Financial topics for couples are important to discuss when moving in together. With open and honest conversations about money they can avoid potential conflicts in the future. Some significant financial considerations include discussing individual incomes, expenses, and debts. Couples should also talk about their financial goals and priorities, such as saving for a house or retirement. Additionally, discussing financial habits, such as spending and saving patterns, can help couples understand each other’s approach to money. Addressing these topics early on can help couples build a strong foundation of trust and transparency when it comes to their finances.
- Be Transparent About Finances
- Discuss Financial Philosophies First
- Start With Full Financial Disclosure
Be Transparent About Finances
Carve out some time to talk about income, expenses, debts, savings, and retirement goals. This is the time to be honest with each other—don’t leave out details like credit card debt, student loan payments, or accounts in collections out of shame or guilt. As a couple who will be managing your finances together, you’ll need to work as a team.
Discussing how to split expenses can be a tricky conversation, but it needs to happen. If you both have comparable wages, you can simply agree to split everything down the middle. But if one of you makes considerably more than the other, you may have to split things in a way that reflects your wages. For example, if you bring in 60% of the income, you can pay 60% of the rent. You also don’t have to split the actual “bills” in half to make things fair; you can agree to pay rent, and they can pay the utilities and streaming services.
Bethany Hickey, Personal Finance Expert & Banking Editor, Finder
Discuss Financial Philosophies First
When couples move in together, they should prioritize discussing their “financial philosophy” before anything else.
Instead of merely focusing on who pays what bills or how to split rent, they should dive into how each person fundamentally views money: is it a tool, a safety net, or a source of stress? Understanding each other’s financial upbringing, values, and emotional triggers around money can be a game-changer.
This conversation unveils unspoken expectations and potential conflicts early on. By aligning on this deeper level, decisions about budgets, savings, and spending become smoother because they’re rooted in mutual respect and understanding, not just practicality. It’s like setting the rules of the game before you start playing—crucial for long-term harmony.
Austin Benton, Marketing Consultant, Gotham Artists
Start With Full Financial Disclosure
The first thing to discuss is your individual financial situations—debts, income, spending habits, savings, all of it. This isn’t about judgment; it’s about transparency. You can’t build a solid financial foundation together if you’re not clear on where you’re both starting.
Next, I’d say it’s crucial to talk about how you’re going to handle shared expenses. Are you splitting everything 50/50, or is one person contributing more because they earn more? There’s no right or wrong answer, but you need to find what works for both of you. And don’t forget to chat about long-term goals—are you both on the same page about saving for a home, a wedding, or retirement? Aligning on these big-ticket items early on can save a lot of headaches down the road.
Austin Rulfs, Founder, SME Business Investor, Property & Finance Specialist, Zanda Wealth
