Marriage and Financial Compatibility

I’ve had a pretty interesting conversation yesterday with a newly engaged gentleman whom I’ve only known for the past year. He announced that he is engaged with his girlfriend and that they are getting married this June. After I gave him my congratulations and best wishes, he started to confide that he had to buy a 2 carat diamond ring because it’s was so important for his fiance. He continued to say that his soon-to-be-bride is also pressuring him to buy a $40,000 car because her dad doesn’t like his dependable rugged but well maintained vehicle. It’s obvious that he was more upset over giving up his vehicle that he has driven to different parts of the US. He said that he isn’t the type of person who likes to show-off and since his car still works he doesn’t see the point why he should take on a $600/month car note but he says he has to compromise which I think means he will be pressured into it. Then he continued to say that his soon-to-be-bride wants to buy a Rolex which he finds really outrageous even if he can afford it because he finds it very shallow to buy a $10,00 Rolex just to show people that they can afford it. He said that he’d rather spend the money to see some parts of the world which I can totally agree. Obviously, the couple have very different views when it comes to spending. But he says that he already wants to have a family that’s why he is getting married. I can’t help but feel nervous for his situation because as early as now he is being forced to do things that he doesn’t believe in.

The statistics in this country is for every 2 marriages, one ends up in a divorce. I believe that it’s very important for a couple to see eye-to-eye on major issues and one of them is money before they consider getting married. The fact that this gentleman was able to confide that he doesn’t like spending for frivolous stuff but he is getting pressured into doing so makes me wish him “Good Luck!”