Love and Money

Do you usually go dutch when you take someone out to dinner? Do you expect your date to pay for the whole meal?Many people say that as long as there's love, money doesn't matter much.

?But this might change when the relationship gets serious and it can involve mortgages, joint current accounts and debt.A survey in the UK suggested that 44% of married couples don't know exactly what their spouse earns.

The research, conducted by a UK credit report service also found that an astonishing 1.9 million married couples actively try to keep their finances secret from their partners.

British relationship therapist Arabella Russell says: "It's very difficult to talk about money. Often there's guilt, there's shame. To start those conversations is complicated.

Money can be about how we value ourselves, how we feel valued. It's not just a simple case of talking about hard cash."So if you are in a couple, it might be a good idea to check if you both are on the same page about money before bills pile up on the kitchen table and love flies out of the window.

When moving in together, couples should not only talk about their personal habits but also about their financial ones.Arabella Russell has a word of advice: "Accept the fact that in your relationship you might do money differently – there might be a spender there might be a saver.

It's very tempting if your partner does things differently to say they're wrong. Do it differently but have a budget."And now, back to that date… Would you be put off by someone who was attractive but expected you to pay the bill by yourself? There's food for thought…