I’m a big proponent for monthly budget meetings where you can discuss your financial goals and track your progress. Schedule a day and time where neither of you will be distracted. Be honest and open to discussing any changes that you would like to make to your spending and savings goals and establish realistic timelines for achieving those goals. If you are having trouble getting on the same page with each other on your emergency savings and debt-reduction goals, consider taking a financial planning course together.

While having separate finances may not be an acceptable approach for some couples, the practice is increasing in popularity, especially for couples that live in community property states where one spouse can become legally responsible for the other spouse’s debt. Couples keep separate bank accounts but agree which bills will be their responsibility to pay.

Another option is to have a joint bank account for paying bills and separate accounts for personal spending. Come to an agreement on what percentage of your income each of you will contribute to the joint account and what bills will be paid out of it. If you and your spouse get paid by direct deposit, you can even arrange to have your paycheck split between the joint account and your personal accounts.