talk to your partner about any money issues

Do you want to discuss your finances with your other half but don’t know where to begin? Try these tips to get started

1 SET A MONEY DATE

‘Every couple should set aside time for a money date – a time to discuss savings goals, planning for a shared future and potentially tricky topics such as money concerns or managing debt,’ says Tesco Bank’s Ban Mahsoub. ‘Put a date in the diary so you both know that it’s coming and can prepare for it. Go through all your outgoings and think about how you can work together to start spending less; for example, can you ditch regular takeaways or drop to a cheaper phone plan?’ suggests Ban. ‘Small changes can soon make a big difference. Make time to discuss your short and long-term financial goals,’ she adds. ‘And try to set aside one evening a month to discuss your progress and any tweaks that need to be made to your plan.’

2 CELEBRATE THE WINS

Cutting back on spending to save money may feel harder to stick to as time goes on. ‘Be sure to keep track of your progress and mark milestones along the way to help keep you motivated; for example, using loyalty points you’ve built up to buy something on your wish list,’ suggests Ban.

3 ALWAYS SEEK HELP IF YOU NEED TO

Don’t feel like you have to go it alone. If you need help with debt, for example, don’t delay asking for it. ‘Try getting in touch with Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) or Stepchange Debt Charity (stepchange.org), which both offer free, impartial advice on how to deal with debt,’ advises Ban.