Anyone who has ever been in a relationship knows that money can cause stress and dissonance in even the most loving partnerships. And one of the biggest financial concerns that can cause strife? Debt. 

While getting on the same page with your beloved may take some work, it will ultimately be better for your relationship, your peace of mind and your bottom line. Here’s what you and your partner can do to ease some of your debt anxiety. 

Understand the ramifications: If you learn that your partner has a significant amount of debt, it’s a good idea to talk about how that debt will affect their life … and yours. This makes the debt feel real rather than some far-off, intangible thing that can be dealt with down the line. 

Come up with a plan of action: It’s important to discuss both of your expectations around the debt. Do you both consider it their debt and their financial responsibility? Or does your partner expect you to help pay it off? Do you have a significantly higher salary and are willing to contribute