If your bank account has been dinged by the shaky economy, the Christmas season often brings added pressures, particularly when there are children in the household. (Shutterstock.com)

I bet that without even blinking, you can guess two of the biggest issues couples fight about, can't you?

Sure, the overstuffed trash bin and last night's crusty dishes can be regular themes in our household squabbles, but they've got nothing on money and sex, which are both consistent list toppers in our squabbles.

A recent survey by Credit Canada and Capital One found that 86% of Canadian couples regularly argue about money. Placing high on the head-butting list is different ideas about how the green stuff should be spent.

And now that the holiday season is well on its way, household tensions can easily skyrocket.

"I say it as a joke ... but sex, money and in-laws, you just have to mention one of them and the next thing you know a therapy session's going on," says relationship therapist Joe Rich, who recently partnered up with Patricia Lovett-Reid of TD Waterhouse to create a playful love-and-money quiz designed to help Canadians determine their personal financial style.

"People that often run into conflicts are opposites financially. When we say opposites attract, one couple could do this in a complimentary way and be really good for each other, and another could be really stuck."

If your bank account has been dinged by the shaky economy, the Christmas season often brings added pressures, particularly when there are children in the household who are unaware of Santa's tight budget this year.

It seems the old adage, 'honesty is the best policy,' proves its worth at times like these.

"No kid should be in the family and not know the financial situation," says "The best advice is to be able to tell the kids about this," says Rich.

"If dad lost his job, dad lost his job. They're allowed to be disappointed. If you're able to meet their expectations when things are going well, that's fantastic, but this is a family and this is how a family operates."

According to a report released by Synovate, the financial crisis has altered the spending habits of Canadians throughout the past 12 months, with 37% saying they don't have enough money and are postponing large purchases.

Seems we're holding off or spending less on everything from TVs (19%), and other big goodies like computers (25%) and have skimmed down on holidays (19%), and a handful of respondents have put off weddings and delayed having babies.

"Everyone's gone from the free wheeling a couple of years ago to looking at budgets," says Rob Myers, managing director of Synovate Canada.

"There's no doubt that the personal side and the financial side go hand in hand ... The big question now is, is this different from any other recession, or is this just the same - you go through a downtown and reduce spending just to go back to repeating the same cycle."

TV you can use:

The boob tube is full of useless drivel, but you can also find engaging shows offering valuable money and relationship lessons, made with the Canadian market in mind.

On 'Til Debt Do Us Part on Slice, host Gail Vaz-Oxlade enters a couples home, eyeballs their high-priced goodies and sifts though their bills before putting the pair through a series of tough financial challenges, designed to whittle down their debt load, while getting them on the same financial and relationship page as well.

Meanwhile on the W Network's Maxed Out, viewers learn from the mistakes of others as financial expert Alison Griffith investigates exactly where the show's participants are spending their money.

Offering practical guidelines for tightening wallets, reducing debt and saving for the future, this is the kind of TV viewing that almost justifies paying for the fat, monthly cable bill.

Sex is free:

Even if your bank account has taken a nosedive, your libido needn't be in a deficit.

An Ipsos Reid survey of Canadian cities conducted for Global TV found that those living in Winnipeg are the most dissatisfied with their sex lives, followed by Torontonians. Meanwhile, more than 25% of Vancouverites said when it comes to a limp bedroom life, the economy is to blame.

Thankfully, you don't have to spend a lot to have a ton of fun.

"A night of great sex is a cheap way to have a stay-cation," offers Mikey Singer, promoter of Canada's Everything To Do With Sex Show.

"Get a couple of toys, have a bath, play and make a evening out of it just at your house. "Just make sure you send your kids to the parents' house!"

Frugal giving:

- Almost 90% of Canadians say they plan to comparison shop

- 67% say they have a strict holiday shopping budget

- Women report having a tighter budget men, 72% vs. 60%, respectively

- 40% say they plan to give the gift of cash this year

(Source: Ipsos Reid study conducted on behalf of PayPal Canada)

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