There are many benefits to getting married. These benefits range from financial to social, but all make being part of a pair feel pretty fantastic.

Finances
If you get married, you may end up paying less for housing overall. You will probably be paying close to the same rent and, if you own your own home, your mortgage won’t increase. While you may see an increase in utilities, this increase will be less than if you were to pay your utilities alone. Of course, the story may change as you start to have children, but as far as expenses, two, with the exception of food, is usually better than one.

You have several other financial benefits as a married couple that a non-married couple can’t enjoy. For example, you might enjoy savings on health care insurance if one spouse has better coverage than the other or if one spouse can completely drop his or her coverage. In addition, you will receive your spouse’s social security benefits should your partner pass away before you do. You will also not have to pay as much estate tax, if any.

Medical Decisions
You will also be able to have a say in your spouse’s medical care should your partner become so ill that he or she in incapable of making decisions. This has been a problem for many long term partners who aren’t married as the incapacitated person’s family has more legal rights than does the partner.

A Companion
In addition to financial and legal benefits, you have the benefit of having a companion who is, hopefully, as committed to making both of your lives better as are you. This means that you not only have someone that you can enjoy on “date nights,” you have someone to grow with and someone to work with to achieve your long term goals.

Need a successful marriage tip? Don’t get married simply for the benefits. Marriage isn’t always easy. Making a commitment means working through the bad times when you could happily strangle your spouse as well as the good times when champagne is flowing. Only you will know when the time is right.