Martin Lewis issues nine warnings to every unmarried couple in the UK
Martin Lewis has issued a warning - well, nine of them actually - to every couple in the UK that isn't married.
And even if it is not something you're thinking about in your immediate future, it is worth keeping note due to how you might actually benefit from the advice from Mr Lewis.
It is the latest money alert issued by the financial guru and his Money Saving Expert (MSE) team, following on from a significant cash saver regarding your broadband, TV, and phone contracts.
There was also a specific phone contract warning issued about mid-contract price rises; something that is impacting millions.
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The boring but arguably more important issue of credit card debt management was also touched upon, and what you shouldn't do when it comes to getting out of the red.
Marriage and money
Away from all of that, Lewis took to his personal blog on the MSE website to talk about marriage.
No, not about the love aspect of it. But the financials and how it impacts you if you are someone who has yet to exchange vows.
"Much of the dilemma about 'whether to marry or not' is mixed up with complex competing views on tradition, religion, romance, convention and emotion," Lewis said.
"Many have happy, long-term stable relationships without wedding ceremonies. Yet when it comes to money, there are some significant financial disadvantages to that."
Nine money warnings from Martin Lewis if you're in an unmarried relationship
Most of Lewis' tips and tricks are related to tax and finances, so you would be forgiven for not being aware of them. After all, that's why Lewis and his team exist to do what they do.
And for those who don't want to get married full stop, the warnings about cash also apply to a legal civil partnership.
Tax breaks
Depending on your income, you can get tax breaks worth up to £1,260 if you're married.
This is called the Marriage Tax Allowance. To quality, one person must not pay tax - either not work or earn under £12,570 a year.
The other partner must be a 20 percent rate taxpayer, which is earning from £12,570 to £50,270 a year.
If this is you, the non-taxpayer can apply for a 10 percent tax-free allowance to be shifted to the taxpayer, which equates to £252 extra a year. You can also claim this for the previous four years, hence the £1,260 figure.
Inheritance tax
If you or your partner were to sadly pass away when married, you're better off.
Money, assets and most importantly for many - property - will be automatically free of inheritance tax if left to you by your spouse.
"So whatever you leave them, there is no tax to pay on that," Lewis said.
Unused inheritance tax
When a person dies, you can give the first £325,000 of your estate to someone outside of marriage without paying inheritance tax.
On top of that, there's an extra £175,000 for your direct descendants.
That entire £500,000 gets passed on to your surviving spouse when you die if you don't use it (most people won't), meaning they have a whopping £1 million allowance when they die.
Savings and investments
Marriage means you can send savings and investments between spouses without the risk of inheritance or capital gains tax later down the line.
"This enables you to ensure the money is in the right person's name to minimise the tax paid," Lewis said.
Capital gains tax allowance
Selling something results in capital gains tax; something you have to pay after you hit the £3,000 profit market.
But instead of paying the tax rate, you can transfer the extras to your spouse by giving the asset to them before it is officially sold.
When divorce occurs
Not every marriage lasts forever. But if you are married when your relationship comes to an end, rather than just, say, living together as a couple, your rights are far more entrenched.
"While it won't be top of your mind when entering a marriage, if there is a relationship breakdown, there are far more legal protections in place for individuals in a marriage than those cohabiting. This could be particularly important where there is a more financially vulnerable partner, for example, if they don't work due to illness, or because they look after children or relatives," Lewis noted.
"If a relationship ends for a cohabiting couple, claims are usually limited to property and any benefits for children. For a married couple, things like spousal maintenance and pension sharing orders would be taken into consideration - which could ensure those that are financially vulnerable are better protected."
State Pension increases
One for the older folk - but if your spouse or civil partner dies, you may be able to get extra payments from their pension or National Insurance contributions.
The specifics vary on the case and exactly when someone retired (those pre-2016 are most at benefit from this).
ISA allowance
Money inside a tax-free ISA is already exempt from inheritance tax when given to a spouse.
And due to marriage, you can actually keep the ISA too on top of your own personal tax-free ISA allowance. So you'll be able to save more and pay less tax if you're able to do so.
Wills - or lack of
Things can get very messy if you die without a will.
Just being in a relationship with someone and moving into their property means nothing if they pass away.
What marriage does is protect a person's rights in such a case, with exact laws changing by the area of the country you live in.
Topics: Martin Lewis, Money, UK News, Sex and Relationships
Tom Earnshaw