Spending vs. Saving: My partner and I don't always agree

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Key Points

I prefer to save for a rainy day, they often opt to spend and enjoy what they have.But we've been together for 10 years and have both learned to be more flexible...

We're married and have been together for over a decade, but we've experienced our fair share of ups and downs, many of which have led to a question stemming from our two different financial ideologies: Is it better to spend and enjoy the moment, or save scrupulously to be better off in the long term?.

This has enabled us a level of flexibility when it comes to making decisions about career changes. Because we know we won't be expected to cover 50% of our expenses regardless of what we make, we've been able to make choices that make sense for us on multiple levels, not just financially...

One year, we ended up going on several short, nearby European trips and then cut down on vacations for an extended period so we could save up and visit the US for the first time together.. Being flexible in the current economy is something we've had to adapt to together, considering not that long ago one spouse's salary could cover an entire household..

One of my favorite memories is wrapped up in that thought process: a combination of long-term saving and spontaneous spending when I flew out to Spain on the last day of my partner's holiday to surprise them with a proposal, only to then fly them to another short holiday to celebrate..

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