The start of an intimate relationship is a critical time to create mutual financial perspectives and have conversations about money.
Having these conversations early enables you to assess whether, based on the financial information shared, you or your partner want the relationship to proceed; and if it is to proceed, whether certain areas need further discussion.
Even before living together and sharing expenses, there are many opportunities for couples to think about and discuss issues relating to money.
The beginning of a female-male relationship can also be a time where gender norms are established.
Even though many young adults express a strong desire for equality now, there is still often an expectation that first dates proceed in gender-typical ways, with men responsible for initiating, and paying.
Gender dynamics that play out at the beginning of a relationship can become the norm very quickly.
If unequal, these dynamics can cause difficulty when it comes to engaging in discussions about critical financial issues further down the track, such as debt and spending patterns, which may have significant implications on your future.
Even if one person is better with finances than the other, transparency is crucial for any healthy relationship, just as it is with a business partnership.