One of the most important tips I can give is to communicate with your spouse. Usually, one person takes the lead on managing the budget while the other simply follows along. That’s fine, but it doesn’t mean the person following along shouldn’t have a say in how the money is managed. This is where communication becomes essential. Each month, set aside time—ideally after the kids are in bed and distractions are minimal—to sit down together and review the budget. This is when BOTH of you should finalize it as a team.