When it comes to money, many of us say it doesn't matter how much a guy makes, spends and has, but that's pretty far off from the truth. Each of us has to pay to live somewhere, pay to eat, have money in savings, pay our bills on time and various other expenses that all the butterflies, fuzzy feelings and love in the world just isn't going to cover. Finances play a significant role in your future with a guy, especially if you're planning on walking down the aisle with him at some point. The sooner you start seeing if his financial health and habits mesh with yours, the better it will be for both of you. There are several financial red flags to keep an eye out for if you find yourself with a new guy in your life.
He's unemployed
Before you immediately dump your guy because he's unemployed, consider the state the economy has been in. It's not particularly easy to find a job nowadays, especially in certain industries. However, if he's sitting on the couch and making no effort to get a job at all, even if it's part time, it's a big red flag. It's even worse if he's been in the same position for months or even years.
He lies about his spending
I've met some guys who flat out told me they lie to their girlfriends or wives about how much they spend. A guy once told me he bought a motorcycle but told his girlfriend that he owned it for years and stored it at his parents house. Another explained that he paid full price for a video game system and a handful of games, but told his wife he got them at a discount on Craigslist. A guy can't keep up the spending lies forever, so if you catch him once or twice, chances are he's doing it a lot more often than you realize.
He doesn't pay child support
If he's man enough to make a baby, he should be man enough to help raise it in all ways possible, including financially. There's no excuse why a guy can't do everything possible to help financially raise his child, even if it means he has to sell off some of his big ticket items to bring in extra cash.
He pays everything on credit
There are some who take the route of many college students and charge everything to their credit cards. Unless he makes a huge amount of money per month and can afford to pay off a big bill, he should be doing everything he can to avoid using credit cards completely. Whether it's buying the bar a round of shots or booking spur of the moment plane tickets every other month, if he's constantly charging items and not paying off the bills, it's a big red flag that he's spending well beyond his means and could cause trouble for you in the future.
He expects you to pay for everything
It doesn't matter if he makes more money or you do, he shouldn't expect you to pay for everything (and vice versa). Although some guys prefer to pay for everything, it's nice to alternate or even split the check once in awhile. If he expects you to pay for everything, don't think the behavior is going to stop anytime soon. He very likely only sees you as a walking ATM he has sex with.
He frequently borrows money
We've all been in a situation where we had to ask someone to borrow money for one reason or another. The last time I needed to borrow some cash, I was getting on the train, all I had was my debit card and the ticket machine was broken; my friend was nice enough to spot me a few dollars. However, if your guy is asking you to borrow money for random purchases, especially those that aren't for necessities, it's a big red flag that he doesn't have his financial priorities in order.
He has a stack of "Past Due" bills
At one point or another we have a past due bill or two. Maybe our paycheck didn't come in on time or we're temporarily in a tight spot with money, but there's no excuse for your guy to constantly having a stack of "Past Due" bills sitting on the table. Many companies are willing to work with their customers on a payment plan agreement and often, the only time "Past Due" bills start showing up is when the customers ignored the initial letters and aren't working with the companies to settle the matter.
His financial priorities are out of whack
If the guy is spending money on going out to a slew of restaurants, buying new furniture, booking trips and giving extravagant gifts but he has no little-to-no savings to speak of, his financial priorities are severely out of order. If you get a sense he's doing it to try to impress you, start suggesting less expensive things for the two of you to do.
Money is the number one cause of arguments in a relationship, so if you plan on talking to your guy about money, make sure to do so in a sensitive manner. Should he continue to make negative financial decisions, you'll have to decide if it's worth staying or going. Don't let love blind you on something so important. If the two of you want to get married one day, his financial mistakes become your own and your credit could get crushed in the process. Regardless of how much you love him, major financial issues are a huge responsibility to take on and could have a big impact on your future.
More from Lauren R:
7 things you should never try to save money on
Need some cash? 6 reasons to sell your wedding dress
How to stop arguing with your guy about money
