The days seem brighter, everyone sees you smiling and secretly you know that they know that you’re in love and that’s why they’re smiling back at you.

Love is great!

Have you ever heard the phrase “Love and money”?

Love and money go hand-in-hand to bring the brightest days. When you’re in love there can be little expense you would not encumber yourself with to make your loved one’s existence a little more perfect, a little less stressful.

And therein lies the crux of the matter. Love and money and the willingness to be a great provider/lover.

Throughout your life, including your online dating adventure, somone at sometime will ask you for money. It may not be a loan but a gift they ask for. Help with an outstanding bill (big or small), or maybe simply your signature on a piece of paper to allow your new love to get a mobile phone, or the electricity turned back on.

You are put on the spot to prove your love through a financial arrangement that helps your lover out of a bind or makes their life just a touch less stressful.

And we all want to help, to be the savior of this unfairness that we now see our partner suffering.

It may just be a few dollars, it may just be a signature on a line. But with these actions you put your credit on the line and even worse, these decisions will (not could) make or break your relationship.

If you are asked for money make sure you get a promissory note that your lover signs that acknowledges not only the loan but also the repayment plan. You can easily find a promissory note sample online and a free fax service, if needed, to use to have the note signed.

If your lover is bold enough to use your relationship for financial help then you need to step up and protect your interests by having a loan document signed by them.

If they are asking you to risk your credit by signing on the dotted line to get them a mobile phone account then you need to seriously consider if you can handle the payments on your own should the relationship terminate.

Because contracts only end at the time specified but love can end in a heartbeat.

If you don’t have a handle on what your current credit score is or what your credit report says about your financial health then I urge you to take the steps needed to know that your credit score is and what the financial companies you deal with are saying about your credit-worthiness. “Get Equifax 3 Bureau Credit Report and Scores Now!”

Here are a few horror stories to help you understand that this issue can arise with anyone at any time.

- Love May Be Blind, But MoneyGram Recommends Keeping Eyes Wide Open To Avoid Risk of Romance Scam
- Toronto man accused of defrauding online dates
- Woman who tricked two teenage girls into relationships by disguising herself as a boy faces jail
- Better Business Bureau Highlights Scams To Expect In 2012