by Starla Ross

Created on: November 23, 2009   Last Updated: June 01, 2011

It seems opposites always attract. Quirky attributes that lead one spouse to another during the dating years sometimes seem distracting (or even downright annoying) after five years, two children, and a puppy. Money seems to be one of those topics where both spouses bring differing attitudes and habits with them to the marriage.

It is a widely-accepted fact many marriages have been broken by arguments over money. One spouse may be a spender, and the other a saver. One spouse may not see the importance of paying bills on time, while one has a spotless credit record.

There are times when money differences can be resolved quickly with patient communication, but in other instances, those differences may bring about years of frustration.

If you're not yet married, marriage financial counseling can help you evaluate the spending habits of your potential spouse and help you set short- and long-term financial goals. Pre-marital counseling will help you to "get on the same page" before starting that chapter of your life.

If you're already married and money problems are causing stress in your relationship, marriage financial counseling can help bring peace in your household. Here's why a thoughtful financial counselor can help address money concerns in your marriage:

1.  Give an objective opinion.
Chances are if you're arguing about money, those discussions have become very tense and sometimes loud. It's perfectly normal for one spouse to become very defensive about the discussion of finances as soon as the topic is addressed. Often the discussion just breaks down. If both husband and wife are open to financial counseling, a third party opinion may help. Sometimes a spouse that doesn't want to hear something from his/her partner, is agreeable to the opinion of another. Hearing from a professional that your debt is simply too high or your net worth is negative may be taken more seriously than hearing it from your spouse.

2.  Educate your family on the basics.
Maybe you never learned how to outline a budget for your money. Maybe you're not really sure how to balance a checkbook or how to organize your financial papers as they make their way into the house. Maybe you're not completely sure how much you can afford to pay each month for a mortgage payment. Maybe your spouse never learned these skills either. There is no reason to be embarrassed if you need an update in your financial education. If your money problems are coming from the fact you and your spouse simply

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