Hey Married/future-married: One checking account or TWO?? Is the money Mine or Ours?

[vi edit]

Non married, two incomes, one account. Both paychecks go into one checking/savings account. It's really not that big of a deal. The house is "ours", the cars are "ours", and anything bought outside of monthly budget is *usually* discussed before purchasing.

Either one of us could give you the current balance of both the checking and savings account at any given time, as well as telling you almost to the day when certain bills are due. 99% of all purchases are done through check or check card so there's no big credit card bill coming to whack you upside the head at the end of the month.

It works out well for the two of us. We are pretty thrifty(outside of my car buying problem which I'm trying to work on), so we really don't have big spending sprees.

It also minimizes paperwork, and actually is less stressful and creates less problems.

 

[Electric Amish]

One checking account. The money is "ours".

amish

 

[Aenygma]

Ours

 

[Woodie]

Married almost 8 years.
We had three accounts for a while (mine, hers, ours), then she took over monthly bills, and three was too much hassle, so we have two now.

Ours (both paychecks, all the "ours" bills, and "her" bills)
Mine (allowance transferred on each of my paydays. I pay "my" bills--GSL and one CC, and buy whatever I like with it.)

The seperate money means that when I buy her presents, it's really my money. Also means that I can spend my money how I like (FS/FT is a way dangerous place ), without telling her what I bought. It works for us, since we're both kind of independant.

It's the same for her. Wait a second <lightbulb over Woodie's head slowly grows brighter>...she has my money and pays her bills--she can go shopping any time she likes!

Trust is a good thing.

--Woodie

 

[Helpless]

My asked about a second wedding some time back...to &quot;become one&quot; again...think I'll save some money and just open a joint account for the both of &quot;us.&quot;

 

[troglodytis]

one account here. we both work and the money is all hers

 

[przero]

23+ years! 2 Accounts!!

 

[Stallion]

<< Yep. Last time it was about $700 on drapes and shears for the windows. >>



If this is considered normal, it may be time to think about either financial or marriage counceling. Unless, that is, you make a few hundred grand
per year and the $700 was just chump change.


actually we make over 6 figures and she said she was going to buy some drapes but I had no idea how much it would cost so $700 to me is no big deal and I don't think we need counceling, thank you very much.

 

[monto]

1 acct but prenup

 

[Helpless]

>>and I don't think we need counceling, thank you very much. <<


I hear you, brother

 

[Total Refected Power]

Married:

ONE BIG POT!! It is insulting to have to ask your spouse for money. Both work hard in a relationship and just because someone earns more currency doesn't mean the other is less valuable. This is assuming both are reasonable people with reasonable spending habits.

 

[sandmanwake]

I'm not married, but I like the idea of 3 separate accounts. One that both contribute to for bills, this one should probably have the bulk of the mula or perhaps just enough to cover bills or other joint ventures like vacation, it'd have to be a checking/savings thing of course, since it doesn't make too much sense to keep more money in checking than necessary. Then a separate account for each so that one doesn't have to ask the other for money when they want to spend money on something personal or silly. Each could also be a checking/savings thing also if that's what they want. One reason I think that it's a good idea for each person to have their own account is that it'll help them learn to manage their own finances instead of just one person doing it. For example, if the husband is the one doing the finances and the wife never learned how to keep the books, she'd be in a bit of trouble if he ever died or something, and I'd like the wife to be able to take care of herself. It'd also be nice to know that your significant other saved part of their own spending money to buy you something special. My parents have a joint checking account and that didn't make their marriage any better, so I don't buy the argument that joint checking equals trust or anything. Separate seems to make more sense to me and no matter the method someone choose, seems that communication about money is still going to be a big factor into whether or not their marriage is going to work.

 

[bonkers325]

<< Put as much as you can into a Swiss account so you have something after you get divorced. >>



good idea

 

[bonkers325]

<< All your money are belong to me.
PM me for my account number, then deposit the money into my account! >>



lol

 

[rmblam]

Married

2 accounts = marital bliss. I spend WAAAAAYYYY too much money for the both of us to have both of ours in one account. She is definitely the &quot;saver&quot; of the family. I would go nuts if I had one BIG account to play with.

My next purchases: A new laptop with a Palamino and Radeon mobility or Geforce2 go, a new stainless 4 blade prop for one of my boats, a pool heater, and all the fishing lures I can fit in a shoppng cart.... I can't help it.

We spend our own money as we choose, but we do split the bills and discuss major purchases. I always get my way though... ;-) I make good $$$ working overtime so I always have extra &quot;madmoney&quot;.