Get specific about what 'comfortable' means
One person means bills paid and a decent home. Another means a new car, regular holidays and eating out every week. Both may use the same word while imagining different lives.
Put the actual expectations on the table.
Do not use religion to win a budgeting argument
Islamic rights matter, but they should not be used as slogans to shut down every practical conversation. The couple still needs to talk about means, priorities, saving and what is realistic right now.
Watch for contempt
If one person constantly mocks the other's income, job, family background or ability to provide, the problem may be bigger than budgeting. Contempt tends to get worse, not better, under financial pressure.
What you can do now
- Share a realistic picture of income and major commitments.
- List the lifestyle expectations that matter most to each of you.
- Agree what can wait for later.
- Do not borrow or exaggerate just to look more ready than you are.
Questions people usually ask next
Should I end the proposal over money?
Not automatically. But if the basic expectations are far apart and neither person is willing to live with the other's reality, that is a genuine compatibility issue.
What if her parents are pushing the expectations?
Ask what she herself expects. Family pressure can influence the conversation, but you are marrying her, not a list of community standards.