Who is the main financial planner in your marriage? Is it you or your spouse? According to Nancy Gibbs in her article What Women Want Now, 65% of women cite themselves as being the family’s main financial planner. 71% labeled themselves the ’family accountant.’
Mediamark Research and Intelligence tends to back up those claims saying women in the make 75% of the buying decision in home in the USA. I wonder is it any different in Australia or the U.K. Anyone care to comment?
Despite the recession and economic downturn many women have more control over money than ever before. Like all things for every advantage there is a disadvantage.While women are less dependent on their husbands than previous generations, and despite the changes made, many women still think men have a better life. Let me say at this point, I am not one of them. I’ve always been thankful I’m a woman.
An interesting fact I found in the article is that despite so many women being in the work force they re concerned about how their choices are affecting their children. The majority not just of men, but women as well, still claim it’s better for children to have the father working and Mom staying at home.
What is happening doesn’t back up what people believe though, which means people are either ignoring their instincts and what they believe for financial reasons or they are putting their own needs and desires above that of children. It could be that people are no longer happy to make do or survive on one wage when two will make them more financially comfortable.
As someone said to me recently, ‘If they are so upset about putting a child into care, doesn’t it tell them there’s something wrong?’ What do you think?
Yet despite more financial freedom, education and work opportunities it appears women have become less happy. No, it’s not just the women working outside the home but stay-at-home Moms as well. Could it be the pressure put on them by others to conform and join the ranks of working women outside the home? Or is there another reason?
All of these are issues that in one way or another affect marriage. If a woman is not happy it is going to show up in her marriage and in the way she treats her husband and family. Similarly if a man is not happy his wife and family will feel the effects. Let’s remember than marriage is a partnership, and family is a team effort where we all have to work together, whatever that work may be.
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