Do you think saving your marriage is much easier when money is plentiful? Well, I hope you know that keeping your marriage together has less to do with money and more to do with two individuals having their physical and emotional needs and expectations being fulfilled.

If money could keep folks married, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Donald Trump and a host of others with loaded bank accounts would still be married to their first love. Saving your marriage is more difficult to do I admit when the money is running low and stress and disappointment levels are rising.

There are so many couples just hanging on by a thread and it’s starting to take a toll on marriages. It’s not as though marriages weren’t struggling before the latest economic woes strolled into town but recently it just seems to be so many more families impacted.

Tips for saving your marriage when the money is running out;

Saving your marriage tip #1 – Work together on getting through this period

It’s clear to me that marriages are strengthened when husband and wife work together to solve their problems. There is a tendency by some individuals to try to take on the problems alone and resolve them. Although the intention is good the plan is not. For one, the spouse who is left out might feel neglected or that you think he or she is not worthy or capable of helping find a solution for the problem. Another issue that pops up if you don’t work together is the possibility of a breakdown of sorts due to the stress. Saving your marriage is much easier if you do it together.

Saving your marriage tip #2 – Don’t let history repeat itself

Have you ever gotten over a problem and vowed to yourself that you would never get into that situation again? There are many couples that developed unhealthy spending habits over the years and vowed to not repeat those habits, like putting a trip to Disney World on a credit card. Unfortunately, when money is running out we still don’t make the wisest choices. Somehow, we justify spending funds we don’t have, on something we don’t need, and rationalize it by saying we need it to relieve stress.

If saving your marriage in this tough economy is important to you, please use good judgment when it comes to spending your disposable income. If you don’t, one or both of you will be agitated and unforgiving when it comes time to pay the bills and the money is not there.

Saving your marriage tip #3 – Treasure your spouse and not your stuff

I realize that it’s hard thinking about losing your stuff. I don’t mean to minimize the harshness of the situation. No one wants to lose their job, home, car and other things they have worked so hard to acquire. However, your spouse is more important than any of those material things. So, as you are walking through this difficult period in your life, make sure you pay enough attention to your spouse so that he or she knows that they mean more to you than any other thing. You can get those things back when you get back on your feet financially. However, if you don’t lean on each other and learn to trust each other, saving your marriage will be difficult.

I know it’s a tough battle for many folks trying to keep their marriage together during these rough times. There are some days when you think the sun is going to shine again and other days when you see no end to the storm you are going through. Please don’t be afraid to find help in marriage to give you the boost you need to keep your relationship together. Please remember to keep your focus and priorities straight on saving your marriage.