Another hot button issue many couples forget to discuss before that long walk down the aisle is finances. Tremendous amounts of turmoil can be avoided be determining a few things before you take the plunge. Are you a spender or a saver? How about your fiancée? Do you balance your checkbook to the penny every month while she tosses receipts into her glove box along with her unpaid parking tickets? Ask your fiancée how money makes him or her feel. Is it the ultimate security or meant to be spent? Some conflict may be inevitable if one of you likes to spend while the other prefers to save, but marriage for two spenders or two savers can have it’s unique challenges as well. Together, try to develop a budget that both of you can live with, and don’t be afraid to look at the long-term. Where do you want to be financially in five years? Ten years? When you retire? Better yet, which one of you will be responsible for paying the bills each month? With the advent of on-line bill paying and software like Quicken, which is designed for personal finances, paying the bills is no longer the chore it used to be. Avoid confusion and costly mistakes, (I thought you paid the rent,) by designating one person to keep track of the bills. Another issue to be aware of before marrying the man or woman of your dreams is his or her current financial state. Is he or she bringing a mountain of debt and poor credit to the union? How will his or her current financial state affect yours once you’re married? Whatever financial problems your partner has will become yours too once you’re wed so make sure you’re aware of and okay with taking on his or her financial issues.