Relationships and Money by John Hilaire

Budgeting and saving should be easier for you if you are single than if you are married (or a couple) because you are the only one that should be making your financial decisions and controlling your financial destiny. Single people realize that an extra paycheck doesn't necessarily mean extra money. An extra paycheck usually equates to an extra person (your spouse) having a say as to how, where and when your money is spent. And many times this can create conflicts.

Understand that even though you may be living off one paycheck, it should be easier to control and track where the money goes than if you have two paychecks. Thus, if you are single, take this time to get and keep your finances in order.

When you are about to make a decision regarding marriage, you must analyze whether you and your potential spouse's individual views on money management are different and whether your differences may create conflicts. You must also analyze whether your potential spouse's financial past and present are acceptable to you.

To lessen the likelihood of conflicts, you and your partner should discuss your views on money management before getting married. You must be open and honest with each other for these discussions and effectively convey your views on all money-management issues. This is one possible way to lessen the likelihood of having as many money problems during the marriage.

You should also ask your partner about his past and current financial status. Don't be shy about asking because these are things you need to know before getting married. If you have reason to believe your partner is not being honest with you, or if he just won't answer your questions, investigate him before jumping into a marriage. Request a copy of his credit report, try to find out if he has a checking and savings account, and how much debt he has accrued and the reasons for such debt.

Even if you like surprises, you shouldn't want to be surprised about your partner's financial circumstances after the marriage. In fact, you may want to reconsider making major life choices until you have built total trust in this person. In addition, if your own financial condition is bad, you must let your partner know. It's not a good idea to find out negative things about each other's financial situations after the marriage when you are applying for joint credit or filing a joint tax return.

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