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To find out, sit down together and compare your answers to these statements. You may get solutions to your money dilemmas.

Adapted from Making Bread: The Ultimate Financial Guide for Women Who Need Dough

(Running Press), by Gail Harlow with Elizabeth Lewin:

1. Saving at least 10 percent of income is absolutely necessary.
2. No matter who earns the most money, both partners should have equal say in financial decisions.
3. Sometimes my spending is out of control.

Not in perfect agreement? Don’t worry. Just start talking about how you can bridge any gaps—otherwise, your differences could lead to arguments down the road that could seriously hurt a marriage. Discuss all your financial ideals: Would you like to buy a house one day? Will you have joint accounts after you’re married? Next, iron out any differences—for instance, maybe you’ll agree to set a spending limit if one of you isn’t as cautious with money as the other. If you still feel at odds, consider hiring a certified financial planner—many will work on an hourly basis—to act as a go-between. Go to garrettplanningnetwork.com to find a pro in your area.

Credit Where Due

Good news: As of September 2005, under a new federal law, Americans can receive a free copy of their credit report, the record of a person’s financial history that determines his or her credit score. “This number determines your ability to get a mortgage, loan or credit card, as well as what interest rates you’ll pay,” explains Liz Pulliam Weston, author of Your Credit Score (Pearson/Prentice Hall). Why should you see your report? “You can correct any mistakes that might hurt you later on, like a late credit payment you had back in college that by law should fall off your record after seven years,” she says. “In the worst-case scenario, you might discover you’ve been a victim of identity theft. For instance, you may notice credit-card accounts you never opened or a repossession action for a car you didn’t buy.” Call 877-322-8228, or go to annualcreditreport.com, to get your report; then visit myfico.com to find out your credit score (for a fee). If your score’s low, you can get to work immediately on improving it.

Smart Strategy!

Kudos to BG readers: 77% of you said you are paying for your wedding expenses with cash or checks, according to a bridalguide.com poll. Our advice to the 19% of you who plan to use credit cards: Be sure you’ve got the cash to back up your purchases, and pay the bills as they come in. And to the 4% who intend to take out a loan: Shop around for the best rates and stick to the repayment plan. You don’t want to begin your marriage under a cloud of debt.

Your Brilliant Budget

I hired a photographer whose assistant shot digital photos of us while the pro was setting up for our formal pictures. He put those candids on a CD for us—at no extra cost. We e-mailed those images to friends and family, thus saving the cost of making prints.”
—Nina Willdorf, New York City. Wedding: August 31, 2003.

Got a smart budget idea that worked for you? Share it! Send an e-mail, with “Budget Basics” in the subject line, to mail@bridalguide.com.