The money checklist before marriage

The conversations

• --Debts and EMIs — education loans, car loans, credit card balances. No surprises.
• --Credit scores — they’ll matter for a home loan together (how habits affect your CIBIL score).
• --Goals — a home, children, travel, career breaks, supporting parents.
• --Money styles — saver or spender, planner or spontaneous (how to talk about money with your partner).
• --Family support — who you support financially now or expect to later.

The decisions

• --How you’ll share costs — joint, separate or hybrid (joint vs separate accounts).
• --Split method — 50/50 or in proportion to income.
• --The “check first” amount — the purchase size above which you discuss before buying.
• --The wedding budget — who contributes what, and a total you won’t start married life in debt for (wedding expense tracking).

The admin

• --Update nominees on bank accounts, PF, insurance and investments.
• --Review insurance — add your spouse to health cover and check whether life cover is enough for the new responsibilities.
• --Organise documents together so either of you can find anything (organising family financial documents).
• --Update name or address on accounts if either of you is changing them.

Frequently asked questions