Love can be a wonderful thing, but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Sometimes a couple has to make an effort to keep their relationship thriving. Financial issues can be one of the biggest threats to a union. This happens because people tend to be products of their environments. If one partner came up in a family with good saving habits and the other came up in a family without them, there will eventually be clashes. Here’s what to do when money problems threaten to ruin your marriage.

Talk About It

For some reason, talking about money is considered taboo in American society. Meanwhile, failing to do so can lead to all sorts of problems. If your financial goals are at odds with one another, it’s going to get ugly. The sooner you sit down and discuss your priorities, the easier it will be to accomplish the next tip.

Find a Balance

Your partner might be all about instant gratification, with no concern for the future, while you might be about sacrificing today to have a comfortable future. Somewhere in between there is a balance point at which you both can have enough of what you care about to live comfortably. It’s OK to go out to dinner every now and then. Buying a new outfit every once and a whole is OK too. Just make sure you pay yourselves first. Establish a series of accounts to accomplish various goals and let growing them be a source of gratification too.

Ignore the Joneses

Everybody knows someone who always dresses well, drives nice cars, wears fine jewelry and lives in a beautiful neighborhood. In other words, they’re living the American dream. However, in a lot of cases, what you don’t see is they’re shopping at consignment stores, buying used cars, used furniture and being frugal in other ways. Or—they’re doing it all on credit. Either way, you can’t afford to get caught up in trying to keep up with them. Live your own life.

Make Financial Decisions Together

Both partners should be on a first name basis with your financial advisor. There should also be complete transparency between you about financial matters. Discovering your partner has a hefty bank account of which you were unaware will undermine your trust—and vice versa. If you’re in for a penny, you should be in for a pound. When both partners know exactly what’s going on, planning strategically and overcoming obstacles becomes easier.

Establish Separate Credit Histories

This might seem counter-productive at first glance, but if one spouse dies, or the marriage fails, you’re going to be glad you took this piece of advice. Having separate credit histories can also protect you if one spouse simply can’t bring himself or herself to get their spending under control. Just make sure the credit cards they use only have their name attached to them. If worst ever comes to worst, you’ll be glad you did.

Approach Problems as a Team

If things have gotten out of hand and you’re in serious financial trouble, you’ll need to avail yourself of some form of debt relief. You have a number of choices, ranging from consolidation loans to debt settlement and bankruptcy. Whatever you decide, make the decision together and research your choices thoroughly before making a final decision. Information like this Freedom Debt Relief review can be very useful when it comes to accomplishing that.

When money problems threaten to ruin your marriage, these tips will help the two of you get on the same wavelength. Working together to resolve issues can strengthen your relationship, give you renewed appreciation for one another and bring you closer together.