Money problems are one of the largest sources of conflict in many relationships, so if you want to screw up your marriage, let your finances get out of hand and don’t do anything to fix it. You can get a head start on this before your marriage even begins by not disclosing your debts or spending habits to your partner. They will likely find out sometime in the future at a pivotal point in your marriage, such as when you apply for a loan, but that really just adds to the fun and makes for an explosive surprise. You can also increase financial worries in your marriage by overspending and refusing to make a budget. Treat every grocery shopping experience like it is your last and spend above your means to add financial pressure and dip into your savings. The good news, whether you choose to flaunt your big purchases or shred every receipt before your partner sees it, the effect will be the same.
Inevitably, there will come a point in your marriage during which you and your partner face more financial worries than usual. Maybe you’ve just gotten laid off, had a baby, or overspent with your credit card. Regardless, you can be sure to put a strain on your marriage by not talking about it with your partner. By not talking about it, you won’t collaborate or come up with a solution to reduce some of the financial strain. You also won’t change your or your partner’s spending habits, which will make the situation even worse over time.
Another great way to use money to ruin your marriage is to use your partner like your personal ATM. Think about it this way: What’s yours is ours, and what’s mine is mine.
Finally, there are people who help couples get through their financial problems for a living. If you want to screw up your marriage, don’t meet with those people. In fact, don’t address the problem at all. While it’s true that you and your partner could get a handle on your debts and decrease your spending by working together, if you want to screw up your marriage, why bother doing that? You’re better off continuing down the same path you’re on, refusing to think about yours and your partner’s future. Plus, there’s always bankruptcy attorneys.