Things You'll Need:
- common sense
- investigative tactics
- a desire to be in a long term lasting loving relationship with your mate
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Step 1
Since it is not an asset, payments on a car is debt and you may be with someone you want to marry and they have just purchased a car. I am not talking about this type of bills due. What you want to concern yourself with and investigate is if the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with has unpaid for instance school loans or even high unpaid cell phone bills. These two debts can sneak up on a couple years into a marriage at the most inopportune time: before the buying of a house, having a new baby or the lost of a job can be an added stress that can bring havoc to a relationship. Find out. If they won't tell you, give you proof or you have suspicion, do your own investigation though several free agencies or credit bureaus. Oh yea, money can buy anything. Don't make the mistake of marrying someone who has more than $10,000.00 of bills they've "forgotten" to pay. You are about to live as one and create a life of bills together. Better make sure they are a conscientious responsible bill payer.
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Step 2
Child support. Known to you and unknown to you. Check him and even her out. There are run away moms. He says he has two, he could have five. She says she has none, she could have. Although people are known to change their addresses and even names frequently to avoid bill collectors and payments, you have to take out time to find out as much as possible about the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Genealogy, could be help finding out pediment information about your future together; is your mate going to be responsible for elder care of a mother... father; important health relations that can be found through this knowledge. Not knowing some aspects of your mates genealogy could lead you into serious debt. There is nothing so sad as a relationship going sour because it can't get off the ground financially.
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Step 3
Ask your mate if they will share their credit report and scores with you. The importance of this is not finding out their ratings, consequently, to see if they are willing to do it. If they are not willing to share their report with you and of course yours to them, there's going to be some rocky roads ahead in dealing with finances between you two.
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Step 4
Start setting aside and discussing your financial goals early into your relationship, it would be better if it isn't started near the talk of marrying. Talk over all angles in this discussion, mines, yours, his, hers, ours, emergencies, savings, children's education.
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Step 5
To be able to marry debt free does not mean you're relationship has to be set up like a pre-nuptial agreement, but you better make sure you two have some type of clear understanding how the money is going to be spent and how the money not paid in bills between the both of you is going to be paid also.
Comments
AbbyNormal said
on 7/10/2008 I think we need to worry a lot less about money and creditworthiness. There are bigger issues in the world.
thesquirrelymom said
on 7/4/2008 Sounds like very good advice.
asksummer said
on 7/4/2008 Credit is always a great topic to write about. Any ideas to fix it at any time are helpful
purrfect1969 said
on 7/4/2008 Now a days you have to protect yourself. Plus, without credit you won't be able to have the things you want, a nice car, a big home, etc. Great ideas on how to make sure you start your relationship on a healthy credit note.
Limowreck said
on 7/4/2008 This is a big issue for a lot of people. More and more of us have credit trouble early in our adult lives. Unfortunately, some of us have more trouble than others. Very important article for dreamy lovebirds who think romance conquers all.