Differences Between Western And Chinese Culture: How To Handle Money

If you made it this far, chances are you either have a Chinese wife or are at least considering starting a relationship with a Chinese woman. It is not new to anyone that Chinese culture differs greatly from Western culture, but what exactly are these differences? In this article we will focus on the way in which these two different cultures handle the subject of finances.

One of the big things that sets Chinese apart from Westerners is the way both cultures handle money. Westerners are spenders by nature, preferring to live in the moment, preparing little for the future. This is especially true in large economies like the United States, where mass consumption has contributed to putting many families in debt. The Chinese are much more controlled when handling money and saving is part of their culture. The Chinese government assumes little responsibility for the future of its people and it is up to each individual to secure their retirement through savings and investments. Because the Chinese have experienced long periods of poverty in the past, they know how to value money and are used to working hard for it. A recent study has shown that average American household debt is 136% of household income, compared to 17% for Chinese.

This different approach to money and income plays a key role in Western-Chinese relations. This will be even more visible in the more common case of a Western man married to a Chinese woman. Although this has changed a lot in recent decades, it is still safe to say that in most Western countries he is the man responsible for taking care of the bills and managing the money. In China; however, this is not really so. Although Chinese men are still the ones to bring in the doe, in many cases they are expected to hand over the money to their wives, who in turn will manage it and use it to keep things in order in the house.

The struggle to decide who should have control of the family income is a problem that most Western men may face when they marry a Chinese woman. Due to the fact that Chinese women were raised to believe that they should save as much as possible to secure their future, they may have trouble adjusting to the paycheck to paycheck Western way of life. If, on the one hand, the Chinese wife will follow her instincts and try to control as much money as possible, on the other hand, the Western husband might misinterpret this behavior and believe that her wife is only after her money. Unfortunately, many Westerners who become involved with Chinese women do so without the slightest knowledge of their cultural background. Most guys are eager to pick up a younger, exotic Asian girl, without even considering the consequences of doing so.

If you are experiencing these types of problems with your Chinese wife, the best solution will be none other than conversation. Finding a middle ground between these two mindsets will always be your best bet. Intercultural relationships are far from easy, but they can be very beneficial if the couple manages to unite the best of both worlds. Honestly, being controlled with money is a virtue, from which both parties can benefit. Perhaps a solution to the problem would be to set an allocation. You could give a percentage of the income to your Chinese wife and keep the rest to spend however you want.

Don’t be surprised if a few months later you discover that your Chinese wife is doing better than you! As we’ve already discussed, the Chinese are natural money savers and know how to make every penny count. Westerners should be thankful for Chinese savings, as they are used to lend money to the United States, allowing us to continue down the path of debt, which our Western nations have chosen.