To manage your money well if you are in a relationship, you and your partner need to sit down and really communicate about how much money you actually bring in and how much money actually has to go out the door every month for you to survive. Be careful of falling into the trap of having "his money" and "her money." While that might seem like a modern and chic thing to do, you won't really get to know what the truth about your financial reality is unless you figure out what you bring in together and what you pay out together.

At the same time, it is a good thing for each partner to maintain money that can be spent without discussion or mutual agreement, separate from the family account.

If you and your partner have trouble saving, check with the company you work for to see if they have a payroll deduction plan for savings. This can be a very effective way to save. If you never really "see" it, you're less likely to spend it.

It is also helpful if you make saving money a fixed part of your life plan, rather than something you do when you have money left over. The problem with the latter method is that there is always going to be something you need, and you can spend your bank account right down to your last dime every month unless you implement a system of saving for yourself.

When you're ready to save, check out your different options with your bank. Choose an account that will pay you the most interest possible, but see what the minimum is that you have to maintain to earn the interest-and be realistic, if you can't main-tain a $2,500 savings balance in order to earn interest that requires that, choose the one that pays less interest but requires a lower minimum balance.

-adapted from the Big Book of Hints from Heloise by Heloise