How to talk about money before you get married

Getting married is one of the most exciting and important moments in your life. Not only will you be committing to your love, but you’ll also be officially merging your worlds, for better or worse. One of the biggest parts of a new union will be financial. You and your partner likely entered your relationship with different money goals and challenges, so it’s vital to discuss where you both stand on financial issues before you say “I do.” Here are six topics you should discuss.

Spending habits

How you spend can be a sensitive topic. One of the things couples argue about most is money, especially when a person overspends. Part of the problem is that couples just don’t dedicate a lot of time discussing their spending habits. Chances are you and your significant other will have different ideas of spending. Talking about spending habits and financial issues before the money gets spent can go a long way toward heading off future arguments. Start money discussions by being honest and respecting your spouse’s perspective. By talking about the way you view money and how you should approach spending as a couple, you’ll enjoy a healthier and more unified relationship.

Money goals

You may have different financial goals than your partner does. But now that you are about to walk down the aisle, it’s important to talk about which of those goals you should work toward together. Start by making lists of your goals separately and then set a date to discuss them. Establishing some joint objectives will likely require compromise. Agreeing about what you want to accomplish as a couple is a key to moving forward and to ensuring honesty about your finances. Once you’ve established unified goals, be sure to check in periodically to talk about them and any personal goals each of you may have. Goals can change over time, so it’s a good idea to revisit them and get on the same page as a couple.

Debt

How much debt you have can be difficult to reveal, but going into a marriage it’s important, to be honest about what you both owe on your credit cards, school loans, and other accounts before you combine your finances. You also want to be transparent about the habits that may have led to debt, especially if it’s a large amount. By discussing your debt stories with one another and sharing your credit history you’ll have a good idea of where you stand when you start sharing finances. After you’re married, you may share joint credit cards, a mortgage, car loans, and more. Bad credit bad can adversely affect your purchasing power when it comes to buying a home and can raise interest rates on cards and other loans. It’s important to lay everything on the table so you can work together to eliminate bad debt and get your credit in good standing.

Merging finances

Whether or not you and your fiancé decide to share accounts is something you should determine before you get married. There is no right or wrong choice. Some married couples decide to combine everything, and some choose to maintain separate bank accounts. If you do decide to merge finances, it’s important to agree on what constitutes joint expenses and how much discretionary money you will each have to spend each month. You may want to consider setting up three accounts – the joint account, an account for you, and one for your significant other to ensure funds are allocated correctly.

Long-term plans

Long-term financial planning is also an important topic to discuss with your future spouse. You need to know what your future goals together will be, such as buying a home, saving for retirement, purchasing life insurance, setting up an emergency fund, or having a baby. Talk about what specific steps are required to make those goals a reality. That means saving money and making a plan for the number of months or years it might take to achieve what you want down the road.

Budget

A budget is an essential tool whether you’re single or not, but it’s especially vital when you’re married and have to share expenses. Spend some time with your spouse and map out your income and expenses. Organizing finances on a budgeting app is a helpful tool for staying on top of your money together. If you aren’t sure how budgeting with a partner might go, you’re in luck, because you have a wedding to plan! Planning a wedding on a budget is a great way to start working out financial steps with your significant other.