From "I Do" to "We Do Budget": Financial Checklist for a Strong Marriage

It's exciting to get married. Nevertheless, entering into a formal partnership necessitates combining your lives with your spouse's in other ways.

Among other things, you'll need to determine how you want to handle your combined finances, whether to create joint accounts, and how you want to file your taxes.

Couples will differ in some of their shared financial decisions, such as whether or not to create joint accounts or share credit cards. After marriage, combine finances by following these steps.

Revise Your Status for Tax Filing

Whether you want to file jointly or individually, your tax filing status will change after you are officially married. The IRS advises you to promptly update your information with your employer. Whether you would rather file as married filing jointly or as married filing separately is something you and your spouse may talk about.

The largest tax advantage is when you file jointly since your standard deduction is increased to the combined amount. When a married couple files separately, they are only allowed to deduct one standard deduction. It's usually advisable to file jointly.

Modify Your Beneficiaries

Your spouse becomes your next of kin after marriage, therefore in the event of an emergency, they might inherit your possessions. To guarantee that your money goes to the person you want it to, you may assist cut down on bureaucracy by changing your beneficiary information on your eligible plans.

Make an Emergency Plan

As morbid as it may seem, updating your estate planning and other emergency preparations is also a smart idea after the wedding.

As you build your wealth to achieve your dream lifestyle, estate planning becomes essential for handling unexpected events. An estate plan ensures that you and your loved ones are always taken care of and that your money is distributed according to your wishes, even when you are no longer able to manage your finances.

Ultimately, your estate plan should specify how your money will be managed, outline care arrangements for your children in the event of your passing, and designate who will make financial or health decisions if you become incapable of doing so yourself.

Consider Joint Accounts

Joint bank accounts can be an effective way to manage household finances as a couple, but they are not suitable for everyone. When married, you have several options: merging all finances into a single joint account, keeping separate personal accounts alongside a joint account for shared bills, or maintaining entirely separate accounts. Assess your unique situation to determine what works best for both partners.

Each couple will find a different arrangement that suits their needs, based on factors like the desired access to each other's money and how payments are divided. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to pooling funds; the key is to ensure both partners agree on the chosen method.

The content provided on MoneyTimes.com is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice. Please consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment decisions.