Is love enough to carry your marriage through? 

You step into your first home together, hand in hand, believing that love alone will be enough to see you through. Yet behind the joy of starting a life together lies another reality: bills to pay, groceries to budget, and future plans to prepare for.

As much as we may not like to admit, disagreements about money are often a major source of stress and unspoken resentment between partners. Love may warm a home, but healthy financial habits help ensure that love endures.

If you’re planning to get married, or have only just tied the knot, here are five common financial mistakes, and how you and your partner can avoid them.

Mistake 1: Avoiding the money talk

It’s easy to believe that love conquers all. Yet when financial matters aren’t discussed openly, quiet tension can slowly build, putting a strain on the relationship. One partner may be a disciplined saver, while the other prefers to spend more freely — both with the best intentions, but their goals may not align.

Try this: Plan regular “money dates” and ask each other:

• What are our biggest financial worries?
• How do we want to manage expenses like groceries, rent, or meals?
• What dreams are we working towards together?

These conversations may not sound romantic, but they’re one of the deepest ways to say, “I want to build this life with you, honestly.”

Mistake 2: Ignoring the emergency fund

Life isn’t always rosy. Cars break down, health dips, and sometimes jobs are lost. Without a buffer, these moments cause stress that seeps into your relationship.

Try this: Build an emergency fund that covers 3–6 months of expenses. This could mean:

• Choosing a home within (or below) your means
• Cancelling unused subscriptions (do you really need three streaming apps?)
• Swapping trendy splurges for lasting quality

The goal isn’t to hoard money, but to create breathing room. That way, even if one income disappears, life doesn’t unravel overnight.

Mistake 3: Not planning for long-term security

It’s easy to get caught up in the “now” — new home decor, weekend getaways, dining out. But what about 10, 20, or even 30 years from today? Try this:

• Take out health or life cover while you’re still young.
• Start retirement savings as early as possible — compound growth rewards time.
• Explore options that let both partners contribute to each other’s future, so neither is left without a safety net. (Hint: EPF’s i-Sayang or Contribution to Other Members!)

Read also: i-Sayang: How Can You Contribute to Your Wife’s Finances?

Mistake 4: Overlooking family & future plans

Even the sweetest vows can get rocky when big life questions are avoided. Kids? Supporting parents? Bigger home? These matter emotionally and financially.

Try this: Talk early about:

• Do we want children, and if so, when?
• How will we budget for childcare, tuition, or a bigger home?
• How do we support our parents while balancing our own household needs?

These conversations may feel weighty, but having them early saves heartache later.

Mistake 5: Not building a budget together

Budgets sound restrictive, but in truth, they create freedom. A clear plan lets you enjoy splurges without guilt and save without resentment.

Try this:

• Keep a one-month money diary: write down every spend, from coffee to ride-shares. You’ll spot habits you didn’t notice.
• Use a simple frame: 50% for essentials, 30% for wants, 20% saved.
• Revisit together whenever life shifts — promotions, a move, or starting a family.

Read also: 50/30/20 Budget Rule: A Beginner’s Guide

Creating a stable and joyful future together

Love makes the heart flutter. Money helps you build a happy life together.

True intimacy isn’t found only in candlelit dinners or whispered promises, but in the everyday actions and choices that shape a shared life. It means planning for the future, being prepared for both joys and challenges, facing the unexpected, and sharing not just dreams but financial responsibilities, all of which help a marriage endure.

Because true, lasting love means feeling secure, valued, and supported — in your relationship and throughout life’s journey.