Who's the 'accountant' at your house?

Question

Growing up my mom was a S.A.H.M. My dad brought home a paycheck and my mom looked after paying the bills. My husbands family did the same thing. Naturally (or maybe not so naturally?) we have the same arrangement. Hubby brings home a paycheck (and I also work from home) and all of our money goes into a join chequing account from which I pay all the bills (which are also in both our names). I have talked to a few other couples (who vary in ages/working arrangements) and have come to realise that this isn't nessisarily 'the norm'. I know MANY couples who have 'his' money and 'her' money and each have respetive bills to pay. I was wondering (without details such as $$$ amounts and personal info etc.) what the arrangement in your home is? Who pays what bills? If you pay 'your bills' and run short in a month do you have to 'borrow' money from your spouse? Which 'way' do you think works the best and what are some 'drawbacks' to either 'way'? Thanks everyone : ) Hope everyone has a good day!

Answer 1

We have a joint checking account.  We lease an apartment and due to his credit its just in my name (his ex took all their credit cards and racked them up and never payed on them) so because of that, most bills are in my name.  I dont work right now, cause Im going to school full time, but when I did work, both of our checks went into the same account.  We would both take X amount of cash to have on hand for the week.  The bills were payed with both of our money in our accounts.  Sometimes for our cell bill I would just cash my check and go to the store and pay it, but really that was the only time my check was used for a certain bill.  Now that I dont work, money still goes into our checking account, and I'll write checks to pay the bills.  Once you become a couple/married then everything should be shared.  For big items that we want for "fun" we talk about it, and use extra money.

Answer 2

Well my husband and I have a joint checking and savings account. I pay all the bills, to me that is the norm, although I do have friends who are married and they each chip in as if there room mates.  My husband and I have been like this since we have met, he is not computer literate or anything so I assumed this responsibility 8 years ago. It would feel as if he were hiding things from me if it were any other way. (I know that may sound silly, but that's me!)

Answer 3

We have that same arrangement.  I stay home with my daughter and take care of all of the bills.

Answer 4

We had our "own" money.  No joint anything.  We had our own bills, we paid our own bills.

Answer 5

I feel like marriage is team work. our house, our cars, our family. our JOINT checking.  my paycheck or his it doesnt matter because it all goes to the same place.

Answer 6

I'm a stay at home mom, so my fiances money is our money. But I got a little crazy with "our" money and he works out of state, so sadly now he sends me a small amount a week, and thats what I get. thats my money to do whatever I want with it. But when it comes to bills I pay them with the checkbook, but I dont handle any of the money, except what I get for the week, I know it's sad it's like allowance, but I guess I learned my lesson. But anyways I've always known of couples putting their money together into one account. But I live in a town that isn't quite up with the times, so that might not be normal anymore!

Answer 7

I did bookkeeping for 10 years and have a "knack" for this kind of thing, so we do what you do...  We have a joint checking account, into which both our paychecks go, and we pay all the bills from it.  We discuss large purchases, agree on how much to save and how much to spend, and most of the time, it works well for us.

My best friend and her husband each have separate checking accounts, and each is responsible for certain bills.  My husband and I joke about them at times, however, because it seems like my friend ends up paying ALL the bills, while her husband has all the fun with "his" money (he just bought a $20,000 boat against her wishes)!

Whatever works for a particular couple is what is "right" for them, I guess...

Answer 8

My parents always did things that way too, so if I ever get married it would seem to be the logical arrangement.  'His' and 'hers' seems too individual, not like a marriage.  That's something I'd find more appropriate in a bf/gf living together kind of relationship.  And as far as anyone running short, in my opinion people should be responsible enough to work, budget and be able to pay their bills

Answer 9

My husband and I both work and bring in the income. However, I am the one that pays the bills from our joint account. I pay 98% of our bills through our bank online. I am on the computer every day at my job so it is easy for me to get on and make sure everything is set up to be paid. My husband used to pay the bills  online, but kept paying them late because he couldn't get online when he needed to. It just works better if I pay them.

I do not agree with the "his/her" money. A marriage is a partnership and things should be done together. I could never ask my hubby to "borrow" some money.