(A couple sits across from each other on a small kitchen table eating dinner out of bowls and talking about their money.  The quiet meal is getting livelier.)

PENNEY: Bill, you have to help me out, too.

BILL: But you are so much better at it than I am.  Besides, I am just way too tired by the time I get back from school.  I’m taking a full load this quarter, you know.

PENNEY: Yeah well, I put in a full day at work too.  But we still need to iron out these details.  We have to work as a team.

BILL: You know, I can’t think of any great collaborations in history.  True great works of art are always achieved by one person with one vision.

PENNEY: Huh?  What’s your point?

BILL: East of Eden, La Boheme, the roof of the Sistine Chapel –

PENNEY: Yes?

BILL: They were all achieved by one person with one vision.  You are the one with that vision when it comes to our money.

PENNEY: Oh please –

BILL: I am kinda serious, actually.  You make money better than me especially with all that investing stuff.  You save money better.  And you are already out of debt.

PENNEY: So that gives you an excuse to just dump everything on me?

BILL: Well no.  It’s not like that –

PENNEY: What is it like then?

BILL: My concern is that if I tried to help out, then I might just end up screwing everything up.  You know – your vision.

PENNEY: Don’t you get it?  It is OUR vision.  These are OUR plans.

BILL: Still, what if I mess everything up?  What if I lose all our money in the stock market when I try to invest?

PENNEY: That is why we will be working together when it comes to OUR finances.

BILL: Are you sure?

PENNEY: Yeah I’m sure.  You know, you forgot to mention a work of art that was a collaboration.

BILL: Which one?

PENNEY: Les Miserables.

BILL: Oh yeah.  That wasn’t too bad.

PENNEY: “Wasn’t too bad?”  I remember you tearing up when Eponine was dying.

BILL: Whatever.  How is your spaghetti?

Is it even possible to achieve your financial dreams if your significant other is a non-participant?  Or is it better if just one person took care of everything and neglected the other person’s two cents?

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Related Posts:

1. Money Talks–CHAPTER 4 (HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO)
2. Money Talks–CHAPTER 5 (SEEK YE THE TRUTH)
3. Money Talks–CHAPTER 3 (WHY NOT KIVA?)

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