Marriage produces its share of happiness, but it also supplies its share of arguments, as well – and very often the same ones. Whether you and your spouse don’t agree on how much to set aside in savings, where to cut back to save on bills, who does more housework, or sincere ways to boost affection, there are different technologies out there that could spare you from these minor debacles – and possibly save your marriage.

Try these services and see how your marriage and family life improves:

1. Mint.com (free): Money is often at the core of many arguments couples have, and Mint.com is one of the best ways to resolve debates over finances. Mint looks at your different bank accounts and credit cards and allows you to set a budget that is right for your family. It also shows you where the money is going to keep you on track to reach your financial goals, and illuminates where you may need to make a change. If you keep separate accounts for some expenses, the PayPal app is a great way to easily transfer money to each other so you don’t have to worry about paying each other back with a check.

2. Pinterest (free): More and more couples have been using Pinterest as a way to peek into what their spouse enjoys. Looking at your wife’s board is a great way to see what gifts she is hoping to receive, a recipe she wants to try, or a special location she wants to visit. Perfect for planning a surprise or buying gifts.

3. Spotify (Free or $9.99/ month for Spotify Premium): Learn to collaborate and communicate out of the box by creating a collaborative playlist with your partner – both spouses can add their favorite and most intimate tracks to the playlist, and can listen to it together when they need to feel a little emotional, musical affection. It’s also a way to feel close when you’re apart– by listening to music your partner picked out for you. Consider it the updated version of the mixed tape. (This also works for groups of friends or family members who are apart!)

4. Nest Thermostat ($249): Arguing over heating and electric bills during the cold and hot months is a very common dispute among households. With the Nest Thermostat, all you need to do is change the temperature for a few days to teach Nest what you like, and after that it learns about you and your home and starts activating features to save you more energy – and ultimately money. Since it learns automatically, you don’t need to fight every day about the temperature.

Posted on 2/24/2014

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