Yep, it can happen.  You can open your mailbox and find a credit card that’s ready to use, just as if you applied for the card yourself.  The card will include an activation sticker on the card, signaling that you need to call a number to have the card activated, but this is the case with every card.  Why does this happen?  Consider this the next wave of pre-approval.  Credit card companies are sending out cards to make it that much easier to start spending on credit.  If people are actually holding a credit card in their hands, rather than just a pre-approved application, they’ll be much more likely to use the card.  

So what should you do if you get a card like this.  My recommendation is to cut the card into tiny pieces and shred the accompanying letter.  Chances are that this card will not have the best rate/limit/and fees for your credit history.  If you really want a credit card, you should shop around between different issuers, rather than take the first card that’s offered.  

You should also be wary.  Getting a card in the mail could be the result of identity fraud – a sort of cross in the wires – and you should immediately order a copy of your credit report to see if there have been any other inquiries made in your name.  If these types of credit card applications bother you, you could also think about contacting the three main credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) and have yourself removed from pre-approved credit card lists.  This both alleviates a threat from identity thieves, as they can use the info on a pre-approved application, as well as being more environmentally-friendly.  

As I wouldn’t recommend signing up for any by-mail credit card application, it really makes sense to cut these out. As I mentioned, you’re much more likely to find a good credit card deal if you compare offers online.  By-mail offers are a product of the past – the pre-Internet days.  So you can avoid the hassle of being sent a full-bore credit card by requesting a block on new credit card offers.  

In many ways this is a tough time to be a newlywed, as it’s also a tough time to be a recent college grad who’s now entering the job market.  Basically, it’s a tough time to be young, who comprise the vast majority of newly-wedded couples.  Newlyweds are all about the future: first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage.  Oh, and then comes buying a house, then comes saving money, and then comes making smart investments.  Those last three don’t sound quite as romantic.  

If you’re recently wed, you’re no doubt thinking about buying a home and having children.  With so many people facing personal debt in the form of credit card debt and loans (car, student, etc.) it would not be surprising if both spouses come to the table with personal debt of $5000 or more, sometimes much more.  When you add that to the fact that the housing market is in disarray and it can be more difficult to secure new loans, it can make for some rough going for newly married couples.  

So what can you do.  The first thing you do is realize that you’ve got a problem.  Even if you’re problems with personal debt aren’t that extreme, there is no denying that the economy and housing market are going through a difficult period.  You can’t control that but you can control your own finances.  It’s always important for newlywed couples to get together and set up a financial plan, but in an economic climate like today, it’s even more vital.  

So here are the steps to take:

1. Set your goals.  Determine what you need: the type and price of home, for example.  This will vary greatly between couples and it will help determine how much flexibility you have with step two.
2. Budget.  Get together all of your expenses – bills, daily costs, everything.  Subtract that from your collective monthly income.  What do you have left over?  Funneling some of that directly into a savings account is a good idea because it ensures that you won’t spend it on something frivolous.  Remember, some amount of frivolous and entertainment expenses should be part of your budget.  It would be unrealistic to suggest you’ll never buy something that you don’t “need.”  
3. See where you can cut corners.  This could even amount to moving to a smaller, cheaper apartment to help save money.  Though I mention frivolous expenses as being inevitable, you should cut these out as much as possible, as well as any other financial fat: such as buying name-brand items instead of generic (they’re basically the same thing).  
4. Figure out a debt payment plan.  Though it may take years to pay off debt fully, you may not be buying a house for years to come either.  Figuring out how to pay off debt now means better financial prospects in the future.  Clearing up your individual credit ratings by paying off debt is also supremely important.  

One thing that newlyweds don’t talk about often enough is money.  You’ve got the wedding and then you’ve got the honeymoon.  You’re meeting new family members and still going to work every day.  There is so much emphasis put on the “honeymoon period” that many newlyweds want this to last as long as possible.  This means not talking about sometimes-disillusioning things like debt and money issues. Look at it this way: you’re not harping on all the difficulty you’re facing, you’re dealing with problems head-on in order to have a strong marriage.  

A marriage is something like a business arrangement.  That’s clearly an unromantic thought, but it is pragmatic.  You’ve got to treat money issues the way a small businessperson treats his short and long-term goals.  So that’s the first item up for discussion.

1. What are your long term goals.  Having a child?  Buying a house?  What sort of house do you envision?  What are real estate prices like where you live?
2. Set up checking and savings account.  The latter is important for what you decide in step #1.  One method is to have separate checking accounts but a joint savings account – depositing a set amount of money every month.  Some couples like the financial independence of separate checking accounts, others have all joint accounts.  
3. Determine a budget to see where you could save more money – especially important if you have ambitious long-term goals. Your budget will include all outstanding debts, as well as any upcoming debts you anticipate, such as increased credit card debt.  
4. Determine beneficiaries and dependents.  Remember, a child isn’t the only dependent.  Once you’re married, each spouse is a dependent of the other.  This will affect life insurance, retirement funds, money market accounts, and other investments.

When you put that all together, it shouldn’t be that difficult a conversation.  What would be difficult is if you swept these issues under the rug until you faced a real problem with mounting debt.  No, it’s not fun dealing with debt or cutting corners in the budget, but it also doesn’t have to be a total chore.  And because you’re still in the honeymoon period you can tackle these issues with more energy and enthusiasm.  

If you’re a newlywed, you’ve probably already been in a number of long-term relationships.  Yep, times have changed.  My dad met my mom when he was 19 and they were married soon afterward.  It’s a different generation now and people have long-term relationships of four years, or sometimes longer, before meeting the person they’re going to marry.  

Where am I going with this?  In those early relationships, it’s often likely that you won’t be sharing the bills in the same way as if you were truly married.  Sure, there’s splitting meals and the like – there’s even splitting bills and rent if you decide to live together.  But most boyfriends and girlfriends still remain financially independent: a separate bank account and separate credit cards.  

After the wedding, then, newlyweds face a new financial scenario.  Now that you’re betrothed for life, it’s now time to pool your resources.  The problem is that sometimes this gives a false sense of security.  Newlyweds may spend more deeply on credit, thinking that they’ve got it covered.  After all, there are two combined incomes instead of one.  

This is how a lot of newlyweds get into trouble soon after they get married.  Quick credit spending can put early strain on a young marriage, cutting the honeymoon period short.  If you’re already looking at debts due to the wedding and the literal honeymoon, not to mention debts built up individually before you were married (credit cards, student loans, car payments , and the like) then you are going to face increasing pressure.  

So don’t be fooled by two combined incomes.  You must figure out all of your expenses – both individually and as a couple – before you start spending unwisely on credit.  Even if you have two incomes and joint accounts, this does not mean that your spending can quickly outpace what you’re making.  

Here’s a nifty graph.  It shows when you’ll get your tax rebate based on the numbers in your social security number.  I’m not going to tell you what mine is, but as luck would have it, I’m somewhere towards the end of the list.  For married couples, the social security number that you file first will be the one that gets the rebate first. Yes, I’m sorry if you’re finding this out now after your filed your taxes, but at least you’ll know when you can expect the rebate.  It’s important information if you plan on using the rebate to make a purchase or pay off your current debts.  Getting the rebate in May or July could have very different consequences.  

Direct deposit     

The last 2 digits of your SS#:  

00-20    May 2
21-75    May 9
76-99    May 16

Regular check    

The last 2 digits of your SS#:

00-09    May 16
10-18    May 23
19-25    May 30
26-38    June 6
39-51    June 13
52-63    June 20
64-75    June 27
76-87    July 4
88-99    July 11

If you filed later than April 15 and your social security date has passed, you can expect the check 6 weeks after the point you filed.  Single people can expect a $600 maximum payment, while married couples can expect $1200 with $300 for each child.  There are several reasons why you won’t get the maximum rebate:

1. If you’re single and make over $75,000 or married and make over $150,000 collectively.  
2. You owe back taxes.
3. You have outstanding federal loans, such as child support or student loans.  
4. Your tax liability is under the maximum amount for your marital situation.  
5. You failed to file a 2007 return.
6. You’re listed as a dependent on someone else’s return.