In the first episode of this ‘Family Matters’ season, Simon and Bex discuss various financial matters that have particular relevance and significance for spouses and romantic partners who are in committed, long-term relationships.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

1. Simon and Bex introduce the new season and draw particular attention to the interplay between finances and relationships that will run through it. [00:33]
2. Opening up the topic of financial matters relating to spouses and long-term romantic partners, Simon outlines his reasons for recommending that people in those kinds of relationships should combine their finances. [03:03]
3. Key elements that are vital to merging finances successfully include good communication, openness, an appreciation that people take different approaches to dealing with money and good budgeting practices. [05:57]
4. Bex mentions that CAP (Christians Against Poverty) run excellent budgeting courses for individuals or couples looking to acquire skills in that area. [11:00]
5. Speaking about our relationship with money, Simon notes that ‘our heart’ can often help us discern how much is appropriate to spend in a particular circumstance. In addition, ‘practice’, experience and welcoming input from others can all help us to make thoughtful and appropriate adjustments to our spending habits. [12:58]
6. There are elements, such as pensions and ISAs, that have to be apportioned individually, but Simon suggests that a key principle should be to approach family finances holistically. [14:46] And in that context, the focus and aim should not be on the material goal of maximising household income but on the family priority of maximising household value. [16:18]
7. Planning, preparation and, most of all, communication are vital elements to include when looking ahead to the potential financial implications of the death of a partner or spouse. [19:01]
8. In his closing comments, Simon suggests that the allocation of ‘pocket money’ can be a really helpful way of introducing flexibility, individual discretion, trust and clear expectations into shared financial arrangements. [20:16]
9. Next week’s episode will focus on managing our finances with children in the mix. [23:12]

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