Valentine’s financial date: How couples can align money goals

Financial issues are known to be one of the major causes of strife in relationships, with couples avoiding talking about money and long-term saving until it's too late.

Therefore, this Valentine's Day, Cebile Zibi, head of trade marketing at Momentum Advice, suggests that couples have an intentional financial date night where they can discuss calm, structured conversations about money, priorities, and long-term wellbeing.

Zibi suggests simple starting points including:

• Reflect on your financial story. Everyone brings personal experiences and beliefs about money into a relationship. Understanding your own relationship with money is the first step toward building confidence and reducing friction.
• Create a values-based budget. A budget should not feel like a restriction. When spending and saving are linked to shared goals, whether that is security, flexibility, or future plans, money becomes a tool rather than a source of stress.
• Do a protection check-in. As lives and responsibilities change, financial protection needs change too. Regularly reviewing cover can help ensure that unexpected events do not derail long-term progress.
• Consider professional guidance. An independent financial adviser can provide structure, objectivity, and perspective, helping individuals and couples move from uncertainty to informed decision making.

“When financial decisions feel overwhelming or unclear, even simple choices can carry unnecessary emotional weight. While tools like insurance and investments help absorb financial shocks, the real challenge is often the mental and emotional load that comes with feeling unprepared or unsure. A financial date night creates space for the emotional and practical sides of money to meet. It turns money from a potential source of conflict into a shared language, replacing assumptions with understanding and alignment.”

Zibi says getting your financial house in order is not just a practical exercise. It is an act of self-care that builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and strengthens relationships.

“When money is aligned with values, financial planning extends beyond retirement projections; it creates daily peace of mind, supports healthier conversations, and replaces uncertainty with intention.”

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