Choosing and managing credit cards can be complicated enough when you’re single, but that’s nothing compared to dealing with your credit cards as a couple. In that case, you have more decisions to make. Should you close your existing credit cards and open new accounts together? Should you keep existing cards and add your partner as an additional cardholder? Should you keep your credit cards completely separate?

Here you can find some credit card tips for couples that won’t outright answer those questions for you, but which will give you things to consider when making those choices for your situation.

1. Simplify your record-keeping.

If you and your partner have opted to merge other aspects of your finances, it might make sense to use the same credit cards. It can cut down on the number of statements you’ll need to review each month, and the number of cheques you’ll have to write. On the other hand, if you opt to keep your other finances separate, listing each other as additional cardholders could actually make your record-keeping more complicated. Also keep in mind that closing existing credit cards to apply for new ones could be a negative mark on your credit file (since you’ll have new enquiries there for the new cards you apply for).

2. Maximise your rewards.

If one of your credit cards has a rewards programme, and you’re not already reaching your rewards limits, adding your partner as an additional cardholder can be a good way for both of you to save more. For example, if you like to travel together you might want to use a single account with a frequent flyer card like the American Express Blue Sky card. As long as the credit limit is large enough to accommodate both of your regular spending habits, you may be able to earn more rewards points by using a single card rather than each using a separate frequent flyer card. The same could apply to any type of rewards programme.

3. Maintain personal responsibility.

Being one half of a couple rather than being single might mean merging a lot in life. But even if you choose to merge finances and credit cards, remember that each partner still has personal responsibility in how the cards are used. You still have separate credit files. Before deciding how to handle credit cards as a couple, get to know your partner’s charging habits (are they a financer or someone who pays off the balance every month in full?). If you opt to list each other on your credit cards as authorised users, keep in mind that using your partner’s cards should be done by their rules rather than your own. In other words, if your partner pays off their balance each month to avoid interest, don’t finance your auto repairs on their card unless you can do the same. Otherwise they’ll either have to cover your debt or risk losing the benefit of their interest free days during the next statement period.

Deciding what to do about your credit cards as a couple doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. Just sit down with your partner, talk about each of your spending habits, and decide what benefits each method would have (and which of those benefits are most important to each of you).