Dear Massi,

My husband is really stingy with his money.

And his habits are making our lives a misery. We are not struggling for money but in recent months he has become extremely annoying.

He will not spend any money on the house and wants us to save money all the time too. We had a wedding recently and he says it was better not to serve any starters “as people don’t like starters”. The whole wedding was ruined.

MASSI SAYS: In the current economic climate, it only makes sense to be a little frugal with our finances.

Sometimes spending habits are affected by emotional responses including upbringing and personal experiences.

However, when stringent control over money starts affecting relationships negatively, it is time to take a stand.

Finding a balance is crucial. It is important to have a candid discussion rather than an argument with your husband, where you ask him to compromise and be aware of his attitude and behaviour and how it has affected you. However, it is key to enforce that you also are willing to compromise.