Money is one of the top reasons marriages struggle, yet it’s often the topic couples avoid the longest. It’s easier to talk about the wedding venue than the credit card balance, easier to dream about the future than to admit what’s actually in a bank account. But avoiding the money conversation doesn’t make the tension disappear. It just delays it until the stakes are higher.
Chapter 5, “Finances and Stewardship,” takes on this challenge directly. The chapter points out that money is among the top sources of conflict in marriage, though it doesn’t have to be. Stewardship goes beyond the numbers themselves. It speaks to your values, your discipline, and the trust you place in God. That shift in perspective changes the entire conversation. Money discussions stop revolving around who makes more or who spends too freely, and instead become a reflection of who you are and the kind of life you want to build together.
The Questions Couples Avoid
Chapter 5 doesn’t shy away from the specifics. It asks couples to talk openly about financial goals, existing debt, credit scores, budgeting habits, and whether each partner tends to spend or save. These aren’t comfortable questions, but they’re necessary ones. Debt that stays hidden, spending habits that go unspoken, or financial goals that were never actually discussed can quietly erode trust long before a couple realizes what’s happening.
Why Avoidance Doesn’t Protect You
Many couples believe that keeping finances vague or private before marriage is a form of respect or independence. In reality, it often sets the relationship up for conflict later. Walden’s book makes the case that transparency now, even when it’s uncomfortable, builds the kind of trust that holds a marriage together when financial pressure inevitably shows up.
A Conversation Worth Having Early
The goal of this chapter isn’t to shame anyone for debt or poor financial habits. It’s to create space for honesty. Couples who can sit down and talk plainly about money, who can say “here’s where I stand” without fear of judgment, are far better equipped to build a shared financial future than those who simply hope it will work itself out.
If you’ve been putting off the money conversation with your partner, Chapter 5 of 100 Questions to Ask Before Saying “I Do” offers a starting point. It won’t make the topic easy, but it will make it possible, and that’s often the first step toward real financial unity.