If you’ve been thinking that romance and finances don’t mix, think again. We hear you — a money discussion is hardly the quickest way into the bedroom. But the truth is that there are some very important and meaningful ways you can show your partner love via financial gestures. This Valentine’s Day, we wanted to highlight a few of them that will mean much more to your partner over time than jewelry, chocolate or roses ever could.
Cash Is No Longer Cold
There was a time not that long ago, when cash was the least romantic gift you could give a partner. Cash was used for tips. It was what your parents’ friends gave you. There was really no way to argue that deep, emotion-filled thought went into the gift of a $100 bill slid into a card.
But the truth is, if you share income and expenses, and you know there’s something your partner is saving up for, or you know that some extra money to put towards their debt could really reduce their stress level, then the gift of cash can be incredibly romantic.
You and your partner are working towards shared couple goals, but you also have individual goals. What better way to support your partner than by supporting an independent goal they have for their lives?
Talk About Gifts Before The Occasion
Hate being the person who shows up at a “Definitely No Gifts!” party and everyone has gifts? We’ve all been there, and it’s not a great feeling. With that in mind, you and your partner should decide how you want to treat Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and other holidays ahead of time, and figure out a gifting policy and budget that can work well for both of you.
Because let’s face it, no one wants to show up for V-Day with a beautiful box of candy when their partner is about to hand over the keys to a new Lexus. (Cue ridiculous holiday car advertisement here.) So, set parameters on gifts… But keep in mind that a surprise special occasion is always a good time for a gift, no payback required.
And you might decide that instead of spending on individual gifts, you can pool your money for travel or another experience you can enjoy together. An individual gift is rarely as romantic as a week in Paris, Rome or Barcelona.
Get Your Paperwork In Order
No one has ever called paperwork “romantic.” But if something happens to you, your partner is going to have a lot to think about. In addition to the grief, they’ll need to plan a funeral, they’ll have to face losing your income, and then there’s the months-long ordeal of settling your financial affairs. You love your partner, which means you want to set them up for success, and ensure they face as little hassle as possible if something happens to you. The last thing you want at that time is your loved one scrambling because they have no idea where any of your important documents are. So, think about the following: Who has your power of attorney? Do you have a will? Life insurance? Who signed your lease or mortgage?
Answer all these questions, and then see if you can set your loved one up for success by getting everything in order, and making sure they know where to find everything should something happen to you. And while you’re at it, don’t just plan for an end-of-life scenario… How would your partner manage if you fell seriously ill? Would you be able to pay your bills? Do you have an understanding of what you and your partner’s health insurance might cover? Make sure that you and your partner would have access to one another’s assets in the event of an emergency.
We get it — none of this sounds particularly romantic at first glance, but we’d argue that there can be no greater gesture of love than setting your SO up for financial success, and preventing the kind of stress that can seep into your life when you don’t have a plan in place. You’ll love each other that much more if you know you’ve taken care of each other, no matter what life may throw at you.
MORE ON HERMONEY:
- 18 Must-Have Girl Power Gifts That Are Just What We Needed
- 6 Black-Owned Businesses That Are Saving the Planet (And Making Awesome Gifts)
- 7 Valentine’s Day Gifts That Will Help You Save Money
JOIN US: Join us in the private HerMoney Facebook group and share your money saving tips — and pick up a few new ones!