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Financial Benefits of Getting Remarried

Financial Benefits of Getting Remarried

Marrying someone solely because of their wealth and financial standing is a bit reminiscent of the Charles Dickens era. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take money into consideration before saying “I do.” It just means you should weigh all the pros and cons — including the financial ones — before you get married whether it’s the first or second time. Check out some of the positives that come with tying the knot.

Click through to see the benefits of a joint bank account and other financial advantages of getting remarried.

Split the Cost of Living for More Disposable Income

Being able to combine finances is one of the major benefits of marriage. By sharing your money and accounts, you can split everyday expenses to save money on the cost of living.

“Eating for two can be cheaper than eating for one — when it comes to groceries and home cooking,” said April Masini, a relationship expert. “Same goes for that cable bill, internet bill and rent or mortgage expenses. Most people save on housing expenses when married, in a way they don’t when single and living alone. This allows for more disposable income as a married couple than as two singles living separately.”

For example, you and your partner can increase your disposable income by getting a family phone plan. “That family phone plan — even for two people — is less expensive than two separate cellphone bills for the exact same people as individuals,” said Masini.

A great way to stretch your dollar further is to divvy up cost of living expenses by percentage. For example, if you make 70 percent of the household income, you should pay 70 percent of the bills. This helps avert an unfair burden if you were to just split the costs 50/50, which doesn’t make sense if your partner’s income is much lower than yours.

Check out six finance-related reasons marriages fail — so you can avoid these money mistakes.

Pay Less in Taxes

Doing well financially often comes at a high price in the form of heavier taxes. Worse, if you’re getting married to a partner who also earns a comfortable salary, you could get hit with the marriage penalty.

The marriage penalty occurs due to the nature of U.S. tax law and tax brackets. And, it typically occurs if you marry someone with an equal income. A marriage bonus, on the other hand, happens when you marry someone who makes significantly more or less than you.

For example, if you and your partner have to pay more tax this year as a married couple than if you were just two single people, that would be considered a marriage penalty, according to the Tax Policy Center. But, if you and your partner pay less in tax as a married couple than if you were both single, that’s a marriage bonus. And a marriage bonus means lighter overall taxes for you and your partner.

Related: The Biggest Tax Problems for Married Couples

Earn Discounts on Insurance

You can turn taxes to your advantage, and you can do the same with insurance.

First, take aim at your car insurance premium, said Masini. “It’s often less expensive to combine two good drivers with normal-risk cars on one car insurance policy than it is to pay for two separate policies with the exact same drivers,” she said. Plus, data shows that married people are less likely to have car accidents. So, some insurance companies might give discounts for having two cars on the same policy.

But the potential insurance discounts don’t end there. Combining other insurance products, such as homeowners insurance, means you could increase your chances of scoring college or professional discounts. Your probability of getting a discount increases because you and your partner bring different colleges, professions and other discounted affiliations to the table, said Masini. These combinations could mean big savings for you.

Another way to save money on insurance is to get more than one product from an insurance company. For example, if you have two cars and a house, consider getting your homeowners insurance through the same company that does your auto insurance.

Check Out: The No. 1 Financial Deal Breaker for Couples in Every State

Take Advantage of Your Spouse’s Work Perks

You can reap serious financial rewards if you marry someone with excellent work benefits.

“Healthcare can be one of your big expenses if you have a bad health year, an accident or you’re dependent on regular medical care for chronic illness,” said Masini. “Picking up the opportunity to get free health insurance because your spouse gets it free from work is a great way to profit from marriage.”

Even if your spouse doesn’t work at a typical 9-to-5 company, he might open the door to other money-saving benefits come tax time. “A spouse may use a home office, so you can deduct that from your taxes and have the benefit when you sell off owning a bigger home than you’d normally be able to afford,” said Masini, adding that other perks from work, like business travel where spouses are invited, can also be a benefit.

Achieve More Success at Work

To earn more money at work, having a conscientious significant other could help. Your spouse’s personality can have a major impact on your success in the office, according to a study by Washington University in St. Louis.

The study’s results demonstrated that people who scored highest on metrics — such as job satisfaction, salary raises and the likelihood of a promotion — also tended to have a significant other who scored high for conscientiousness in personality tests. Researchers found this to be true for men and women; it also was true for workers with partners that stay at home or work.

The researchers believe conscientious spouses display good habits, which rub off on their partners who then carry those habits into the workplace. And having a partner who helps keep your personal life running can reduce stress and keep the focus on work during the workday.

Benefit From a Better Debt-to-Income Ratio

Debt-to-income ratio is a crucial aspect of personal finance, but what does it mean exactly? Your debt-to-income ratio is the total amount of your monthly debt payments divided by your monthly gross income.

For example, if your gross income per month is $5,000, but you have a $2,500 monthly mortgage payment, your debt-to-income ratio would be 50 percent: $2,500 of debt divided by $5,000 of gross income. Use this calculator to determine your debt-to-income ratio.

Why does your debt-to-income ratio matter, and why can marriage improve it? Debt-to-income ratios are key criteria for banks when they consider lending money to you. In mortgage lending, for example, banks have learned that borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios carry a greater risk of not being able to make the monthly payments.

When you marry someone, you’re essentially adding another income stream. With two incomes plus little to zero debt between you and your partner, your debt-to-income ratio goes down substantially. Getting a mortgage loan still depends on a variety of other factors as well, such as your credit score. But a better debt-to-income ratio can help you and your spouse afford your dream house.

See How You Stack Up: Here’s How Much Debt Americans Have

Earn More Money Back From Extra Tax Deductions

Many tax advantages are available for married couples and they can help earn you some money back during tax season — you just need to look for them. One of the bigger benefits of marriage involves the amount of your standard deduction.

The standard deduction the IRS allows for married couples is exactly twice as high as the deduction for single people: $12,600 for married filing jointly versus $6,300 for single filers. Plus, many couples can deduct a personal exemption for each spouse, which is $4,050 apiece for the tax year 2017.

These doubled deductions are especially beneficial for married couples in which one partner doesn’t work. The deductions essentially serve as a bonus for couples with one nonemployed partner who wouldn’t normally file a tax return.

Click here to find out how to travel hack your honeymoon.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Financial Benefits of Getting Remarried

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