Gone are the days when you could stuff your savings in a mattress, and how we do miss them.

The latest in a seemingly endless parade of themed finance books is Sharon Epperson’s The Big Payoff. Epperson, a correspondent for CNBC, has put together a collection of sensible advice for newlyweds to avoid debt and manage their money from the wedding day onward. She sat down with NPR’s Michele Norris and rued the fact that not only do most couples grossly overspend on the wedding, but they don’t give themselves what Epperson calls “a financial checkup” before the Big Day to see if, given current financial situations, they can comfortably manage the first few years of marriage.

Her best advice for all the enamored debtors out there? “Live on one income, not two.” Regardless of whether both work, or one stays home, “plan to live on less than you earn.” That tactic, however dull, will inherently account for the unforeseen expenses that will inevitably occur.

Listen to the full interview and read an excerpt here.