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Many people look forward to marriage and enjoying a lifetime of marital bliss. The feat is achievable, but you must plan and limit the factors that can compromise it. Many couples fail to foresee and plan around lifetime challenges like poor health, mental well-being, relationship, and financial security.
Failure to plan weakens a union and will likely result in a broken or tumultuous relationship. In cases where you plan to have children, planning becomes critical. Children are bundles of joy, bringing happiness and fulfillment into homes. However, secure their future to prepare for uncertain times to avoid unhappiness associated with not meeting family needs.
Life has many disruptions, and you almost can’t tell when your family will face tough times. You are always a job/income loss, accident, chronic illness, etc., away from disruption. You can cushion yourself from such disturbances by adopting the following tips:
Ask for Advice
One of the ways to plan a marriage is to learn from those who failed in it. Each union is unique with its challenges, but some cut across many of them. An experienced divorce attorney has the benefit of knowing the issues facing couples that ultimately lead to them breaking up.
A trusted attorney can advise you on the pitfalls to avoid to enhance the chances of survival of your marriage. The legal expert will provide tips on dos and don’ts of avoiding irreconcilable differences and help you navigate the problems before you face them.
You discover subjects you and your partner had never brought to the table for discussion but are pertinent issues for a successful marriage. Discussing solutions to problems is often challenging when you are facing them. The couple is likely to be emotive, making objectivity elusive. However, deliberating the probable solutions to anticipated problems provides a chance to objectively evaluate and agree on the best cause of futuristic action.
Purchasing a Term-Life Insurance Policy
Taking up a life insurance policy is a way of securing an unforeseeable future. The life cover can provide a financial cushion against a chronic illness, disability, death, and many other life adversities. Many people each year take up such insurance to protect their families in case of an unforeseen devastating life event.
Select a cover that is most suitable for your family situation. For example, if the family has one single income earner, the sudden loss of income from the family member would mean there is no source of livelihood. You can take up insurance with an aspect of such loss protection.
A long-term cover, e.g., a 20-year term life insurance policy, will protect you throughout the period. You can opt for a policy with a payout at its end or one without any. The monthly payments will vary according to the option you take.
Secure A Financial Future
Finances support families, enable the achievement of aspirations, and provide security. Inadequate funding is a recipe for wreaking havoc on the marriage relationship because of the frustrations the shortfalls bring. You can plan to secure the future of your family. The more your family grows, the more they need to sustain themselves.
If you are working, always keep a specific percentage of your income as savings. You can have a goal-oriented savings plan, e.g., for business investment, purchasing assets, college fees, etc. Several savings/investment vehicles in the market exist to ensure your money grows as you keep it for a future goal or rainy days.
Designate an Education Fund
Education is one of the highest expenses in a family with children. You probably want your child/children to get the best education they can access to enhance their chances of success. Start early by saving through a designated education fund. Work backward by identifying which schools you want your child to attend and determine how much they will need.
Factor in an increase in tuition fees and the time value of money as you set up the education fund. If your child has just been born and you want to set up a college fund, you will need them to access it many years later. By that time, the fees will have increased, and the standard of living will be higher than it is currently.
Contribute to Retirement
Saving for retirement is a gateway to enjoying your sunset years without the pressures of unmet expenses. Failing to prepare for retirement can ruin a relationship that lasted your youthful years and suddenly falls under the cracks. Remember that you will no longer be in your employable or active years to earn a regular/stable income.
If employed, match what your employer contributes to your retirement fund. For example, if an employer contributes five percent, set aside the same amount. Avoid being a potential financial burden to your children, who probably have obligations to settle. In addition, you can have the life you wanted and never achieved because of a busy lifestyle, for example, holidaying.
Plan for Your Future and Enjoy Marital Bliss
Having a happy marriage is not an elusive goal. Many couples have waded through by planning and reducing the many sources of friction in a union. Managing finances can be a challenging subject to discuss and agree on in principle, but one that is necessary for a smoother marriage. Remember, it is more pleasant to discuss the issues and their resolution before they crop up instead of when you are in the middle of it.
