Here are some of the big mistakes couples can make:
Poor communication.
It's important to talk about money early and often with a significant other. Talking early and often about spending concerns and progress toward your goals is important for any relationship.
Keeping secrets.
Many spouses hide purchases from each other. Some are small, some are big, but any of them can be an unpleasant surprise on the bank statement. For some couples this means separate bank accounts, or setting limits on what each can spend without asking the other.
No budget.
It's hard enough keeping track of our own spending without a budget, but virtually impossible when there's another spender whose actions you don't know about. A budget has advantages beyond pinpointing where we overspend. It keeps both parties on the same page, can be used to start and maintain discussions about money, and provides a reality-based foundation for those talks where emotions (and accusations) can otherwise run rampant.
Ignoring differences.
As the saying goes, opposites attract. This can be true with spending styles too. Some people are successful savers while others rack up debt and don't worry about the consequences until it's too late. Some are terrified of investments, while others are willing to take big risks for potentially big rewards. The easiest thing to do is simply let your partner spend the way he or she wants, but it's not the smartest.
Bottom line? There's no one right way to approach money and marriage. But there's definitely a wrong one: not talking about it.
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