Struggling to pay off your debt? Look no further -- we'll help you get out of credit card debt, manage credit cards, and improve your credit score. Plus, check out these smart spending tips for couples and get out of the red with our debt calculator.

You’ve both come a long way from stashing pennies in a jar on your dresser. But are you ready for grown-up budget know-how? We asked Michelle Singletary, syndicated personal finance columnist for The Washington Post and author of Your Money and Your Man, for her top five money-managing lessons for couples. Yearning to hear the happy sound of Benjamins canoodling in your wallet?

Lesson #1: Pay debt and save at the same time
You should always be saving. Some advisers may argue differently, but think about it this way: if you use your credit card in an emergency, you’re just going deeper into debt. So give yourselves a financial cushion to fall back on for that inevitable flat tire or emergency room visit which seems to happen at the most financially inconvenient times (like after the holidays!). Quit living life without a safety net and put at least three to six months’ worth of expenses aside.

Lesson #2: Give your budget a goal
Yeah, yeah, we all know we’re supposed to budget, but keeping track of expenses on your debit card report doesn’t count. Now that you’re combining two incomes and the words “savings,� “new house,� and “car upgrade� are looming, it’s time to create a money plan. Here’s the catch: Your budget should have a tangible goal in mind.

Often, this goal will change every few months, or you might add a new challenge once you’re comfortable with your first few. Think of these as short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals, and create a budget around them. Start with your monthly salary and subtract the projected cost of that goal (like $200 toward savings each month). This new figure is from what you should create your budget. Factor in monthly expenses, starting with the most important (mortgage, car, and food), and work your way down the list until you’re out of money.

Lesson #3: Merge all your accounts
You might think that your clothing and spa splurges are best left to your separate account -- that you’ll pre-empt certain “You spend too much� arguments this way. But your relationship can only be strengthened by being honest about money and working toward financial goals together. Sounds cheesy? This may be an extreme example, but if your spouse was up to no good, you wouldn’t just tell him to do it down the hall! So if one partner is bouncing checks or struggling with debt, it doesn’t solve the problem just because he has his own account. Your money is his money. It doesn’t mean you can’t splurge, but sharing one account -- and answering to someone -- can help you make responsible purchases.

Lesson #4: Any debt is your debt
In some cases, your spouse’s debt may not be your obligation, but morally it always is, meaning you should have a stake in each others’ financial lives. Think of it this way: If your spouse were seriously ill, would you expect him to handle it on his own? Of course not: You’d go with him to the doctor, help track his progress, and investigate the best treatments so he’d get well.

Lesson #5: Make money rules
Here are three to start with:

• Agree to a spending limit that nobody can exceed without discussing it first -- neither of you can spend more than, say, $200 on any one item without a quick conversation about it. It’s not a matter of “granting permissionâ€� so much as holding to your common goals. And of course, avoiding surprises that might start unnecessary arguments.
• Everything requires two yeses or one no. You both have to agree on the purchase or nothing gets done -- getting a new TV, for example, takes two yeses. One no is enough to make both of you reconsider whether you really need a new living room rug when you just bought one six months ago.
• Finally, don’t involve outsiders in your personal finances. Your money issues are between the two of you -- anybody else who gets involved usually hears only one side of the story. If you’re struggling and need financial advice, talk to someone who can actually help you solve the problem -- a financial counselor, not your mama or your best friend or your dog. (Okay, maybe you can vent to the dog.)

Using debit cards instead of credit cards is usually a smart move -- you can’t spend more than you make then, right? Well, sorta. Recently, banks have been offering overdraft programs that actually allow you to withdraw money from your account, even after the balance hits zero. The problem with this is that a fee is attached to each purchase that goes over your limit (Wells Fargo charges $34, for example), and you might not even know that you’re spending more than you’ve got. Translation: The quick morning purchases of a $2 bagel, $1 newspaper, and $4 latte could actually wind up costing you $109. Not exactly a great deal.

According to an article in The New York Times, bankers have said that the overdraft fee is really meant to save consumers from being embarrassed. I guess they figure $34 is worth it to most people not to be rejected at the checkout counter. Obviously it’s important to know your own balance. But are banks really doing people a favor by making debit the new credit? What do you think?

This Nestie couple let us peek at their monthly budget to find out where they’re overspending and how to save.

Location: Farmington, CT
Ages: She's 24; he's 25.
Careers: She's a youth counselor; he's a photo editor.
Financial Goals: Establish a realistic monthly budget and save to buy a home

See their money makeover plan after the jump.

	Transportation Depending on your driving record, insurance can cost less than $100 a month. Add that to negotiating a cheaper lease (or a less pricey ride altogether!), and Joe’s car payments could go down to as little as $200. Don’t forget about cash for gas! Saved: $415
	Cable This might make you cringe, but if you’re working on paying off that credit card debt, get basic cable (which can cost as little as $10 a month!) and go over to your friends’ houses to watch HBO. Saved: $40
	Drinks On-the-Go We don’t have to tell you that spending on S-bucks (or, ahem, “five-bucks�) is money down the drain. Save some cash -- and paper -- by brewing at home and toting your caffeine in a thermos. Saved: $10
	Eating Out Okay, so you don’t want to stay cooped up in your house all the time. Next time you go out, skip the wine or eat at home and just order dessert. Saved: $50
	Traveling to Friends' Weddings Wow, um, 10 weddings?! You do know you don’t have to accept every invite, right? Unless it’s the wedding of a close friend or family member, just politely decline and send a small gift to congratulate them. Saved: $125
	Big Brother Volunteering Can’t argue with spending money for a good cause! Good news: Cash you shell out for a charity/volunteering (for Joe, it’s taking his “little brother to ball games�) can be deducted from your taxes and save you bucks. So keep those receipts! Saved: $14
	Student Loan Payments If you’re having trouble making your minimum payments each month, talk to your lender. You might be able to get a lower rate or at least talk about different payment plans. Saved: $900 (or less)
	Credit Card Payments Got will power? Doubling the amount of your credit card payments (from $300 to $600) will be tough, but it’ll get you that much closer to being a prime home-buying applicant! The cash you have left over can be socked away for savings, a new home, retirement...the options are endless (no more stress, yeah!). Saved: +$300
	Total Saved: $354 a month (Plus, they'll dig out of debt twice as fast by doubling their credit card payments!)

> See how another real couple made over their budget
> More getting-out-of-debt solutions

How much emergency savings should we have?

The standard recommendation is that you save three to six months’ worth of expenses in an accessible place (though not in the mattress the way your grandpa did). Regardless of who’s still working, you need to save enough to cover several months of your basic survival expenses (food, health care, rent or mortgage, transportation). So if you bring home, say, $5,000 a month but only spend around $2,000, your savings goal should be $12,000 to cover you for six months -- not $30,000 to cover your salaries.

Nestpert Jean Chatzky, a money coach, the financial editor for TODAY, and the author of five books

Saving up for kitchen remodeling, flat-screen TV, or just a rainy day? Read how these Nesties stretch their dollars.

Since quarters and dollar bills never seemed to save up quickly enough, we started a $5 jar. --chicker

Raise deductibles on your homeowners or auto insurance -- that can save you several hundred dollars a year. --sara_c

I turn down the heat to 66 degrees at night. And I keep a rolled-up towel against the bottom of the outside door to keep cold air from coming through the cracks. --jojogal

We buy our red wine at Trader Joe’s. Our favorite right now comes in at $5. It’s called Trellis. --sonrisa

My FI and I got rid of the house phone and depend only on our cell phones. We both have the same company, so we can talk for free, and then we lowered our minutes to the smallest amount possible. --soooexcited26

We buy our drug store stuff at Costco. It’ll seem like a lot at the register, but the unit price is well below other stores (I’ve compared!). This also got me to give up frills like girly shaving cream (I use DH’s now) and printed paper towels. --SunMoon&Stars

I heard the suggestion to call my credit card company and ask for a lower rate. I had thought that would never work, but it really does! I couldn’t believe how easy it was! --flymansWife

I love TreasureTrooper.com. I’ve earned $25 to $100-plus a month doing surveys, cash shopping (you get a percentage of the money you spend at different online stores), and cash offers. --grrlygirl

We’re starting to eat down our pantry supplies, so I have lots of incentive to get creative with my cooking. --lilmufish

Definitely make use of your local library. In addition to checking out books and magazines, our library has a great movie collection -- we get tons of new releases! It saves us a lot and we don’t feel deprived. --FabulousMrs.P

Take advantage of the shopper reward credit cards at your grocery store or drugstore. You get coupons for stuff you actually buy. --Nestkatie

Instead of going out to eat a lot, I have started asking my friends to come over to cook dinner and have game night. It’s always a lot of fun. We play games like Catch Phrase, Cranium, Scene It?, and Taboo. --oct06wedding