My gf and I have talked about this, and we make about the same amount of $$. We think the solution is to have it all go into one account, pay the bills and stuff like eating out from that account, and then each have our own account for buying little stuff for ourselves, like golf clubs, purses, expensive clothes, tools, etc. That way, if one wants to blow a bunch of $$ on something the other thinks is stupid (a new Cobra driver or a Luis Vuitton, for example) you just save up and use your own money. Most big financial decisions are made together, but I won't have to ask "permission" to spend a few hundred bucks of my "own" money, either. If I spend it all on stupid stuff and run out, too bad for me. Kinda seems like the perfect balance of freedom and trust.

 

Actaully, wanting them combined shows lack of trust, IMO - why else would you want to keep an eye on everything your partner spends money on? If I completely trust my partner, I'd have no issue at all with her keeping seperate accounts.

 

I would be embarrassed to go out to dinner with another couple and when the bill comes ask my wife for her portion of the bill. do the people who have separate accounts do this?

My wife and I have shared every dollar since we have lived together

 

When we go to dinner we normally put it on our joint debit card. If we are going to use cash, we draw money from our joint account.

When we go to lunch, sometimes I treat, sometimes she does. Sometimes we both throw money in the pot.

 

 

[QUOTE=Scot,Mar 24 2006, 03:41 PM] Two ladies I work with are BITCHES and have the seperate accounts.

 

We actually have 3 accounts.

A joint account we opened a little after we got engaged, which is used to pay all the bills and seperate accounts that we've had forever. I never thought of it as being a big deal. We both drop some of what we make into the joint account to pay the bills. Our seperate accounts pay for our occassional spending (her shoes and my car parts).

 

wow....that is too much work for me......... "did you pay for lunch last time or did i?"

 

[QUOTE=Elistan,Mar 25 2006, 11:01 AM]Actaully, wanting them combined shows lack of trust,

 

My wife and I have always had separate accounts. I don't think we even have a joint account. When we both had real jobs, we split the bills. If we went out to eat, sometimes she would pay and sometimes I would. We didn't keep track.

Like most couples, we discuss a major purchase. If we didn't, I would have a safe full of watches and no food.

If either one of us thought it important to pool our money we would. We really don't see an advantage.