Many married couples wait until they have been "found out" before discussing their financial activity with their spouse. In doing so, money talks can become an uncomfortable or confrontational conversation that can put stress on a marriage and the relationship. Regularly following these six steps can smooth out the wrinkles in your communication and put the focus back on your financial well-being.

Stay Close. While it is easy to get defensive or feel withdrawn during an uncomfortable financial discussion, it is best to make every effort to keep connected to your spouse. Sit facing one another on a sofa or at a dining table, and hold hands while you talk about your finances. Remember that you are both on the same team, and while it may feel like your spouse is judging you while you discuss your finances, the common goal is to come out of the financial conversation with a renewed sense of unity and financial clarity between you and your spouse. Let discussing your finances bring you and your spouse closer together, not push you farther apart.

Set Goals. With each meeting you have, make sure that you have clear objectives and financial goals to your financial discussion. Do you want to know how much debt you have? Maybe this is a good time to set a reasonable savings goal. Whatever you choose to accomplish during your money talk, make sure it is communicated prior to the meeting so that your spouse is prepared and informed. Try not to end the financial discussion until all points have been addressed, and allow time for both you and your spouse to explain your interpretation of the goals before you finish.

Be Honest. While it may be tempting to hide that golf expense or designer shoe purchase until a later money discussion, resist the urge to keep secrets. Hiding financial expenses or debts from your spouse is ineffective. Since it is usually just a matter of time before your spouse finds out about your unauthorized expense, take a deep breath and put it out there for discussion. There is no guarantee that your spouse won't get upset by your confession, however, it is a big step towards your common goals of financial honesty and accountability. The continued communication will foster trust and closeness in your relationship, and there will be no need to suffer guilt over past financial mistakes.

Don't Judge. If you are fortunate to be on the side of financial righteousness with your spouse, remember that your spouse is on your team. Don't spend more than a minute discussing any errors in financial judgment, and let them know that your disapproval doesn't take away from your love or dedication. By allowing mistakes to be revealed without fear of condemnation, you are opening up a line of communication that can keep financial discussions open and easy in the future. Who knows? You may be setting a positive trend for when you have to admit a mistake to your spouse.

Celebrate. If you have been able to have money talks, and discuss your financial goals and setbacks without major incident, give yourself and your spouse a reward! How about using the time after your money discussions to enjoy a fun activity together? By maintaining the closeness that you displayed during your money talk, you can turn that regular appointment into something to look forward to with your spouse. Just be sure that you don't overspend on your date!