Dear Coleen

DEBTS WORRY ME IF WE MOVE IN TOGETHER

My girlfriend and I have been talking about moving in together, as we’ve been dating for a year and it seems like the next natural step.

Things are really good, but she admitted to me recently that she struggles with debt and managing to pay her bills.

It wouldn’t have been a problem a few months ago, but I left my wellpaid job to work part time while I retrain, so I’m not earning much.

I’m concerned that if I move in with her, I’m going to end up paying off her debt, while at the moment I’m sharing a flat with a mate and it’s affordable.

Am I worrying too much?

Coleen says

Moving in together can be a pressure in itself and if you add financial pressure into the mix, then things could quickly implode.

I think you need to have a conversation about how you’re going to cope financially and who’s going to pay for what.

How are you going to divide up the household bills? And if you work it out properly so you each know where you stand, then that’s the best way to go into it. So have a plan.

Trust me, there’s nothing romantic about moving in together only to end up arguing over bills and struggling to make ends meet.

And if you’re clever with money, then maybe you need to step in and monitor your outgoings.

Also, if she is in debt and worried about how she’s going to pay it off, then she can get advice from a charity StepChange (stepchange. org; 0800 138 1111), which can provide financial advice, as well as devise a debt management plan to help her pay off her debt at a more manageable rate.