The Real Reason Couples Fight About Money
Rachel Cruze: The Real Reason Couples Fight About Money
August 25, 2025 by Jaime Catmull
Question #2 of GOBankingRates’ Top 100 Money Experts Series
What’s the best way to handle financial disagreements in a relationship?
Who doesn’t love a story that ends with “and they lived happily ever after”? Whether it’s a fairy tale or a rom-com, everyone swoons when the pair that belonged together all along finally heads off into the sunset hand in hand.
Yet the story usually ends at this point. There’s no mention of what that happily ever after really looks like — sharing space, juggling busy schedules and navigating arguments about money.
Part of merging your life with someone else’s means integrating your finances. Depending on your upbringing, personal history and beliefs, you could be bringing some very different money mindsets to the table — and serving up a perfect recipe for conflict.
Fortunately, according to Rachel Cruze, bestselling author and financial expert, achieving that “happily ever after” is possible — even when you’re still figuring out how to manage money as a couple.
GOBankingRates caught up with Cruze to ask why couples fight about money and what they can do to achieve their own financial harmony.
It Goes Deeper Than Dollars and Cents
Sometimes, a fight that seems like it’s all about money isn’t just about dollars and cents. Cruze explained that most financial disagreements stem from deeper emotional issues, like trust, communication and feeling disconnected from your partner.
“I always say: Money touches every part of your life, from what groceries you buy to the dreams you have for your future,” she said. “So if there’s tension in how you’re handling money, it’s going to spill over into everything else. That’s why I’m such a big believer in working together, not separately.”
Understanding that there are emotional and philosophical factors at play in how you and your partner think about money is key to having practical, productive conversations about your finances. Cruze’s advice? “Stop hiding, start communicating, and get on a plan together.”
TO READ MORE: https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/real-reason-couples-fight-about-money-how-to-fix-it-rachel-cruze/?hyperlink_type=manual