Lakeland offers tips for managing money together
Oak Ridge, N.J., June 10, 2016 – Summer wedding season is in full swing and newlyweds will soon be managing their finances as a pair. Lakeland Bank is encouraging couples to waste no time addressing how they will handle money issues as spouses and financial partners.
“Developing a financial plan can often take a backseat to the excitement of a wedding,” said Ron Schwarz, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer. “But it’s important to remember that this is not only a marriage of hearts but also a marriage of finances.”
To help couples start their journey on a strong financial footing, Lakeland Bank warns consumers of these post-wedding money mistakes:
Avoiding the money talk. Discussing your finances can be a bit uncomfortable for many couples, but those who tackle it head-on will be better for it. Understand your partner’s financial goals and spending habits. While you may have different answers, this conversation can help you develop an approach to money management that works for both of you.
Not setting a budget. A mistake many couples make is not establishing a budget early on. After assessing your finances as a pair, determine how you’ll spend your money each month. Are there certain expenses that you should be cutting back on and others you should be saving for? Coming to an agreement on these things and setting a budget will be beneficial for the health of your bank accounts and your relationship.
Not having a plan for your accounts. There is no ‘right’ way to manage your accounts. Couples can choose to have exclusively joint accounts, a joint account as well as separate accounts for saving or personal spending, or keep things entirely divided. Discuss your preferences together and decide what makes you both the most comfortable.
Failing to set up an emergency fund. Life is full of surprises and unfortunately, some of these surprises can be expensive. Having an emergency fund will help you avoid precarious financial situations should something come up. It’s important that you decide together how you’ll set aside the money.
Not discussing big expenses. While not all purchases require a conversation, more expensive ones that impact the family budget should. Determine what that threshold is as a couple. For any expenses above that cost, you should be in agreement on whether it’s a necessary purchase.
Forgetting to update your beneficiaries. Now that you’ve officially tied the knot, you most likely will identify your spouse as the person who will receive the benefits of your will, life insurance policy and financial accounts like your 401(k), checking and savings. Don’t make the mistake of waiting for an emergency to arise to handle this.
About Lakeland Bank
Lakeland Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:LBAI), which has $4.4 billion in total assets. The Bank operates 53 New Jersey branch offices in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties; five New Jersey regional commercial lending centers in Bernardsville, Montville, Newton, Teaneck and Wyckoff/Waldwick; and two commercial loan production offices serving Middlesex and Monmouth counties in New Jersey and the Hudson Valley region of New York. Lakeland Bank offers an extensive suite of financial products and services for businesses and consumers. Visit LakelandBank.com for more information.
