First of all, blending families with children and ex-spouses can be complicated. With all the emotional stressors you will have, don't let money and finances add to the stress. Here are a few things to address when creating a new happily ever after.
Figure out your approach
Before you decide to make the big step of moving in together or getting married, talk about your financial philosophy. Decide who will be paying the bills and whether or not you plan to merge your accounts [1]. Discuss if your kids will receive an allowance and how they can earn it. Examine whether or not you want to invest and your long term savings goals. You want to try and be on the same page when you become a unit as to ensure smooth transition for other parts of your life.
Plan for the future
More love means more responsibility. Now that you have extra people in the picture, you are at a higher risk for unforeseen disasters. Continue to think about your emergency fund and consider opting for automatic payments from your paycheck [2]. This means you should also update your will to include your new dependents. And don't forget about your retirement. It can be easy to neglect your retirement savings when other people are pulling at your bank account, but continue trying to save.
Embrace the fresh start
Going into a new relationship, you will be carrying scars. Learn from previous mistakes, but also be aware that you are in a new place. Communicate with your partner and find what works for the both of you. Avoid conflict by discussing tough topics early on. Learn each other's opinions and ideologies and embrace them. And take your time, no one is rushing you to do anything [3]. Overall, just remember to relax and enjoy the process-being in love is supposed to be fun.
Sources:
[1] Blended-Family Finance: Tips Every Modern 'Brady Bunch' Should Consider, Aol
[2] Blending Families and Your Finances, U.S. News
[3] Blended family, tangled finances, CNN
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