Few things cause stress in a marriage like lack of employment, and with the economy suffering as it has, we’re seeing more and more couples facing this challenge. Money does strike at our sense of security, and when we don’t feel secure, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else, including our relationships.
When the husband or wife is unemployed, it’s more important than ever that they stay united. Sometimes there is a tendency to blame the person who lost the job—if they’d only been a little more diligent in their work or a little more punctual or a little more business savvy, maybe they wouldn’t have been fired. But blame doesn’t belong in a marriage, and regardless of why they were fired, the other spouse should do what they can to keep blame from entering the picture. Here are some other tips for how to stay strong during this stressful time:
1. Keep dating each other. You may not be able to afford dinner out and a movie, but you shouldn’t let your lack of finances keep you from spending time together. There are so many things you can do as a couple that are free. Libraries often show movies or have live performances. There are concerts in the park, there are museums and craft shows – and just sitting and sharing thoughts and ideas is always free.
2. Work together on the solutions to your financial problems. It may be tempting to try to shoulder the burden yourself, but when you open up and talk to your spouse about the situation and bring both sets of ideas to the table, you’ll find that you are able to create a broader understanding not only of the problem, but of ways to fix it. You can come up with ideas for ways to save money and ways to hit the job market based on things your spouse suggested – things you might not have thought of before.
3. Above all, keep hope. Boost each other’s spirits. Speak positively about your situation. Of course you’ll have days when it seems nothing will ever work in your favor again, but try to move past that as quickly as possible and to keep the tone of your home and your relationship one of hope for the future.
Staying united during a time of stress will bless your marriage in so many ways. Work as a team, not against each other, and you’ll find that you are a stronger couple because of that trial.
Related Blogs:
What is Unemployment Insurance?
Surviving the Economy: Expect the Unexpected