Money for Couples

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 2024年10月21日

This solid manual from Sethi (I Will Teach You to Be Rich), host of the Netflix series How to Get Rich, outlines 10 tips to help romantic partners get on the same page about their finances. Sethi recommends partners develop a financial plan by discussing how they currently feel about money and what might help them feel better. Many couples can afford more of what they love by cutting back "mercilessly" on less important expenses, he contends, suggesting readers might free up money by eating out less or downsizing their housing, depending on their priorities. His "conscious spending plan" encourages directing 50% of one's income to necessities, 10% to short-term savings, 10% to long-term investments, and 30% to whatever one wants. Sethi's emphasis on positioning oneself to "spend extravagantly" on favored items is a welcome departure from the asceticism espoused by other guides, and discussions of how to talk about getting a prenup, set up joint bank accounts, and navigate buying a house provide valuable tips on common financial quagmires (raise the issue of a prenup "when things are getting serious but before getting engaged," he recommends). This will be a balm for anyone who's struggled to see eye to eye with their partner about money.