How many of you married people keep your money separate?

[AthensCatFan]

Separate for us. We lived together for 3-4 years before getting married and just never bothered to combine them. My wife is very, very frugal so I don't worry about her spending more than she should. I make quite a bit more than her so I just pay for all bills and stuff when we're together, but she pays her student loan and anything she buys when I'm not with her. She does also put some money every month into a joint checking account we have, but neither of us spend from that account so we'll probably just end up taking a trip with it.

It's not perfect, but it works for us. Kids or a change in income could have us go to a joint account, but for now it works out pretty well.

 

[Hank Camacho]

Scary the percentage of women that are utterly horrific with finances.

Eh. I don't know how much it skews by gender. Women tend to be better investors because they are more conservative and are not convinced of their own brilliance. Men tend to worry about finances more but also do a ton of dumb spending and are prone to taking wild chances.

It really is the spending that is most people's problem, imo. I don't see that as a man/woman thing so much as a priority thing because a lot of men spend a lot of money on dumb **** and then turn around and gripe at their significant other about something equally as dumb but not interesting to them.

Almost everyone could be rich with some restraint, imo.

 

[Tskware]

It really is the spending that is most people's problem, imo. I don't see that as a man/woman thing so much as a priority thing because a lot of men spend a lot of money on dumb **** and then turn around and gripe at their significant other about something equally as dumb but not interesting to them.

Almost everyone could be rich with some restraint, imo.

QFT. You cannot out earn bad spending habits.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Scary the percentage of women that are utterly horrific with finances.

True. In my 60 years I've been in relationships with exactly two women that knew how to manage finances. My first wife was terrible and spent every penny she had on "stuff". Also dated a women that got 70% of her ex-husband's finances even with Texas being a Community Property state. She had around $500K cash, clear title to their house valued at $600K and half of his retirement and 401K. She sold the house and profited about $480K. Within three years she had blown through all of that money and had to start selling her possessions to make ends meet. I never saw anyone that had absolutely no concept of reality when it came to money.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Eh. I don't know how much it skews by gender. Women tend to be better investors because they are more conservative and are not convinced of their own brilliance. Men tend to worry about finances more but also do a ton of dumb spending and are prone to taking wild chances.

It really is the spending that is most people's problem, imo. I don't see that as a man/woman thing so much as a priority thing because a lot of men spend a lot of money on dumb **** and then turn around and gripe at their significant other about something equally as dumb but not interesting to them.

Almost everyone could be rich with some restraint, imo.

Very true in my case. If it were up to my wife she would save money in a plain savings account....she wouldn't invest. She's more conservative that way.

I firmly agree about the spending too. In our case, my wife nickels and dimes us. We consistently have Amazon packages arriving because she's bought books, toys, or clothes for the kids. But in my case, I don't purchase as much but when I do it's a higher amount....like another gun or something. In all, I'd say we spend less than other couples though. We only spend after we save, and we don't stretch or means.....mortgage, car payments, etc.

 

[Hank Camacho]

In our case, my wife nickels and dimes us. We consistently have Amazon packages arriving because she's bought books, toys, or clothes for the kids. But in my case, I don't purchase as much but when I do it's a higher amount....like another gun or something.

Ha.

Yup. Women, in my experience, tend to constantly buy little things that add up and men tend every once in a while go buy a jet ski or a motorcycle. With financing, it is essentially the same thing either way.

 

[rmattox]

My wife of 34 years is great with money. Neither of us wastes much, I'm probably more wasteful than she is. She does enjoy buying clothes, but even then is very thrifty. She found her last "formal night" cruise dress at a good Goodwill. Several years ago, she did the Dave Ramsey envelope thing and we've stuck with it. While we are not wealthy, we have what we need and when the big bills come due, her envelope plan enables us to have the money. I trust her.

 

[JDHoss]

Separate accounts, but we have a joint "house account" that we put money into to buy things for the house when needed. I pay the electric and phone bills and buy the groceries since I do 99% of the cooking. She pays the internet, trash and water. The house is paid for, as are the vehicles. We usually go to Florida 3-4 times a year and take some shorter trips as well, but in general lead a pretty simple life.

 

[vhcat70]

We married young & had zero ex a car. It's all been in one pot ever since. Non-issue. She manages the spending - always been below our means - & bills, me the investments. I spend very little besides on gas & alcohol - & UK FB tickets.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Do any of you have the spender/saver dynamic in your marriages? Two savers? Two spenders?

I'm the saver. I eat leftovers, wear clothes until they get all tattered, run around the house turning off lights, unplugging electronics/chargers, keep the AC at 75 in the summer and the heat at 68 in the winter. If I wasn't married I'd live so far below my means I could probably retire a decade earlier than I likely will.

My wife is the spender. If she has money, she's going to blow it. She scoffs at leftovers and coffee made anywhere other than Starbucks-type places. There are clothes and shoes in her closet that have never been worn. Her idea of "fun" is going shopping. My idea of "fun" is doing something free or chilling at home with stuff I already bought.

I suppose it could come down to raising. I was raised by two tight asses who squeezed every penny, but live comfortably and virtually debt free in retirement. She was raised by parents who lived credit card to check, ran up sizable debts and essentially live on a low fixed income in retirement.

 

[joeyrupption]

As far as my wife knows, we have joint accounts.

But I also have a private "Executive Account" from Liberty Capital.

 

[80 Proof]

Joint account where we pool our money. I manage it and pay all family bills. We each have individual accounts accounts and get an allowance from the joint account biweekly for personal expenses.

 

[Hank Camacho]

As far as my wife knows, we have joint accounts.

But I also have a private "Executive Account" from Liberty Capital.

#GYEROMAN

 

[awf]

We have been married for 42+ yrs. We have always had a joint checking/savings account. I carry a credit card for what I purchase. She carries the check book and manages the bills. It has always worked for us.

 

[kevcat]

How many of you do the his and hers money thing? Do you split your bills based on who makes more? This mindset has always intrigued me. What led to this decision?

Funny you bring this up.

My Wife and I have been married for 21 years. We don't have any kids, and we both make 6 figures plus.

We have always kept separate accounts.

It's not weird for us, because we have always been this way. I usually pick up drinks, dinner, but she handles paying the bills. I write her a check every 1st of the month for my half of the bills, and we don't stress the the money thing.

Probably fortunate.

 

[starchief]

I guess I was lucky enough to marry a woman that is a very good money manager. Been married 24 years all of our accounts are joint. She keeps up with the savings and checking. I handle our mutual funds. I honestly don't give a **** what she buys because she doesn't just blow money. We take a nice vacation every year. I guess it makes it easier to not fight about money when you live within your means. We both drive nice vehicles and owe 7 more years on our house.

This is my situation as well. My wife can out perform a CPA and she's frugal to a fault.

 

[jameslee32]

Wonderful woman in every way but finances. If we split the savings, her half would be gone within a year.

 

[jameslee32]

you guys are married and have money? i thought only debt came with marriage. i am doing something wrong then.

Yup. Two incomes and one home.