Matt and Yasmin

Yasmin and Matt had been in a relationship for 5 years; they came to mediation because they were having constant, fierce arguments, mostly about finances, their respective families and dividing up domestic chores. It had become so bad they thought they might have to break up. They had previously been to counselling but they wanted to focus more on the practicalities of their relationship rather than therapy.

At the mediation, time was spent going over the issues about their finances, family and domestic routine. They both wanted to save money for a home deposit but couldn't agree on a budget. Family was also putting pressure on them to get married and start a family. Yasmin complained that Matt watched TV after work and at weekends while she ran the household as well as doing paid work. Matt said his work exhausted him and he needed to relax when he got home and not be harassed or shouted at.

The mediators assisted Yasmin and Matt to talk through their values about finances, what was important for each of them, how to set goals and what they were both comfortable to do to work towards their shared goals...including starting a family. They agreed to see a financial counsellor to help with turning their discussions into an actual financial plan. They also came up with a fun way of dealing with household chores; they each picked what they liked to do on a weekly basis...the rest they would put in a hat and randomly select on a weekly basis.