When Spouses Disagree
Since tithing involves money, it is a prime candidate for controversy between a husband and wife (many marital problems stem from finances). However, if both spouses are Christians, they should have a desire to please the Lord. It's important for both spouses to be aware of God's principles of finance. That way, they'll understand tithing is God-ordained, not just a personal desire that the wife is trying to impose on the husband, or vice versa.
The problem becomes more complicated when one spouse is an unbeliever. If the wife is an unbeliever, this does not automatically mean that the husband must not follow the Lord's direction regarding tithing. He must realize, however, that the Lord is more concerned about his wife's soul than He is about the husband's giving. If tithing becomes a stumbling block to a man’s wife or vice versa, he should consider not tithing temporarily in order to win his wife to the Lord.
If the unbelieving spouse is the husband, then the believing wife should submit to his wishes, trusting that her submissive attitude may win him to the Lord 1 Peter 3:1-6. But she may still ask him to let her give an amount smaller than the tithe for a period of time. If, at the end of a year, they are worse off financially as a result of her giving, she will agree to cease giving. But if they are better off financially, she will be allowed to give more. In Malachi 3:10, the Lord says to test Him in tithing. Often, this is just the opportunity for God to prove Himself faithful to an unbelieving spouse.