It seemed to come out of nowhere. Just a minute ago, you and your guy were snuggling on the couch, and the next thing you knew, you're bickering over who should clean the dishes. Like it or not, fights are an inevitable part of relationships. Ask any married couple, and they'll tell you that when the excitement of new love wears off, it's the mundane issues that make you get on each other's nerves.

But there's a silver lining: Working through these disagreements together as a couple can strengthen your relationship. As you learn to negotiate differences and compromise, this essentially brings you closer together, say relationship experts.

So without further ado, here's a list of the most common reasons couples fight, and tips to resolve the conflicts.

1. Money

Research has shown that couples fight more about money than about anything else -- regardless of their income. Why is money such a touchy subject? It's not about the dollars and cents per se, but how differently we view money. "Our money personalities are formed early and often lead to couples having conflicting spending and saving styles," explains Sherry Amatenstein, relationship expert and author of The Complete Marriage Counselor.

How to make peace: Sit down together and create a list of financial goals for the short- and long-term. Then work out the ground rules: Talk about how money should be spent so there are no surprises further down the line. When it comes to making big-ticket purchases, you should always discuss with each other first. Opening communication lines early on can save you from countless fights down the road.