Money might not be the most romantic topic for Valentine’s Day

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Money might not be the most romantic topic for Valentine’s Day, but talking about finances with your significant other is a key element of a healthy relationship.

Money problems are one of the most common reasons couples separate, said Emily Simonian, head of clinical learning at Thriveworks, a mental health company.

In more than 20 years as a financial adviser, Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com, has had plenty of couples approach him with money issues that eventually lead them to break up.

“You should talk about money, lifestyle, goals and dreams,” he said. “Because (money) affects your dreams, and if you go into a relationship with debt, your dreams may be altered.”

If you’ve been wanting to approach the money sublect with your partner but you’re not sure how, here are some recommendations from experts:

HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION

Dvorkin recommends having a conversation about your finances as early as possible.

That doesn’t mean you must disclose everything at once — money conversations can evolve as your relationship does.

SET EXPECTATIONS

Don’t surprise your partner with questions about their finances. Rather, set a time and day to talk and prepare a list of topics, said Olle Lind, founder of the budgeting app Buddy.

LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER’S RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY

People’s spending habits can be associated with the way they were raised, for example, if their parents got in debt, were big investors or never had credit cards. For couples to start setting financial goals, they must understand each other’s backgrounds, said Caleb Silver, editor in chief of Investopedia.

For Valentine’s Day, facts about marriage and dating in the U.S.