When you look at the breakdown of credit score factors, the biggest – at a whopping 35 percent – is your payment history. If you’re still in school and not yet making loan payments, your credit score won’t suffer. However, when you get out, the responsibility of making the payments falls on your shoulders. If you miss payments or fall behind regularly, you can do some serious damage to your score. “The good news is that if you are diligent about making the payments – in full and on time – you’ll really give your credit score a lift,” says Massie.

Combine Your Finances After Marriage – Ideally Marriage gives you a legal partnership, and the ideal time to combine your personal finances is after you get married. However, you can begin to work on combined finances before marriage. “I encourage them to begin making decisions…

Play to Your Personalities Money can be a source of conflict for many couples. A key step in avoiding arguments is understanding your financial personalities. While it might be easier for two savers to get along financially than a saver and a spender, both personalities…