We’ve all made personal finance decisions that we later regretted. How many times have you said, “… if I had only known then what I know now, everything would be different …”

About twenty years ago I sold my electric guitar. I hated to part with it but I needed the money to pay bills. I also felt that someday I would be able to replace it. I knew the guitar was a collectible when I sold it.

The buyer paid me nine hundred dollars, which was a lot of money back then. Today that same guitar is worth more than ten-thousand dollars!

Do I regret my decision? Absolutely! The choice to sell was made out of quiet desperation because I had no savings and I was doing a very good job of personal finance mismanagement.

Do you understand what a credit score actually measures? Do you know what a good score is? What’s the best way to improve your credit score?

The Consumer Federation of America reports that most consumers do not fully comprehend how these mysterious three-digit ratings are used.

Those of us who have purchased a home know that mortgage lenders utilize these numbers to determine risk; how risky it is for them to lend us money. But only a minority of consumers are aware that electric utilities, home insurers and landlords frequently use credit scores to decide whether to sell us a service and at what price.

Let’s look at this FICO score-driven mortgage loan pricing scenario…

According to Fair Isaac, the company that guards their FICO credit score formula more closely than Coca-Cola guards its soft drink recipe, a homebuyer with a 720 credit score would be charged 5.72% on a thirty year fixed rate mortgage. That would result in monthly principal and interest payments of about $868.00.

I was walking through my favorite grocery store yesterday and couldn’t help notice all of the merchandise on display for Valentine’s Day. The greeting card aisle was stocked with every type of Valentine’s Day card imaginable. And the intoxicating scent of chocolate wafting from the candy section was enough to make my mouth water.

Although I didn’t buy any V-Day goodies, I began to think about the real significance of this holiday. For those of us already in a relationship, February 14th is typically a day to exchange tokens of affection. But for those of us who are looking for love, Valentine’s Day may be the perfect time to begin the search for your personal finance soulmate.

What does finding your sweetheart have to do with how you manage your money?

If you consider that many of the sources of relationship and marital discontent stem from a couple’s inability to communicate about and resolve personal finance issues, then finding a partner with whom you are financially compatible makes a lot of sense (or cents.

Using ‘SOULMATE’ as an acronym, here is my eight step guide to attracting your money-wise partner and charting a course to financial freedom:

S - Spend your time as if you were making an investment. Make sure you’re getting growth and the best return possible. Many people are afraid to be alone and just want to be with someone. Why settle for less than you really want when there are dozens of other choices you could make? Make sure you are getting what you need and that the relationship is progressing in a direction you both want.

O – Owe your partner nothing … except honesty. Do not mislead, lie or cheat. Nothing good will ever come of it. If you ever borrow money from your partner, make the terms of repayment crystal clear and follow through exactly as promised.

U – Understand your money type and that of your partner. People who have excellent credit and little or no debt are rarely compatible with partners who are chronically late on their bills and have huge credit card balances. S/he may have a great body and a six figure income, but if you spend more than you make, it doesn’t matter how much money you earn. Financial freedom will elude you.

L – Learn about strategies for creating wealth, eliminating debt and saving for retirement. Read books, attend seminars, listen to experts, talk with other people you know in your situation, get solid recommendations from trusted advisors and create a plan to help you achieve your personal finance dreams.