Dear Liz: I'm engaged to be married and need your advice on getting started in the world of shared finances.
My fiance is 43, I'm 31. He's debt free, with a savings account but no retirement fund. I have $34,000 in student loans (consolidated at 4.25%) and it weighs heavily on my mind as I'm desperate to become debt free. I'm debt free otherwise with $10,000 in savings.
We both make good money but my income as a freelancer is sporadic, while his is steady with periodic bursts of additional income.
We want to be debt free as a couple, save up a solid emergency fund and start making up for lost time on retirement savings, all while being aware that a family and a house might not be far away.