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Valentines’ day is fast approaching and while we don't want to be a killjoy, money is the number 1 cause of stress in relationships and the number one cause of divorce. With that in mind here are 11 questions to ask before you move in together. So, grab some champagne and ask away.

How much debt do you have?

If the other person has $100,000 in credit card debt, what does that mean for your relationship? Are you BOTH going to repay it? How will that affect your lifestyle? Are you both prepared to make sacrifices to pay it off?

How much do you use Afterpay?

If someone uses Afterpay, or similar a lot this may indicate they routinely spend more than they earn. Maybe they are taking advantage of bargains to acquire necessary items but you need to ask.

Do you have any savings?

Savings are a great indication that someone has their house in order. They've budgeted for their expenses for a continuous period of time and put away regular amounts. They are the type of person that a bank gets excited about, which will affect whether you can buy a house later on.

Do you cook? Do you bring lunch to work with you?

If your partner-to-be can't cook, you're either going to be doing all the cooking or spending a lot of money on takeaway. If someone cooks and brings their lunch, it’s a good indication they are good with money.

Will we combine our money or keep it separate?

Combining your money when you move in together can make managing your money simpler and keep you working together as a team. If you're worried about your partner having access to you money maybe this is saying something?

What do you think about car loans?

Borrowing money to buy a depreciating asset is generally a terrible idea. You might be in urgent need of transport but if someone has a $50,000 car loan, that’s going to have an impact on your life together.

Were your parents good with money?

We tend to get our money habits from our parents. If your parents are good with money and talked about money there's a good chance you are good with money as well. Alternatively, maybe your parents were terrible with money and you were determined to never be like them. Still, it's good to know what your new partners' parents were like with their money.

What is the maximum amount you feel comfortable spending before consulting the other?

It's good to have discussions about spending limits. Someone coming home with a new Louis Vuitton bag, or some new RM Williams can lead to a lot of resentment particularly if the other person has been trying to watch what they spend.

A good alternative is to put some money each week into an account the person can spend on whatever they want without criticism.

Do you want to own a house? How will we save for a deposit?

Don't assume the other person wants what you want. If you want a house, how are you going to get the deposit? How much are you going to have to save every week? Are you both prepared to live on two-minute noodles and tuna to save for the deposit?

How much should we spend on holidays?

If your idea of a holiday is camping and their idea of a holiday is a trip to Paris this is going to cause conflict. How are you going to fund the holidays? How often are you going to go?

Do you want to have kids?

Kids change everything. One of you will be out of the workforce for a year. How are you going to pay for things? Do you think someone should stay at home? How will we pay for that? Do you think kids should go to private schools?

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