What’s New and Most Popular
Enter your email address to receive updates
and freebies from NicheTopics
© Copyright 2004-
Niche Topics (Money and Lifestyle) is about helping you manage your finances so that
you live comfortably within your means. We share frugal living ideas such as save
money around the house, cheap to make recipes, budget-
Categories
Green cleaning and household tips
Personal empowerment and self improvement
Shopping tips, tricks and tweaks
Resources
7 Secrets to Keep Marriage Strong During Tough Times
By Lornie Kass
Retrenchment is a real threat to marriage. Relationships crumble under financial tension. It can be hard to keep a relationship going when days are rosy, let alone surviving through hard times. Here are a few practical steps you can adopt to avoid unforeseen conflicts and misunderstandings, and stay strong in a relationship.
Making Marriage Work
1. When confronted with challenges, a whirlpool of emotions will emerge – denial, resentment, fear, anger, disappointment, humiliation. It's crucial that you remain calm. A calmed mind allows you to put things into prospective. It's perfectly okay to sit in a chair and brood, but not for long. Self pity only spiral you downwards to dark bottomless pit. How you respond and deal with the situation will influence how quickly you move through negative emotions.
2. Discuss the situation and brainstorm together with your spouse for practical solutions. Be open about it. Communication is the golden key to any successful relationship. When good times recede, and things aren’t the same as before, you need to learn to readjust expectations. Accept and be realistic about the furure, and expect things to take some time to return to normal.
3. Make sound financial provisions, and check eligibility for unemployment benefits if you're registered. Rope in united strength from family and friends. Being laid off at work during tough times, is not something to be ashamed of.
It’s also a good idea to seek help from professional counselors or your church, if you find it difficult to talk things calmly with your spouse.
4. The psychological impact of retrenchment can be severe for a man. A man who has lost his job feels defeated and show his loss of self esteem through bouts of anger. So, be more tolerant of your partner's occasional flare ups, and also try your level best to maintain a stoic front at home. Emotional support goes along way towards helping struggling couples overcome a financial storm.
5. Understand that retrenchment is rarely personal. Don't let it affect your morale and self confidence. When one door closes, another may open. Sometimes, transitions maybe blessings in disguise. They make you refocus or change directions.
6. Explore what interests you, what you really would like to do, and know your strengths. Make good use the time to do things you wouldn't be able to do if you were stuck in an office all day. For example, playing basketball with the kids, work on your home improvement woodwork projects, etc.
7. Keep busy, stay active. Exercise releases endorphins which will keep your mind energetic and creative.
A strong realtionship or marriage is something no credit crunch will ever take away. Money come and go but family is forever.
5 Surefire Ways to Stay Motivated and Focused
How can you stay motivated and focused, and achieve your dreams and goals in life?
Learn what you can do to keep your job, stay relevant in changing times and avoid layoffs in any economy.
8 Secrets to Living Comfortably on a Single Income
Discover practical tips on how you can live comfortably on one income and still save money.
How to Save Money on Grocery Bill
Find practical ways to cut grocery costs, and have greater control over your household budget.
