Post-wedding financial planning : Five steps for newlyweds

It's wedding season and couples across the country are spending all their time planning expensive weddings and honeymoons. That's all well and good, but once you get home, it's time to put the lavish spending aside and figure out a plan for your financial health as a couple.

Here's my five step plan for how newlyweds can get their finances on track right from the start:

First, figure out how you're going to pay the bills (both where the money is going to come from and who will actually do it). It may make sense for one person to take it over (whoever is best at dealing with paperwork) and the other to contribute funds to a joint checking account.