It’s no secret that money can be a difficult topic for couples. Fidelity’s Couples and Money study showed that 25% of couples say money is their biggest stressor and 45% of partners reported arguing about money.
The key to improving money stress, Fidelity reports, is communication. Money Expert Preston Seo echoed this in an Instagram post where he shared several financial tips for couples. Seo is a real estate investor with 1.3 million Instagram followers. He teaches others how to earn money with an Airbnb business. Though much of his advice focuses on real estate investing, below are several tips he offered that couples can use to improve their financial knowledge, regardless of their profession.
Take Advantage of the Home Sale Tax Exclusion
According to the IRS, if you earn money from selling your home, you can exclude up to $500,000 in capital gains from your taxes if you file jointly with your spouse. There are a few rules you have to follow, such as living in the home for at least two of the last five years and the home must be your primary home.
Seo said taking advantage of this tax exclusion is one of his biggest money tips for couples. This enables them to keep more of their home sale profits, which they can use for other financial goals.
Use a Health Savings Account (HSA)
An HSA is like the holy grail of the investing world because it’s triple tax-advantaged. According to the IRS, you can claim a tax deduction for contributions, all interest that you earn is tax-deferred, and the withdrawals you make are tax-free as long as you use the money for qualified medical expenses.
Seo recommended that his followers maximize their contributions to HSAs because of these perks. Keep in mind that you do have to open a specific type of high-deductible health plan to be eligible to open an HSA.
Gift Money to Your Children
The IRS recently updated its gift tax guidelines for 2025. Now, you can gift children up to $19,000 per year, up from $18,000 in 2024. As Seo pointed out, each parent can gift this to a child, meaning as a couple, you can gift your child $38,000 annually without triggering a gift tax. This is one way parents can pass on wealth to their children in a way that abides by tax law.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Money Tips for Couples, According to Money Expert Preston Seo