Moving in, tying the knot
Lesson 11 of 14 in our free Relationships, Family & Money guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
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Questions you'll answer
Mo and Sam want to save £6,000 for a wedding in 2 years. How much a month do they need to save together?
Mo is moving into Sam's flat, which Sam owns. Mo will pay towards the mortgage. What's the smart step?
Quick facts
- Myth: “Couples who live together for years get the same rights as married couples.” — Not in England and Wales. Scotland gives cohabitants some limited rights, but still not the same as marriage.
- Fact: “If you're not married and your partner dies without a will, you may not automatically inherit.” — Intestacy rules favour spouses/civil partners and blood relatives. A will matters for cohabiting couples.
- Myth: “A wedding has to cost tens of thousands to count.” — A legal ceremony can be done for a few hundred pounds. Everything else is optional vibes.
- Booking the registrar and paying the legal fees → Worth it (if it matters to you). The only bit that's actually required.
- Taking a high-interest loan for a bigger venue → Skip / swap it. Starting married life in debt for one day: the ick. Scale the day to the savings.
- Asking a mate who's good at photos instead of a pro → Skip / swap it. Swap it! Huge saving, and the photos are full of people you love.
- Sorting a will once you're married or living together → Worth it (if it matters to you). Not glamorous, very important. Marriage can even cancel a previous will in England and Wales.