Nothing says romance like an intimate discussion about personal finance.
That doesnt mean you ought to grill a first date about their salary history.
Here are a few tips to tackle money management for couples in various relationship stages.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
But an equally important question you should be asking yourself is if youre staying within your budget when dating.
Of course theres the desire to impress your new boo.
Dating only has to be expensive if you make it that way.
There are plenty ofcheap date ideasthat fit into anyones budget and are still fun.
Do they seem to be a spender or a saver?
Do they take time to save up for a big expense or just pull out the AMEX?
When You Decide to Move in Together
Sharing a household means sharing household bills.
Once youre at the point where youre thinking about living together, its time to have a seriousmoney talk.
Decide how youll pay for your collective expenses.
Will both your names be on the lease and utility accounts?
Will yousplit your living costsevenly or come up with percentages based on how much each partner makes?
Will you merge finances and get ajoint account?
Will youkeep your money separateand reimburse each other?
Or will you each be in charge of different expenses?
When you share the same address, its important that you startbudgeting as a couple.
Dont forget short-term goals, like saving up for a nice anniversary trip.
Set aside time for abudget meetingeach month or more frequently if you desire.
When Youre Headed to the Altar
Your wedding is one of those days youll remember forever.
But that doesnt mean you ought to spend forever paying it off.
If youre engaged and planning a wedding,sticking to a wedding budgetis a must.
Set a date thatll allow you enough time to put aside the money you need.
Your wedding budget will include various categories, like the reception venue, attire, photography and food.
Talk to your partner about what matters most for your big day.
Splurge on a couple big things and find ways to cut costs on the rest.
These tips tosave thousands of dollars on your dream weddingwill help you lower your expenses.
Youre in it for the long haul, financially intertwined for life.
His and hers becomes ours.
Its time tofile taxestogether andtackle debt as a team.
Hopefully by now you have a strong foundation of financial teamwork.
Create a budget that works for you with ourbudgeting bootcamp!
Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
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