While a lot of time is spent on picking a venue, the perfect wedding dress, who will stand up for the bride and groom, what to serve, and where does everyone sit, often, not enough time is spent asking some key financial questions before walking down the aisle. Full disclosure here: I didn’t even let my daughter move out until she showed us a detailed monthly budget so these questions were addressed not long after the proposal. Starting off on the right financial footing will save years of stress in the future. Here are some questions to ask:

“What is your credit score?”
A marriage means the blending of credit scores. Ask questions about debts that will be brought into the marriage. Has there been a pattern of late payments? How often do you check your credit and through which service?
“Any trouble with the IRS?”
Both my daughter and my future son-in-law just filed their first tax returns in 2016, but what if this is not a first marriage or you have been in the work force for a number of years? IRS problems can stay with you for many years to come and you want to make sure that everything is taken care of before filing a joint return.

“Should we start saving for a house now?”
A sinking fund, that is dollars saved for a specific purchase, is always a good idea in my opinion. Once you know how much you can comfortably afford in a mortgage payment, you can back into how much house you can buy. I recommend trying to save for a 20% down payment.

I know these discussions are not fun ones, but are necessary. Starting off a new marriage on the same financial page is one of the best vows you can make.

disclosures:http://www.hechteffect.net/?page_id=31