Things can get a little tense when it comes to money and relationships. I know that my partner and I sometimes have different financial priorities and that it affects our relationship.

We haven’t, however, had a lot of fights about money recently.

Some of that has to do with accepting what each of us cares about, while some of it is a result of our increasing income (there’s just more money to go around). We’re fortunate in that regard since it means we can reach our shared goals – and still have enough left over to spend on our individual priorities.

If you’re trying to avoid fighting about money with your significant other, there are some things you can try. Leo Willcocks, stress consultant and author of the book DeStress to Success, offers his suggestions for avoiding undue stress during financial discussions:

1. Listen

“Often we are trying so hard to get our point across that we are not really listening to what the other person is saying,” Willcocks points out. “When we listen, not just hear, we start to actually understand what the other person is communicating.”

He says that understanding leads to better discussions and less resentment over money. I know this helped my husband and me. Even when we were stressed about money, we fought less when we took the time to listen and understand each other.

2. Breathe

“After your loved one has said what they are thinking, take a moment to think about what they are saying,” Willcocks suggests. This isn’t about taking deep breaths or counting to 10. This is about truly considering what the other person is saying before responding to it. “This…

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