Keep your relationship on the right track by avoiding these common pitfalls. We cover everything from grappling with debt to getting stuck in a sex rut!

Invite people over! Your single friends can forget that you're the same people you were when you were just engaged! Your friends (and your spouse's friends) are VERY important when you're having problems because you can't vent about everything always to your spouse. (Really, my husband doesn't need to hear my jokes about his snoring and I don't need to be reminded that my pajamas are uglier than an ogre.) The easiest way to be sick of one another is if you ONLY have one another.

Wow this is so true I feel like this was written for me (well except #7 because we already have a baby). Thanks for reminding me of the No-nO's :)

For no no #2, we are spoiled. My matron-of-honor got married the weekend before we did and we get to have date night with them fairly often. In addition to being my MOH, she's been my best friend since 4th grade, we started dating our future hubby's two weeks apart, and graduated from college in '08 sitting next to each other doing MadLibs during the speeches. We completely understood each other when it came to rants about wedding planning and boys where our single friends would think we were just whining. I luff her :D

What a great article. I particularly like #4. Before our wedding we were in great shape, looked and felt great! We have been married for one year and we put all the weight we lost back on! So we recently made a plan to commit to be fit together and not get so comfy with each other. I think it is so important to keep yourself up , espcially for wives. Men are very visual and even though they may not say it they do want thier wives to look thier best! So my goal, to look my best for my hubby. An added bonus is, you will feel good about yourself!

I totally agree with this especially Mistake #4 because after getting married it seems sooo easy to be lazy. Also Mistake #6 is easier to get into especially if you haven't lived together. Good rules to follow.

Good Article~!

I love all these reminders!.especially # 3 & 4

My husband sticks up for his family over me all the time. And i mean, i am always put last. He stuck up for me once. And that was because his brother almost punched me in the face while i was pregnant. How do you deal with the in-laws when they are butting is sooo much? (Yes, i have talked to my husband)

My husband and I are getting mostly all As on this- we started out with no debt, we love having our friends over, MIL does call me about every other day...but we live close so it's more of do you want to come over or do you need anything while i'm in town (we live 60 miles from town). We plan to have sex everyday...no matter what- even if it's a quickie(wich is nice every once in awhile). We eat healthy. Hardly any bad fights. But babies!!! I want one so bad....so I'm glad I read this...I do need to just chill out.

The Nest--it would be a hell of alot easier to follow #7 if you weren't throwing ads for "cute" baby things on every single sidebar on your friggn site...just saying, maybe practice what you preach?

My fiancé and I have been together for 5 1/2 years and engaged for 9 months. We arnt even anywhere near our wedding date yet and already we have a majority of these problems! He works 45hrs a week, mostly half way through the day and well into the night. I'm home every single day, mostly alone, with our 10 month old son. All of my friends abandoned me when I became pregnant and the only ones I have now are stay at home moms with no car. How am I supposed to stay sane when I can't even get out of the house?? I love my son and fiancé with all my heart but oh my goodness I need a freaking break! And he doesn't understand that.

I'm really, REALLY not a fan of these suggestions. They seem to pose simple solutions for complex problems and I think if you follow them...they'll lead you right to divorce. Everyone is different, every couple, every person. I was raised by immigrant parents and I just don't think this way. I think most American couples don't really commit to each other and then get divorced. I was raised to put the relationship first, make it a priority before everything else. And I think it's important to set boundaries and not let people interfere in your relationship. If I didn't set boundaries my ex-friend would have broken us apart. Oh and I really could care less about having kids.

I love this article. I found myself agreeing outloud with some of the comments! We're still figuring out this newlywed thing. And I'm blogging about it here: http://thenewlywedwife.wordpress.com Check it out!

sorry, but i don't agree with making someone keep in touch with their family members. i married my HUSBAND, not his family. if i don't want a relationship with his mother, then i don't need to have a relationship with her. setting up commitments like that ends up biting you EVEN MORE later.

"that's not a good enough excuse not to get busy. Initiate sex, even if you don't feel like it" Sounds a little rapey. I know it says intiate but god damn if your not in the mood don't force yourself, what's the fun in that. #3 and #4 litterly make me physicly ill. Good job playing on womens insecuritys nest.

I really didn't appreciate the sex advice, when I'm not interested in having sex, I'M REALLY NOT INTERESTED. I have a condition that makes it really difficult to get aroused for sex and instead of lubing me up and taking me all the time like any man would do, my husband is nice enough to understand and NOT guilt me into it. Screw you.

Wow, some basic info. Super basic. Of course, the title caught my eye so I had to read on. While I think some of these tips might be half descent I'd also like to say most women have at least a general idea of how to best bump along with their spouse. I don't think this information is anything too new really... And I think we have enough sense to know that screaming matches aren't exactly conducive to a healthy relationship.

I would like to add another I have noticed within my own marriage, my husband likes to joke around by being sarcastic, or fececious, and after a while i noticed it takes a toll on me, to where if he picks up our cat i feel resentment towards her for getting more attention. and i am a huge animal lover, thats how it dawned on me that this is a problem which escalates. so i have brought it to his attention and he says he doesnt get it, but i think this is huge in relationships. Forgetting to be polite is the same if you spoke to your boss this way he isnt going to pick you for employee of the month or a raise. Just wanted to share this thanks

Feels good not to have those issues.

Really enjoyed this post! Succinct and humourous. One other thing worth mentioning would be 'making active attempts to avoid the post wedding blues'. I'm writing a coaching book on the topic and it seems to be something a lot of women face. If any of you lovely ladies have anything to say on the topic, do contact me at www.royalweddingcountdown.wordpress.com. Thanks again for this post!