Introduction to Young Couples and Money

Money can hang like a dark cloud over even the sunniest wedding day. There will now be two of you handling money together, which can double whatever angst there was before. There will be clashes and disagreements. As money is the most common cause of marital failure, it is wise to put aside your discomfort and deal with it before you say "I do."

Often, one spouse is a spendthrift while the other is a tightwad—this difference may have been part of what attracted you to each other in the first place. In the movies, it makes for great comedy. In real life, it can make for great tragedy. Any differences you have in how you handle money will be amplified afterward, no matter what type of union you choose. They will not magically work themselves out, but they can magically ruin your lives instead, sometimes very quickly and very easily, and leave a bitter legacy of anger and lessons hard-learned.