offer passive information.

"I think the thing that's most useful are the activities. It's not straight reading," Russell says. "We wanted to encourage both parties to think about finances," adding that "we wanted them to look at these and do them together."

The newsletters are available through county Extension Service officers and are also being provided to county clerks' offices for couples applying for a marriage license, Russell says.

The first in the series of newsletters helps couples communicate about money by encouraging them to discuss their values. The newsletter offers a checklist of items and asks the husband and wife to say which items he or she believes are "essential;" "important but nonessential," and "possible to eliminate."

The next step is establishing spending goals. The goals should be stated in specific items, such as, "We will save $10 each week." The goals also should specify a time frame, "In six months we will save $200," and be attainable.

And no matter how much love there is between husband and wife, there will be conflict.

The newsletter also provides eight guidelines for arguments. These range from "Choose words carefully. Avoid words that may be misunderstood," to "Stick to the issue. Avoid dragging other points into the discussion."

For more information about the Marriage and Money" series, contact your county agent.