 TITLE: When Should I Combine Finances With My Partner? CONTENT: Consider Your Relationship Stage\n--------------------------------\nPerhaps the most important element in the decision to combine finances is trust. If you'll be splitting bills with a partner, and relying on them to regularly come up with their share, it's important to feel confident that you won't be left covering the whole balance.\nEarly on, you may decide to split expenses like meals out and flights for vacation using tools such as Venmo and Splitwise. Once you move in together, you may be more likely to split larger, more regular bills, such as rent, groceries or potentially a car payment. Falling behind on housing or car payments can have serious consequences—for your housing security and credit score, for instance—so waiting to combine these parts of your financial lives is a smart choice.\nThat means it may be best to wait to combine finances, either partially or fully, until you've reached the stage at which you're in a trusted, long-term commitment. The timing for each couple will vary, but the first several months of dating are an opportunity to get to know your partner—and it's wise to wait to understand their income, savings, debt and money philosophy before combining finances. END