Quiz: Is your marriage heading for a breakup?

Family of Origin
Finances
When Julie and Ted were dating, she enjoyed the fact that Ted didn't count every penny and that he loved to shop with -- and for -- her. Now that they are married and have a mortgage, she isn't so happy. "I keep close watch over how much I spend and I try to save as much as possible, but Ted buys what he wants when he wants," says Julie. "It's very frustrating."

Let's face it: there are spenders and there are savers, and if you and your partner come from opposite ends of the spectrum, there are bound to be clashes. This is particularly true for people who marry later in life and who are used to making their own decisions about money. The thing is, most arguments about money aren't about money at all. They usually represent a struggle for control and are a result of differing views about spending and saving and about what money can and can't do.

Major debts are an issue for more than half of married couples. According to Olson's research, even happy couples argue about money more than anything else. However, happy couples agree on how to handle money more than unhappy couples do, and they have fewer worries about paying off debts and saving for the future.

But how do you get to the point where you have financial control? Stick to a budget. It may hurt in the beginning, but once you start to live within a budget, it will keep you out of financial trouble and lower the stress level at home.

Show me the money
Response choices:
1=Strongly disagree
2=Disagree
3=Undecided
4=Agree
5=Strongly agree

1. We tend to agree on how to spend our money.
2. I wish my partner were more careful about money.
3. I am concerned about our debts and our lack of savings.
4. The use of credit cards is really a problem for us.
5. It is easy for us to decide how to handle our finances.

Interpreting your score:
Score the quiz as follows for each of you.
A. Total your points for items 1 and 5.
B. Add 18 to total of A.
C. Total points for items 2, 3 and 4.
D. Subtract C from B.

Partner 1:
Partner 2:

21-25 = You handle finances very well.
15-20 = You handle finances well, but there are ways that you could improve.
11-14 = Your financial-management skills are good in some ways, but they also need some improvement.
5-10 = Your financial-management skills need improvement.