10 signs you're dating a deadbeat

Updated Feb. 27, 2013, at 10:55 a.m. ET.

This post comes from Len Penzo at partner blog Len Penzo dot Com.

I'm very fortunate that the Honeybee and I rarely have a disagreement regarding money. In fact, I can only remember it happening once in more than 16 years of marriage -- and it was all due to a silly misunderstanding.

A recent study discussed in The Wall Street Journal affirms the conventional wisdom that money is the most likely point of conflict in a marriage. When a married couple have different philosophies regarding the importance of financial responsibility, big problems are likely somewhere down the road. Many times, the solution ends up being a messy and expensive divorce.

Of course, that's why it's important to know if your partner is financially compatible with you before you tie the knot.

So, does your current steady have his or her financial act together?

If you don't know, you had better find out. Just because your flame is spoiling you doesn't mean that he (or she) can afford it.

True, your lover may seem to be financially well-off, but will he be able to maintain his lifestyle after you get married? And if not, does he possess the discipline required to throttle back on the spending pedal?

Unfortunately, folks who fail to ask those simple questions often end up being led into a financial quagmire.

Thankfully, there are warning signs for those who choose to pay attention.

In "Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money with Your Honey," co-authors Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar offer five indicators that may signal you're dating a deadbeat. I've listed them here, along with a few additional ones of my own.

How many of these apply to your current sweetie?

1. He or she always insists on picking up the check at a big dinner or throwing down a credit card without looking at the bill. This may be the sign of a big spender living beyond his or her means in an attempt to impress you.
2. He lives in a large but sparsely furnished home. According to Thakor and Kedar, this can indicate your partner has, as they say in Texas, "a big hat, but no cattle."
3. She avoids answering calls on her cellphone. This is a potential sign that your steady is avoiding bill collectors.
4. He leases a car. Yeah, this seems like a bit of a stretch to me too. However, leasing is often a sign of living beyond one's means.
5. She asks you to buy things for her or to co-sign loans. But, Len, she always promises to pay me back. OK. Let me know how that works out for you.
6. He has a lot of bills marked "urgent" or "past due." This is another big financial red flag.
7. She gets bills in somebody else's name. It could be an ex-sweetheart's bill, or indicate that your current lover couldn't get an account on her own. Then again, it could also mean that the postman simply delivered the bill to the wrong person -- so make sure you verify that address before you make any accusations.
8. He admits that his credit cards are maxed out. This, too, is a great indicator of somebody having trouble living within his means.
9. She has a payday loan company magnet on the refrigerator door. Ah, yes. "Joe's Payday Loans: When nobody else will loan you money. Not even your relatives." Don't laugh. Short of a loan shark, the payday loan company is typically the lender of last resort.
10. He has a live-in maid named "Mom." Psst. Come closer. If you said "yes" to this one, and you happen to be in your lover's house right now, listen to me very carefully. Put down the mouse. Then calmly walk out the door and get away. As fast as you possibly can.

More from Len Penzo dot Com and MSN Money:

• Here are 41 reasons why I'm not lending you money
• Why big spenders are terrible in bed
• 10 red flags that may signal you're in big financial trouble
• Smart Spending on the go: Get our app for Android or iPhone
• 6 ways not to pay off credit card debt
• Dine out without breaking the bank