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The Couple's Budget Guide

A practical overview of the financial categories every young couple in Paraguay should understand before starting their shared life.

For informational purposes only — not financial advice
Getting Started

Why a shared budget matters

A shared budget isn't about control — it's about shared visibility. When both partners can see the same financial picture, decisions become easier and disagreements become less charged.

Close-up of a couple's hands working on a printed budget worksheet with handwritten numbers, a calculator, and color-coded expense categories

The two most common mistakes

Most couples starting out together make one of two mistakes: they either merge everything without any structure, or they keep everything completely separate without any shared visibility.

Both approaches create friction. The first can feel like a loss of autonomy; the second makes it hard to plan for shared goals. A well-designed shared budget finds the balance.

What a working budget includes

All income sources for both partners, listed clearly

Fixed monthly expenses (rent, utilities, loan payments)

Variable expenses (food, transport, personal spending)

Savings goals, both shared and individual

A clear picture of what's left after everything is accounted for

Key Categories

Budget areas every couple should plan for

These are the main financial categories that come up for young couples in Paraguay at major life transitions.

Housing

Rent & Housing Costs

Rent is typically the largest single expense for young couples. Plan for the monthly amount plus initial costs: deposit (usually 1–2 months), first month's rent, and any agency fees.

Factor in utilities separately — electricity, water, and internet add up quickly.
Consider how close to work or family each location puts you — transport costs vary significantly.
Furnishing

Furniture & Setup

Setting up a new home involves more costs than most couples anticipate. Bed, mattress, kitchen equipment, appliances, and basic furniture can add up to a significant sum when totaled.

Prioritize what you need immediately vs. what can wait — phase your purchases.
Used furniture in good condition can be a practical option for first-time setup.
New Baby

Birth & Baby Costs

Having a baby in Paraguay involves medical costs, supplies, and ongoing monthly expenses. Birth costs, initial medical check-ups, diapers, formula or breastfeeding supplies, and baby clothing are all part of the picture.

Start saving for birth costs well in advance — they tend to arrive on their own timeline.
Monthly diaper and formula costs are ongoing — include them in your regular budget from day one.
Wedding

Wedding Expenses

Wedding costs in Paraguay vary widely depending on the type of celebration. Civil ceremony, religious ceremony, reception, clothing, photography, and food are the main categories to plan for.

Decide together what aspects of the wedding matter most to you — and where you're comfortable spending less.
Start saving early and track what you've committed to vs. what's still flexible.
Savings

Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is money set aside for unexpected expenses — medical costs, job loss, or urgent repairs. Having even a small buffer reduces financial stress significantly when something unexpected happens.

A small, consistent monthly contribution builds a meaningful fund over time.
Keep emergency savings separate from your regular spending account.
Shared Expenses

Shared vs. Individual Spending

One of the most important decisions for any couple is how to divide financial responsibilities. There's no single right answer — but there needs to be a clear, agreed-upon system that both partners understand.

Common models: proportional contribution, equal split, or a shared account for household expenses only.
Write down your agreement — verbal understandings are easy to misremember.
The Conversation

Topics to discuss before you merge finances

These are the questions that often go unasked — and that the Ibvante workshops help couples work through together.

How will we handle different incomes?

If one partner earns more than the other, how will shared expenses be divided? Equal amounts? Proportional to income? This question needs an explicit answer — not an assumption.

What counts as a "big" purchase?

At what amount does a purchase require discussion with your partner? Defining a threshold prevents resentment when one person spends on something the other didn't expect.

How will we handle existing debt?

Student loans, credit cards, or family obligations don't disappear when you move in together. Deciding together how existing debt gets managed prevents it from becoming a source of conflict.

How often will we review our budget?

A budget that's made once and never revisited stops being useful. Agreeing on a regular review rhythm — monthly, quarterly — keeps both partners aligned as circumstances change.

Work through these questions together

The Ibvante workshops provide the structure, worksheets, and facilitation to help you answer all of these questions — with your real numbers, your real situation.

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