When it comes to talking money and poor decisions, most couples shy away from the topic from either fear of learning the truth or being judged by their spouses.
However, when your partner seems distant and always worried about something, they could be going through money problems or impending debt. Here are some signs that your partner could be in debt:
They are withdrawn
Does your spouse seem distant or withdrawn more than usual? They could be having a problem with their finances.
Serious money issues can be detrimental to someone’s mental health without them realizing it, especially when the problem doesn’t seem to be going away and they need help.
When your partner seems more lethargic than usual and they are having trouble sleeping at night or keeping their daily routine, it could probably be time for you to take it up and ask what’s wrong.
Evading money talks
When your partner seems less enthusiastic about discussing money, this could be a problem because they are either too embarrassed to talk to you about it or they fear coming clean. This can be easy to tell especially when they probably initiated the talks more than you did.
They will constantly try to change the subject when you want to talk about the budget, savings or even a new acquisition you have both been discussing for a while. Occasionally, they will throw tantrums when they feel overwhelmed by you pressing on money issues than you should.
Reluctance to stick to a budget
When you notice your spouse is going out of their way to handle the daily expenses without involving you, probably you should check that budget again. They could be skipping on some house essentials that may still be available in the house to save on more money.
In some cases, they will start complaining about the expensive restaurants you used to both love and question some daily expenses in the house. They will constantly undermine you and take charge of the money and budget afresh, this could be a sign they need extra cash to top up something else.
Falling into bad habits
This is also another telltale sign that your partner could be in financial trouble. They could probably be drinking too much or staying out too late with friends and not bothering to let you in or taking up gambling. This could be way for them to feel better about themselves and avoid negative thoughts on the impending debt.
In other cases, they will start hiding things from you and will rarely talk about work. When this starts, they will be more withdrawn and want to stay away from you because they are too embarrassed to face you.
Your savings account is drying out
When you have an emergency fund or a savings account that you share with your partner and you notice money always going out without explanations or your consent, this could mean they are paying off a debt.
They will want to exhaust all the funds at their disposal to offset the debt and obviously they wouldn’t want you to worry or know about it.
Or you will notice no money is going into the savings account from your monthly budget anymore because it is having another purpose. When your partner has no contingencies for unexpected expenses, it only means that they are likely to go into debt or they are already in one.
