Navigating finances in a relationship can be tricky.

You may think everything is progressing smoothly.

But your budget and savings account say otherwise.

A lesbian couple cuddle at home.

Creating a budget? We reviewed the 10best budgeting apps for couples.

Take a little time at the beginning or end of each month toclose out your budgetas a couple.

Here are somebudgeting questionsto get you started.

No Interest Til Almost 2027?

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Did you know?

How Do We Feel About Our Spending?

Its helpful to compare how your actual spending matches up with your planned budget.

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Look at each spending category, such as food, entertainment and transportation.

Where did you overspend?

Where did you spend less than anticipated?

Where do you want to spend more or less?

If you spent more money than you anticipated, analyze what factors contributed to overspending.

Talk to each other about what you could do differently next month.

Its better to be practical than stick to a number that doesnt work for you.

The reverse is true, too.

Do you want to reallocate that money or roll it over to save for more expensive maintenance?

How Do We Feel About Our Savings Goals?

Or maybe you both have a significant amount ofstudent loan debtyou want to eliminate in the next five years.

How Should We Handle Personal Spending and Savings Goals?

Youll both have personal things you want to spend money on or individual savings goals.

One way to avoid conflict is to create a no-questions-asked allowance for each of you.

Just see to it you both agree on the personal allowance amount in your budget.

Or if youre not comfortable combining your finances, you’re free to take a more hybrid approach.

Each partner contributes to the joint account but keeps the rest of their accounts separate.

Do We Need to Adjust Our Budget to Meet Our Goals?

Dont just focus on your discretionary spending either.

Look through your essential expenses and identify one way you’re able to cut costs.

Or you’re free to trylowering your utility billsby reducing your water and electricity usage.

If youre both already super frugal, it may be time to discuss ways to bring in extra income.

you’ve got the option to increase your income in a number of ways.

At work, you could ask to take on more hours, work overtime ornegotiate a raise.

You could supplement your regular job with aside hustleor a stream ofpassive income.

you’re able to also increase your cash flow byselling items around your house.

Its important not to point fingers or emphasize income inequalities during these discussions.

Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.

(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)

You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…