What You Should Know About Your Fiancé's Finances

Don't walk down the aisle without discussing money matters first.

If you're going to be walking down the aisle soon, you've probably had some conversations with your spouse-to-be about what your life will be like once you're married. But have you discussed your finances? Probably not.

Only one-fourth of Americans talked about finances and created a budget before getting married, according to a survey commissioned by financial management Web site zendough.com. One-third said they didn't know their spouse's credit score. Imagine the shock of the spouse with stellar credit when the couple get turned down for a loan to buy their first home because the other spouse has a lousy credit score.

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Cameron Huddleston
Former Online Editor, Kiplinger.com

Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.

Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.