How to make my wife happy and be a good provider in difficult times
The question I’ve had recently has been “How can I make my wife happy and deal with these tough financial times? There’s too much stress in our relationship and I have responsibilities that I’m having a hard time meeting. What can I do?”
The stock market is crashing, jobs are disappearing, money is tight, and yet you, as a husband, are expected to be a good husband and provider. He is still expected to keep his wife and children happy. Life gets stressful and you wonder how you can live up to the expectations of being a good husband and keeping your wife happy.
Fear not! There are many ways. You are a good husband and with a little creativity you can recreate a loving lifestyle that does not require money. After all, it is about the relationship and making your wives and children happy.
When Glen was first laid off in December, his health was a mess from worry and lack of sleep. Financial worries were with him 24/7. He and his wife Katie were on the brink of divorce. They were fighting about everything even though Glen told me “we don’t want to fight”. The children were feeling the effects of Glen’s worries and daily arguments and were acting out at school. Glen said, “I remember thinking we can’t even afford a divorce!”
But a divorce is not the answer. Loving couples just need to stop and reassess what is important to them and then chart a new path and a new way of acting. As one husband told me recently “It’s a new adventure.” Keeping yourself, your spouse, and your family happy in these tough economic times can be a challenging and ultimately rewarding endeavor. It can also be a radical change in your current lifestyle.
Glen likes to tell the story of what has happened in his life since he was laid off in December.
“I won’t lie and tell you that things haven’t been difficult, but my wife and I have also grown closer and found more time to love each other.”
Glen went on to tell me how he decided to take on the job of head cook and bottle washer in his family during this time of unemployment. Katie works in retail and her schedule has never been easy in the family routines. Now, with Glen Home, she has been able to add a stable element to the house and make a difference. Glen now finds ways to make his wife happy without spending extra money they no longer have.
“It’s a bit of a role reversal and we’re struggling to make ends meet, but I like this new challenge. I find myself whistling when I’m washing the pots and pans!” I stay happy as well as my wife!
“By checking prices and finding profitable recipes, I’m able to feed the family for a percentage of what we used to pay. We eat a lot of burgers and different kinds of soups. We never eat burgers the same way. I’ve made burger soup, burgers no bun, burgers grilled on the bbq, meatloaf, spaghetti with meat sauce, mexican casserole, taco salad… I’ve found spicy and exciting ways to cook a pot roast and the family isn’t even lost the prime rib! I’ve even started making desserts. Tomorrow I’ll make Trifle. That should make my wife happy! Glen has reason to be proud of himself. His main concern is financial situation and how to support his family. While he is unemployed (oh yeah, he’s looking for a job) he’s finding ways to make his current money go further Good job Glen!
Another couple, Darla and Phil, used to go out every Saturday morning for lunch at a restaurant in their neighborhood. They also took the children. It costs the family more than $50 each week. Now for less than $20 they have started having “Saturday breakfast specials” delivered to the dining room. Everyone participates and it’s been a bit difficult when the kids are on cleaning duty. But the new recipes they’re trying out and the creativity and savings are well worth it, both Darla and Phil agree. Phil smiles and winks and says, “I know how to make my wife happy and not spend the money we no longer have.”
Here are some other ways you can save money and still make your wife and family happy:
– Learn how to make coffee with milk at home using a whisk to froth the milk and a thermos glass to take with you anywhere.
– Buy nuts and dried fruits in bulk and make your own snacks for in-game eating or other events that you would normally buy from a vendor.
– Instead of going to the movies or another event that costs you money, invite your friends over for the night and play games that make you laugh.
– Shop at Thrift Stores and other discount stores and compare prices. Sales store. Don’t buy brand name items.
Maintaining their family is a concern for most husbands. I hope this has been helpful to you in thinking about ways you can keep your wife happy and deal with tougher financial times.