A high maintenance, financially profligate and prodigal spouse will destroy your chances at a financially independent and free life, one without worries on finances. Choose your spouse carefully. That one person will decide the fate of your financial life.
You won't notice it at first. But your spouse will influence your spending habits a lot, at a subliminal level. It will be like getting fat. From one day to next, you won't notice much. A year later, you have totally changed appearance wise and you've gone from fit to fat.
It could be for keeping up with the joneses, it could be for keeping up face within family or in front of friends, or it could just be plain superficial materialistic desires. But it happens ever so subtly, initially you resist, but you will start relaxing and giving some leeway.
That leeway is the thread your spouse will pull, knowingly or unknowingly, and that leeway will expand. Before you know it, you're neck deep in debt, have no savings, having spent almost all your money on useless things and thankless people.
Worst part? The people you give money to, or spend lavishly on, usually don't show up to help you if you ever need it. Sooner or later, you realize that you should have saved first and spent what was left. This difference with your spouse will also lead to resentment.
That's why it is utmost important that both the spouses are on the same page regarding finances. If you're dating, look for signs that your potential spouse is a profligate/prodigal person. It's very evident and obvious in most cases. So, pick your spouse wisely.
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