The Importance of Financial Management in Taaruf

Muslim society in Indonesia knows taaruf as something related to the world of love. Taaruf in romantic relationships is defined as an introduction process that aims to perfect religion by referring to the stage of marriage.

In other words, taaruf becomes a sacred and noble process because its purpose is to protect oneself from negative things such as adultery and pregnancy outside of marriage.

Apart from that goal, actually in the process of taaruf, there are other important things that should also be discussed together. Islamic Finance Specialist Greget Kalla Buana in the Harmoney Life BSI-Special Milad ke-2 Tahun event said that marriage is not just about sharing dreams or hopes.

"If you decide to get married, usually I tell friends who are in the taaruf process not only to discuss visions and missions. But also discuss their financial literacy to understand money mindset and money attitude," said Greget.

Greget explained that money mindset is a way of thinking about money. It's not about how much, but more about how a person behaves or treats money.

"The way you behave and have money." So when talking about making money, it's not just about making a living. Making money is making a person. What type of financial personality are you, whether you are a spender, a saver, or something else?" said Greget.

Meanwhile, money attitude is related to a person's consumptive behavior.

For example, someone who goes shopping or buys something, but actually doesn't need it.

"So if you don't need it, don't buy it. If you want to achieve something, you need to know the 'why' and 'how'. Financial matters are personal because they have their own standards that are adjusted to the scale of priorities and needs," said Greget.

Regarding money mindset and money attitude, it is important for each couple who is going through the taaruf process to know about them. That's because, according to Greget, when you are married, ideal decisions are made together because there are plans for the short, medium, and long term.

By knowing the financial condition and habits of the prospective partner, according to Greget, each person will manage the household according to their portion. For example, for prospective husbands, there will be a strong sense of responsibility to provide peace of mind to the prospective wife about their financial condition.

Meanwhile, for prospective wives, financial transparency from the beginning or before marriage will make them more aware of their partner's financial ability. This includes their work ethic, how they prepare themselves for reality, and most importantly, prospective wives can learn to manage finances in the household from the beginning.

Future Savings

Ratu Isyel and Billy Joe are influencers and a young couple who decided to get married through taaruf. The couple, who have been married for about a month, apparently had a well-planned preparation from the beginning, not only regarding buying their dream house.

"At the beginning, we were open about our finances. We explained our respective incomes from the start, whether we had debts or not, how our future cash flow would be, and we didn't hide any financial problems," said Billy.

His wife, Isyel, also revealed that they have a well-conceptualized financial priority. Isyel shared her experience as the treasurer of the household in managing finances.

You have three savings accounts. The first is for daily needs. The second is for short-term goals such as going on a pilgrimage or fulfilling other desires like traveling. The third is for the next 3-5 years, for emergency funds or to have your dream house," explained Isyel.

In response to the preparations made by Isyel and Billy, Greget agrees that couples who go through taaruf need to learn financial literacy together. Especially if they want to have their dream house.

"A house is a basic necessity, especially for a family. Men as the head of the family want their children and wife to live under a safe and comfortable roof. So, the house needs to be prioritized over a car or other assets," said Greget.

Now, for those of you who are going through or are in the process of taaruf, it is good to discuss financial management from the beginning together. To have your dream house, if you and your partner get married in the future, it is also a good idea to open a joint savings account.

Opening an account at a sharia bank can be easily done through a mobile application. This means you can open an online account without having to visit a branch.

So choose a bank that offers a mobile application with three functions, namely financial, spiritual, and social functions. With these features, you and your partner can not only save and transact comfortably, but also gain daily rewards and help others through charity.

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