Compared to other sources of couple conflicts, disputes over finances are more difficult to resolve than other types of arguments. Still, little is known about what causes these disputes and how partners experience them. This study uses Huston’s (2000) social ecological framework to explore how individuals explain conflicts over finances in their current romantic relationship. The study involved semi-structured interviews with individuals currently living in an intimate relationship. The key findings suggest that individuals explain conflicts in their relationships with macroenvironmental factors (feelings of economic pressure or a challenging life phase), issues concerning their relationship interactions and practices (troubles in communication, dissatisfaction with unequal practices), and individual characteristics and experiences (spousal differences concerning views on money and consuming, life history and past experiences). As such, all of these levels should be taken into account to understand the financial conflicts which occur between spouses, and in professional work that aims to help couples to tackle these issues.