Be careful when you shop this Christmas – it could cost you your relationship. Money is one of the major reasons couple break up: rows usually kick off when there’s less of it around – staying together “for richer” isn’t half as tricky as “for poorer”.

Studies continually show that women and men behave differently about money, whether they’re in debt or not. This has been exacerbated by the current economic situation: fresh rounds of cuts and fears that Britain is hurtling towards a double-dip recession mean plenty of couples are feeling the strain.

So how can they work together to strike a financial balance?

Share the load

Women worry about money more than men but they also do less about it, according to a study by insurer Aviva. The research looked at people over 55, and found that more than two thirds of women, compared to just over half of men, are worried about money, but 58% have not budgeted for major expenses, compared to 52% of men.

Within partnerships, it’s likely that one person is a lot more proactive. “It’s me, rather than my wife, Tracey, who knows how much the interest rate is on our mortgage and how much we pay for everything from the utility bills to our daughter’s ballet classes and our son’s football coaching,” says Matthew Brandon, 39, who lives in Cirencester. “Although we consult each other, I keep the closest eye on it.”

Managing the finances is no mean feat and it can be a steep learning curve. In the last five years, Natalie Murray, 26, has gone from being a student to marrying Edmund, 26, a policeman and having their son, Oliver, now four. Natalie is a stay-at-home mum but also runs a local magazine called Around Rugby.

“I’ve had to get clued up about money faster than my friends,” she says. “At the moment, Edmund’s money pays all the major bills, though I tend to buy the groceries. I can feel bad as Edmund puts so much into the joint account but at least I can help us manage our expenses.”

Double up

Monthly outgoings can be reduced with joint financial products. It’s usually cheaper to get annual travel cover jointly rather than single policies, for example. But there are times when two is better than one. Life insurance will only pay out once, so if a couple have a joint policy and they both die in a car crash, there’s one payment.

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