For better, for worse; for richer, for poorer—that’s the promise most couples make in their wedding vows. When it comes to their finances, many couples fall into some common pitfalls that can haunt them long after their wedding day.

Start your new life together with a strong financial foundation by completing these important money to-dos before you say “I do!”

1. Have the debt talk.

All couples must have the debt talk. It might not be romantic, but it is necessary for planning a bright future together. Be open and honest about debt, savings, and spending habits—even if they are less than perfect.

Financial turmoil ranks among the top reasons for divorce, so understanding each other’s financial obligations today – as well as your goals for the future – will help reduce stress on your partnership. With the average college student graduating with $29,400 in student loan debt, according to the College Board, young couples need to create a plan for managing that debt and saving for the future.

2. Control wedding spending.

While the “big day” is a defining moment in life, it’s important for couples to remember that it’s just one day of many that they will spend together. Weddings and related events cost a whopping $35,000 on average, according to TheKnot.com, and that doesn’t even include the honeymoon.

The best course of action when it comes to wedding planning is to create a budget and stick to it. It’s not necessarily bad to use credit, especially if you can take advantage of a credit card rewards program. Be sure to charge or borrow only what you know you can pay back in a reasonable amount of time, because keeping high balances and missing payments can have significantly negative impacts on your credit score, which in turn leads to stress.

3. Work together to build a positive credit profile.

Married couples do not have joint credit files or credit scores. Each individual has credit files with the credit reporting companies and their own credit scores, but in some cases, as when joint accounts and co-signed loans are created, the actions of one can impact the other.

Get a copy of your credit report and resolve any issues you may have with the information in it. If you have a limited credit history, carefully consider the benefits of joint accounts. When doing so, keep in mind that positive financial action, like paying bills on time and keeping balances low, as well as actions with negative impacts, like missing payments, will influence a couple’s individual credit scores.

Another important step in building credit after getting married is to make sure that all financial lenders are aware of name changes.

4. Shop around for rates.

Whether you’re taking out a personal loan or selecting a credit card, you absolutely must shop around for rates. Don’t just take the easiest or first option. You want to get the best deal available with low interest rates and reasonable terms.

When shopping for rates, it is beneficial to do so within a two-week period of time. Credit inquiries from auto and mortgage lenders and credit cards issued from banks and credit unions are counted only once if done in a two-week period, causing just a slight decrease to credit scores.

Finally, couples soon-to-be-married or recently married can also test their knowledge about credit scores with VantageScore’s Credit Score Quiz.

The post Don’t Let Newlywed Bliss Become Financial Woe: 4 To-Dos Before You Say “I Do” appeared first on VantageScore.