Thoughts On What Helps Keep Couples Long Lasting

Recently moved in with my partner and I started to reflect on the journey we’ve been on and what we do to keep things working.<br><br>1. This has worked for us: I will pay all the bills, cook the meals, wash the clothes, and do all the grocery shopping. Some might see this as an unfair arrangement because I take on 90% of the household responsibilities. But the benefit is I have complete control over the day to day household needs so I don’t have to worry about whether she’s doing it this way or that way. Plus I know what’s going on in the budget, grocery shopping, etc. <br><br>For my partner- she only has to work and pay her share of the monthly expenses. She can focus on climbing the career corporate ladder without having to worry about anything else. She knows everything will be taken care of. She’s excellent at her job and knows how to manage her time in the office so it makes it easier for her to trust she’s on top of work.<br><br>2. We don’t have credit cards. I do have a credit card for gas but only because our gas stations give a .10 discount for using it. (I only use it for gas. Never anything else) I just pay the bill in full at the end of the month. <br><br>3. We have trust in each other. Trust is always the foundation of any relationship. We trust that no matter what, we’ve got each other’s backs. We trust that no matter whether it’s money, time, or resources we are both willing to put in 100% effort. <br><br>4. We have open communication. No matter what we know we can talk to each other about it. <br><br>5. We never argue over money. Because I always know exactly what’s going on with the budget and finances she knows exactly how much to pay her bills. <br><br>6. We know that money doesn’t buy happiness. That at the end of the day no matter what we need to keep perspective. It’s just money. It’s not worth arguing over. It’s not worth losing the relationship. We always remind ourselves that no matter what we’re both human beings. At the end of the day; love > money. We all make mistakes. We all screw up. We all forget to pay a bill or accidentally go over budget. It happens. So we always remind ourselves to keep things in perspective and treat each other with love and respect. <br><br>7. We have each other’s backs. So if there is something that is really important to one of us the other person will stand behind them even if they don’t agree. This reinforces positive communication and respect. I think that’s important in any relationship. (Work, family, friends)<br><br>8. We are patient with each other. When we look around we can see so many people that are in such a hurry to get to the end. But they miss out on the journey. We know that at the end of the journey you reach the end. But if you enjoy the journey you can’t wait to see what’s around the corner next. <br><br>9. We know that time is more valuable than money. Time is so important to us. We look for ways to optimize our time and energy. We are frugal with our time and energy because we know what’s important. We can always make money, but we can’t make time. It’s a finite resource. So we make sure we are using it efficiently. We are selective with how we spend our time. We always make sure to make time for each other. <br><br>10. We are content. That’s important for us. We know what we need and we know the difference between a need and a want. We are happy with the little things. We genuinely enjoy everyone’s company. We love the simple things. Whether it’s a day at the beach or a walk in the city, we know what makes us happy and we know we’ve got it. We are thankful we have each other. We are thankful for the joy we have in our lives. And we know that no matter what; as long as we have each other we are content.