Cohabiting Relationships with Intent to Formalize

At 22 years old (approximately 1160 weeks), individuals entering cohabiting relationships with an intent to formalize are at a crucial developmental juncture. While enthusiasm and affection are high, the practical and emotional complexities of merging lives and planning a shared future require specific foundational skills that are often still developing. Our selection prioritizes tools that provide maximum developmental leverage for this age by focusing on three core principles:

1. Foundational Communication & Conflict Resolution: A 22-year-old is likely forming their first truly interdependent, long-term partnership. Robust communication, emotional intelligence, and effective conflict resolution skills are non-negotiable for relationship longevity and satisfaction, especially before formalizing. The selected tools emphasize building these bedrock abilities.
2. Financial Literacy & Shared Planning: Intent to formalize almost universally implies shared financial futures. At 22, individuals are often just establishing independent financial habits. Tools must address joint financial planning, budgeting, debt management, and the alignment of financial values to prevent future stressors.
3. Values Alignment & Future Visioning: Beyond daily cohabitation, the intent to formalize necessitates deep conversations about life goals, personal values, career aspirations, family planning, and partnership roles. Tools should facilitate these critical, often overlooked, discussions to ensure mutual understanding and a cohesive vision for the future.

Implementation Protocol for a 22-year-old Couple:

• Joint Engagement: Both partners should commit to engaging with these tools together. Designate specific, regular 'relationship growth sessions' (e.g., once a week for 1-2 hours) where you read, discuss, and complete exercises from the books.
• Active Practice: Merely reading is insufficient. Actively practice the communication techniques, conflict resolution strategies, and financial planning methods in your daily lives. For instance, after reading a chapter on active listening, consciously implement it in your next discussion.
• Open Dialogue: Use the books as prompts for deeper conversations. Don't shy away from uncomfortable topics related to finances, expectations, or past relationship patterns. The goal is transparency and mutual understanding.
• Financial 'Date Nights': Dedicate specific sessions to financial planning using 'The Smart Couples Finish Rich.' This could involve reviewing budgets, setting short-term and long-term financial goals, and discussing approaches to saving, spending, and debt.
• Regular Review & Adaptation: Periodically (e.g., quarterly), revisit key sections of both books to assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and adapt strategies as your relationship evolves and you move closer to formalization. The YNAB software should be reviewed weekly for spending habits.
• Journaling/Note-Taking: Each partner should keep a personal journal to reflect on insights gained, emotions, and personal takeaways from the discussions and exercises. This can be shared or kept private, as desired, but aids individual processing.