10 marriage-busting money mistakes

This post comes from Renee Morad at partner site Money Talks News.

As anyone who's been there knows, there's no such thing as a friction-free marriage. But arguing can be ominous when the topic is money.

Couples who reported disagreeing about finances once a week were 30% more likely to get divorced than couples who disagreed about them once a month, according to a Utah State University study. In another survey, published in the Forum for Family and Consumer Issues, finances proved to be the leading cause of conflict in marriage, with 39% of respondents listing it as their primary issue and 54% as their secondary issue.

But there are simple (although not easy) solutions to most money-related marriage problems.

Here are 10 common mistakes couples make when dealing with money:

1. Not talking enough about finances

There's a time and place for everything, but it's often difficult to find the right time and place to talk money.

Some couples benefit from scheduling a time to talk about money matters, just as they would for a date night or business meeting. Other couples might choose to set a monetary limit that would initiate a conversation. Let's say, for example, they decide that purchases under $500 are discretionary but spending money over that amount warrants a discussion.

Find what works for you and your spouse, and commit to it. It might not be the most enjoyable way to spend time together, but you'll thank yourselves later.

2. Thinking you can buy love

If you think splurging on a new diamond ring or luxury car will help improve your marriage, think again.

A Brigham Young University study found that couples composed of two materialistic spouses were worse off on nearly every measure. Following behind were couples with one materialistic spouse.

Couples who claimed money was not important to them, however, were lucky in love: They scored 10% to 15% better on marriage stability and other measures of relationship quality than couples with one or two materialistic spouses.

Interestingly, it didn't matter how much money they had, but rather how much value they put on money. In the study, couples who were better off financially but admitted to having "a strong love of money" found that money was a bigger source of conflict.

3. Ignoring conflicting spending habits

Scholars have found that individuals gravitate toward spouses who look, sound and act as they do -- except when it comes to money, according to surveys conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan and Northwestern University.

Penny-pinchers and reckless spenders tend to marry each other, but these couples report unhappier marriages than those in which both spouses have similar spending habits, the studies revealed.

Disparity in spending can be manageable, but if issues aren't addressed, research says this could increase your likelihood of divorce. The Utah State University study found that people who feel their spouse spends money foolishly reported lower levels of marital happiness and gauged their likelihood of divorce at 45%.

4. Not agreeing on how to divide money

Whether you have joint or separate accounts -- or both -- doesn't really matter. What does is whether your financial plan is the right one for your marriage.

This comes down to each spouse's spending habits and money values. If you're unnecessarily stressing about small, day-to-day purchases, for example, it might be better to put part of your finances in separate accounts so you'll be less likely to question your spouse's every buy. If you work better as a team knowing where all your money is and where it's going at all times, then merged accounts could be better.

5. Taking on too much debt

About 76% of Americans admit that money is a significant source of stress in their lives, according to an American Psychological Association report (.pdf file).

There's nothing more stressful about money than debt -- especially the high-interest, hard-to-pay-off kind. If there's debt hanging overhead that's threatening to come between you, focus on paying it off together.

6. Hiding purchases or debts

Eighty percent of married couples hide some purchases from their spouse, according to a survey by the nonprofit CESI Debt Solutions, with men admitting they're more likely to routinely cover up their spending.

The survey said 30% of respondents view financial infidelity as being just as harmful as sexual infidelity. What's more, 79% of married respondents were more likely to confess their financial infidelity to a friend than to their spouse.

7. Lending or borrowing money from family

Borrowing money from family comes with major strings attached. After all, you're risking your relationship if the deal goes bad.

These waters are even more treacherous for married couples. Rule of thumb: Whether it's borrowing or lending, the fewer in-laws involved, the better.

Of course, with the right scenario, borrowing money from or lending it to family can work out. But proceed with caution: Consider drafting a legal document to ensure everyone is on the same page, and resist splurging on luxury items while you still owe family members money.

8. Believing you need to split up financial responsibilities traditionally

Traditional roles suggest that women manage the day-to-day finances, like balancing the checkbook and paying the utility bills, and men typically handle investing and financial planning. But traditional isn't always best.

A better option: Recognize each other's individual strengths, and divvy up the financial tasks accordingly. You want the best candidate for the job, regardless of what other couples do or used to do.

9. Failing to recognize that money carries emotional weight

Compared with disagreements over any other topic, financial disagreements last longer, are more salient for couples and generate more negative-conflict tactics, such as yelling, research shows.

Money conflicts in marriage particularly affect men. Research suggests that since they are socialized to be providers, men tend to take financial conflict harder than women.

10. Not enjoying your money together

Money doesn't always have to be a source of stress or conflict. It can also be a source of pleasure. Some of my happiest memories with my husband wouldn't have been possible without us spending money on things like exploring Italy or taking our daughter on her first trip to Florida.

In fact, research indicates that spending money on new experiences, like concerts or a wine tasting, produces longer-lasting satisfaction than spending money on material possessions. Experiences bring us happiness not only when we're experiencing them but also whenever we reflect back on them as memories.

Fond memories, after all, usually turn out to be one of the most valuable assets in a marriage.

More on Money Talks News and MSN Money:

• Can getting married make you richer?
• Should everyone have a prenup?
• Can I help my fiance's credit?
• Smart Spending on the go: Get our app for Android or iPhone
• Financial planning for child care
• Money issues for unwed or gay pairs