How Consistent Time Together Strengthens Your Marriage—and Your Money
Money stress is one of the top reasons couples feel disconnected. In this blog series—drawn from my e-book Simultaneously Improve Your Relationships and Money—you’ll find real-world tools to help you talk about money without fighting, build trust through better financial communication, and create lasting emotional and financial security with your partner.
While I often say “spouse” or “partner,” these insights work for anyone you regularly share money decisions with—whether that’s a parent, roommate, or significant other. Just apply the tips to the relationship that matters most to your financial life!
#5: Give it (Quality) Time
Which leads us to our final principle that applies to both marriage and money: give it time. Many will be familiar with the 5 Love Languages, created and defined by Gary Chapman. In fact, our next series will focus on how the 5 Love Languages manifest themselves in financial decisions, discussions and conflict. For now, let’s focus on one that applies directly to establishing a healthy marriage and healthy money habits: Quality Time.
Spending meaningful time and giving your your spouse attention - such as watching through movies, quiet walks together, or enjoying a favorite restaurant together - cultivates sense of being valued and appreciated.
1. Daily and Weekly Rhythms
Regardless of what you decide to do and how you like to spend time together, establishing consistent small rituals can improve both your relational life and your financial life.
Rituals such as a weekly money check in (being careful to avoid the larger monthly budget discussion) to smooth out any bumps, or a tech free dinner or nightly walk can be of more benefit than you’d initially think.
Establishing consistent small rituals can significantly benefit your relational and financial life. A weekly money check-in or a nightly tech-free walk might feel small, but they build emotional connection—just like regular deposits grow your bank account over time.
2. Time as a Trust-Building Currency
Time isn’t just something we spend—it’s a currency of trust. Showing up consistently, whether emotionally or financially, builds a foundation of reliability. Over time, these investments communicate: “You can count on me.”
3. Maintenance vs. Crisis Management.
Quality time plays a vital role in preventative care. Just like regular date nights or budgeting sessions strengthen your foundation, these habits protect you from being blindsided by crisis. When storms come—and they will—you’ll be better equipped to weather them together.
Giving Financial Investments time.
Just as investing in quality relationship time strengthens emotional bonds, investing in financial opportunities over time yields significant returns. In both of these areas, to see real growth, emotional and financial investments take time.
We think of our retirement investments and our stock market portfolio -- If we are behaving haphazardly or inconsistently, we run the risk and usually find ourselves selling at the wrong time- right at the bottom of a falling stock market. Every financial advisor will tell you to put your money in well-chosen and diversified stock or a mutual fund and leave it there.
Likewise, building a strong marriage requires consistent effort, especially when it’s tempting to “jump off the ride” during tough seasons. As Dave Ramsey puts it: “The only people who lose on a rollercoaster ride are the ones who jump off at the bottom.”
In the same way, spending quality time and remaining committed to your marriage partner grows and produces relational dividends that aren’t always realized immediately.
Most capital gains aren’t realized right away! If you behave emotionally haphazardly or inconsistently, the confidence of your spouse will erode. Both money and marriage need committed, steady, consistent time.
In Conclusion
Marriage and money—two of the most emotionally charged parts of life—are deeply intertwined. When handled with care, both can be sources of lasting connection, peace, and purpose. Over the course of this series, we’ve explored five key principles that strengthen both your relationship and your finances:
#2 – The Right Thing, at the Right Time, and in the Right Way
#3 – Nothing Serious after 9 pm (And Sleep On It!)
#4 – Foster Emotional Openness and Communication
#5 – Give it Quality Time
By embracing the five guiding principles outlined in this series, you can not only strengthen your marital connection but also lay the foundation for long-term financial well-being. These aren’t just strategies—they’re habits of the heart that shape you into a healthier, more grounded person.
When practiced with consistency and care, they create something greater than financial security or emotional closeness alone: they build a life of shared meaning.
The best investments—whether in love or money—take time and intention. But they’re always worth it.
If this series encouraged you, don’t just close the tab—do something small today:
✅ Share this post with your spouse or a friend.
✅ Choose one principle to focus on this week.
✅ Schedule a weekly money or connection check-in.
Want to go deeper?
💬 Book a free consultation to explore how coaching can support your financial and relational goals.
Your future—relationally and financially—starts with the habits you choose today.
TL;DR: How can quality time and consistent habits improve both your marriage and your financial life?
Healthy marriages and healthy money habits don’t happen overnight—they grow through small, consistent actions. This series introduced five guiding principles that strengthen both your relationship and your finances: emotional openness, wise timing, quality time, trust-building, and intentional communication. With practice, these habits build a life of shared meaning and lasting peace.
