Is it our money or my money? Do you pay the bills together, or do you owe each other? One of our first fights as a newly engaged couple set the groundwork for this exact issue. It never occurred to me that other couples might do things differently when, in fact, there are generally three different ways couples handle their bank accounts.

“You’re never truly ready to have a baby.” You’ll hear that a thousand different ways from parents giving unwarranted advice. While there is some truth to the statement, by no means does it remove the fact that you should at least prepare as much as possible. In fact, those who have had children entirely unprepared are more likely to be the ones who will support your efforts. I have compiled a list of what I believe to be 5 important qualities to have when you decide to bring a baby into your family.