Thinking about getting married? If money has you worried, then maybe it's time for a serious heart to heart discussion. At least, you should discuss the following three issues to ensure a long-living and happy marriage.

Can you show me your credit report and FICO score? Taking a look at your fiance's credit report and FICO score can be very telling. In a credit report, you can learn whether he has a history of paying his bills on time, who he owes money to, if he is in debt, if he consistently overdraws, and even if he owes backed taxes and child support payments. A FICO score is based on a person's credit history, and scores typically range from 450 to 850; the better their credit, the higher their score. Any score below 700 is cause for worry, and should be discussed with your fiance.

What are your financial goals?
It's important that you and your fiance be able to work together and create and operate with a plan for your combined finances. There are five important steps to creating a financial plan: 1) get educated about the money; 2) perform a "gap analysis" to compare current spending against current income; 3) living a modest lifestyle; 4) establishing an emergency fund right away and a debt elimination plan; and 5) automating your savings for maximum investment return. Having clear communication, honest disclosure, and agreements on the process to make financial decisions are all essential to making the marriage work.

Can you manage your money with a written budget?
Most people begin building their wealth by first learning how to budget their money wisely. One major red flag is learning that your fiance has a habit of spending on impulse. Trust will develop if you learn that your fiance has a written budget that documents his or her spending habits. Real confidence will come when you see that your partner to be knows how to control buying impulses and has the self-control to leave money to put away each month as savings. By creating and following a written budget, you and your partner will be able to acquire and maintain significant wealth through your lifetime.

"Brides can learn a lot about their fiance by going over these things with them," says Trippon. "Knowing the details of your partner's financial history and habits can help a couple to have a happier and longer lasting marriage."

Source: www.sheknow.com