There are few things that can sink a marriage faster than miscommunication when it comes to money. This is especially true in a world where the economy can make any job disappear and turn a healthy relationship sour at the drop of a hat. But if you have a plan on how to talk about finances before those, or any other, situations arise, then you have a good chance to avoid one of the biggest causes of divorce out there: money troubles.
"Our money" A hurdle to overcome when you get married is the idea of things belonging to both of you. While your income streams feel independent of each other, you are now putting them in the same pot. The sooner you come to that conclusion, the faster your relationship can go ahead and build either in terms of saving, paying off debts or planning for life's eventualities.
Being on the same page As a couple, you have forged a union, but that doesn't mean that the previous years of life are now thrown out the window. Both of you come into the marriage with a specific point of view about spending that could make what one side sees as a simple transaction a volatile issue. By having a discussion about your financial views during out next tip, budgeting, and more along the way, you can hope to gain a further understanding about each other and how your money should be spent.
Budgeting One of the most important thing the recent housing bubble has shown us is that leaving beyond your means, or not knowing where your finances stand, is a one-way ticket to disaster. One of the best ways to avoid that is to take an honest, frank assessment of your money and where it's going. Creating a budget doesn't mean you have to cut back, it just means that you know how funds are being allocated to various things like groceries or going out. That way, if there needs to be cuts made in the future, you have a ready-made list to work from.