Whether you're the kind of person that plans your every move or the free-spirited type, most of us have an idea of what a marriage between two people implicates in every area of our lives. It's a decision that needs not to be taken slightly as it not only affects our lifestyles but our finances as well. When getting married, bringing in an individualistic mentality to your relationship when it comes to money can create frictions that can result damaging to your union. A few tips to consider before getting hitched are: 1- Preparing Yourself Mentally To Share Everything: are you the kind of person that holds on to his/her money tightly? If yes, think it through before making the big step because among the worst enemies of love, is self-focus. So often have I heard that hatred is not the opposite of love but selfishness and I strongly believe so! Selfishness is always the reason marriages end, as it comes in many shapes. If you think that you cannot see yourself sharing your paycheck with anyone, the best thing to do is either learn to do it if you think your partner is worth it or; if you know that you won't be able to do so; think it thru for both your sake and your mate's. 2- Being Financially Self-Sufficient Before Getting Married: you definitely don't need to be wealthy to be ready for it but it's wise to be able to support yourself throughout your marriage if possible. Many times, when a union breaks either abruptly or gradually, having a substantial source of income can be crucial, especially for women. If you're a homemaker (such as myself), be sure to learn how to make extra money until you can join the workforce again. By doing this you will protect yourself financially in case of abandonment, divorce or unfair treatment by your spouse; this is of vital importance whether you're a male or a female. It's so easy to make decisions based on our emotions when it comes to making an important life-changing decision such as marriage but because it's not one to be taken lightly; it's best to be as clear-minded as possible before investing ourselves in it since it will affect every area of our lives, especially the financial one.