3 signs you're ready to move in together
How do you know you’re financially ready to move in with your partner? I’ll tell you in this week’s Money Minute.
You know who’s paying for what
Figuring out how to split the bills can get tricky, especially if one person earns more. Talk about how you’ll divvy up the rent, the gas and other bills so they’re split equitably. And establish whose names will go on them. Your partner may agree to pay the cable bill, but if your name’s on the account, you’re the one on the hook if they miss a payment.
You’ve had “the numbers talk”
Before you sign a lease, drag out all the financial skeletons you’ve got hiding in your closet. Do you have student loans? Terrible credit? A relative who’s constantly hitting you up for cash? These are the sorts of nasty surprises that could cause friction in your relationship — and derail your joint plans for the future.
You’ve gotten clear about your goals
One of the most common reasons couples fight is because their financial goals don’t align. One person may want to save up to buy a house, while the other is completely consumed with paying off their student debt. Be honest about what you want for your future and come up with a plan so you can get there (hopefully together).
More money questions? Ask me anything.
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Mandi Woodruff is a reporter for Yahoo Finance and host of Brown Ambition, a weekly podcast about career and finance. Follow her on Tumblr or Facebook.