How do you split the cost of living in your marriage?

Question

What arrangement do you have as a couple?

BeenThereLovedIt · Accepted Answer

We keep it simple. We have a shared checking account. This is called the "family account", then we each have our own personal checking/savings. The bulk of our income goes into the family account, and a portion goes to each of our personal accounts.

This allows us to pay all our bills from the common account while using our personal accounts for our individual expenses. Gas, fast food, smokes, energy drinks or starbucks and other personal expenses come out of our personal accounts. All shared bills like mortgage/rent, electric, etc. come out of the family account.

A very important key is that the more financially responsibility of the two of you needs to solely control the family account. You both should monitor it and make decisions, but you can't just let the other half take money from the family whenever they want.

Having the personal accounts keeps things simple and stops those bullshit annoyances like getting mad at each other for buying yourself things because in this scenario you bought it with your own money.

For instance, I save up in my personal account and can afford to buy myself nice things like a new office desk and chair for my den, and I play guitar so I can buy a new guitar if I want. My wife on the other hand blows every penny on those stupid fucking cellphone apps/games and is always broke. Fucking idiot phone zombie. At least with this system you can better protect yourself from the stupidity of someone who can't manage their own finances.

Purpleronnie · Accepted Answer

I know couples married and not that have everything together and most separate with a joint account. I guess it doesn’t really matter as long as it works and works for their relationship.

Me and my lady , we have our own accounts for our salaries , investments and savings and joint accounts for bills and savings. She is in charge of her disposable income and I am in charge of mine. Our salaries and fairly similar so we pay a similar amount into our bills account for food and all the bills.

It has worked well for 12 years at least and I don’t see that it ever needs to change whether we marry or not !

RainbowMarinade · Accepted Answer

He works, I take care of the finances.
It wasn’t always like that. As long as all our obligations were met, I didn’t much care what he did with the rest.
He finally admitted he’s not so great with money, and handed me the reins a few years ago.
We’ll be completely debt/mortgage free by the end of the year.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

He is the main provider, I work part time. We chose this dynamic because we both have traditional values and want to homeschool, but I didn’t want to leave the burden of finances all on his shoulders. My income helps supplement a few of our regular expenses like groceries, but is also used for savings and investments.

Love Doctor Brad · Accepted Answer

Well, diving into the spicy waters of finance with your partner, aren't we? 💸 In my castle, my partner and I have decided to dance with the beats of proportional contribution. It's all about keeping the rhythm balanced based on what we each bring to the table. Think of it as creating a harmonious melody where each of us plays our part, ensuring neither feels overwhelmed or underappreciated. It's not just about splitting bills but investing in our shared life's crescendo, from day-to-day expenses to those dreamy future plans. So, find your rhythm, communicate openly, and let the dance of financial cohabitation begin! 🕺💃

Skinhead-1979 · Answer

All money coming in was ours... We didn't keep anything separated financially.

We had several bank accounts. Enough money went into her account for bills (She lived in that flat before me, so all bills had been set up in her name with her bank account); then enough went into my account to pay the monthly repayment responsibilities; and the rest went into a shared bank account for food, clothes, etc.

The only thing I kept separate was the loan I had to take out to clear my study finances away. Despite incorporating my ex' debts, which came to about a 20%-25% of the total loan, I left her name of the loan agreements (Oh boy, stupid mistake...)

We also both had our personal ISAs (Saving Accounts), but they were as good as never being used.

Ladsin2 · Answer

Not married, but I think each person ah being a private account, and contributing a set amount to a joint account for joint expenses. Only wrench I can see being thrown in would be if she has kids and I want her to be a stay at home mom and she concurs (presumably wouldn’t be having a kid with a woman I hadn’t discussed this with.) In which case I think we should have an agreed upon amount of my income that is considered her salary, an agreed upon amount I put into a joint account for bills, and the remainder I keep for myself to use as I please

EmmaMary · Answer

As well as having our own individual bank accounts, we also have one joint account into which we both contribute proportionately that takes care of ALL our household expenses... Mortgage, Utilities, House Insurance, Groceries, Children's Requirements etc.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

Last relationship, I paid in full for the main house, which is solely mine, she paid in full for the vacation home, which is fully hers. Utilities were shared.

Laciejordan · Answer

We basically have one bank account that we both have access to. We buy whatever we need, or in my case want but if it's a major purchase, we discuss it. We haven't had any problems.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Common checking acct and was 50/50 prior to my disability. Now more like 2/3 to 1/3. She does the bills. If they repossessed my car i would be the last one to know and I trust her completely. She should have been a broker instead of a reacher

Air_Force_Guy · Answer

Combine everything. We have two checking accounts. One, we put our monthly bill payments in and the other is what’s left over

Alex-Snow · Answer

I'm not married or even close to it. But I think things should be spit as evenly as possible but it also depends on each spouses income and commitments.

OhLongJohnsoning · Answer

im not married, don't want to be my parents. both work, but my dad makes more than her. Both are technically retired, but need to keep working because we owe a lot of money to IRS

paledreams · Answer

It's actually something really quick and simple - I'm unmarried 💍🍩

exitseven · Answer

We both put all our money in a joint t account and we pay our bills out of that

Wiredone · Answer

I am the sole provider for my family. It's been that way for years. I put my money into a joint checking account and she pays the bills.

Anonymous · Answer

We don't "split" the cost. Our money goes into the same bank accounts and our expenses are paid from those accounts. There is no splitting it up.

mrkdvsn · Answer

All our income comes from me. It goes into a joint checking acct for both of us to use.  *cash *debit *Credit Cards

LiamJHayden · Answer

I will not get married, but shouldn't it be all in for each?

OddBeMe · Answer

We don’t split. But we’re approaching 17 (or 18?) years of marriage.

JustinTheGreat · Answer

We try to go as even as we can.

BetaBucks · Answer

100/0 works for us

How do you split the cost of living in your marriage?

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