I recently read about a survey that showed how more than half of people feel their relationships are “on the rocks” as a result of the cost of living crisis.
Relationships had already been slightly strained and fragmented through the pandemic, so it’s no surprise that this has put more pressure on.
In my experience as a relationship coach, financial issues are one the biggest causes behind couples breaking up.
There is a lot of disparity when it comes to finances among couples. My husband, Alex Di Pasquale, and I have felt it.
My number one bit of advice is to communicate – be open and talk about your shared goals on where you’re heading financially. Realign those goals if you have to, just make sure you talk about it rather than worry or stress in silence, or else tension can build up between you.
I think people forget that, even if you’re in a long- term relationship, you can always learn.
My husband and I created The Relationship Place – an online coaching hub – because we recognised a lot of relationships are really struggling at the moment, and it felt like something was missing, somewhere people could go to get advice.
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We identified that we’re a really normal couple – we argue, we bicker, we have our ups and our downs.
The aim is to give a big dollop of empathy, as my whole ethos is honest “relationshipping”.
We’re all learning, including myself. I don’t get it right a lot of the time! But I’m open to improving and trying, and that’s what we’re saying with The Relationship Place.
You can’t be the best to anybody else until you’re the best to yourself first, and it’s about learning how to communicate better, as communication really is at the root of every relationship.