Pay down debt and set aside more money for retirement. Keep good records. Make sure each partner makes the other the beneficiary on bank, retirement, investment, and other accounts. A will is vital for unmarried partners. Make sure the will matches your records - this will keep wishes for one's estate clear in the eyes of the court.
Cohabitation agreements can minimize any future stress and financial misunderstanding.
It lays a clear plan for the future and addresses a lot of questions that may exist in a relationship, without them surfacing at an emotional time. The most important message of all - you must talk about your financial future. Think about your goals, values, and priorities, and then transform those ideas into dollars and cents. You need to think about what would happen if you don't stay together, and those are very difficult things to talk about. When you're not married and you own a home together, a good thing to have is a property agreement that spells out each person's contribution.