Shecky’s

Forget the notion that economic worries and stress cause strife within a marriage. Despite what you might think, there are a lot of ways that going through a recession together—and all the anxiety that comes with it—can actually be good for couples.

And no, we’re not just saying this because divorce rates are down–even though they are. The reasons a recession can be good for marriages are a lot more fun than that. We’ve put together five of our favorite ways the recession is turning out to be pretty good news for a lot of married couples.

1. Couples are focusing more on each other. A decreased emphasis on attaining “things” and an increased emphasis on spending time with loved ones means that more people are spending their weekends at home with their spouses rather than on the golf course or out at the clubs with their friends. There’s nothing like being forced to slow down and take a look at the person you vowed to be with “till death.”

2. Impulse purchases are a thing of the past. Gone are the days when husbands could afford to come home with $3,000 big-screen TVs, or when wives could show up with shopping bags full of Louboutin pumps. Taking away the luxury to spend at will without consulting your mate just may reduce the number of fights you have.

3. More women are bringing home the bacon. As male breadwinners lost their jobs throughout this recession, more women than ever stepped up to the plate and went back to work. Role reversals can be tricky in a relationship, sure, but if both people are working on turning things around—well, that can only make them stronger, right?

4. Couples are waiting longer to have kids. New studies are showing that women are increasingly delaying pregnancy due to fears over the state of the economy—and their potential baby budgets. What does this mean for couples? For starters, they have more years to devote to each other before it comes time to start stressing over how they’re going to feed, clothe and pay for a new baby, which can only be good, right?

5. Fewer people can afford to cheat. When you can barely afford your mortgage payments, there is a lot less of a chance that you’ll be willing to splurge on expensive dates with a mistress or a call girl. Not only that, but strip clubs have been hit hard by the recession as well, which is why many have been trying to attract a “thriftier” clientele with cheaper drinks and cover charges.

Got any other reasons your relationship has improved? Let us know!

-Stephanie Miles for Recessionwire.com

Recessionwire is a user’s guide to change. We look for the upside of down times, offering positive, practical advice about work, fulfillment and how to live well for less, plus personal essays, humor and cultural insights.

GIRL TALK TIME: Do you think the recession has helped your marriage? Why or why not?