His and Hers checkbooks (dating, wife, husband, separated)

[Hoosier]

From a relationship standpoint what are your thoughts on splitting up the finances? For the past 10 years my wife and I have combined our paychecks and paid from one checking account. We've been talking and the idea came up that we get separate accounts and pay bills from each account. I've heard of other couples who do this but not sure how it affects the relationship. Are there positive or negatives to this idea?

[DareToDream]

Hubby and I have a joint checking account which we use to pay our mortgage, utilities, etc. type expenses and we each have our own checking accounts, which we use for whatever - we put equal amounts from both of us into the joint account each month. We also have a joint savings account....if we need something "big" for the house, we use that, after we discuss it.

IMO it allows us each the "personal freedom" to spend some of the money we make on whatever we want, once the household expenses are taken care of. We never argue about money or about what either of us has bought from our own accounts...and we can surprise each other with gifts <g>.

For us, it has worked well....for some it may not work as well, I guess it depends on the individuals involved, as do most things.......

[Granny Sue]

We have always had joint accounts with little to no problems. Big purchases are always discussed. We each take out a certain amount weekly, we call this our allowance.

[Roaddog]

We have seperate accounts, for the first 5 years we had a joint account but she had a spending problem so i opened my own account, she didn't like it at first but it didn't take long for her to figure out it was for the best. It makes both people responsable for thier actions.

[Pikantari]

At first we had a joint acct, and he had the debit card and kept getting money out and not telling me, then I would pay the bills, and the checks would bounce!

Sooooo...separate checking accts after that, and now, separated.

[MonaLisaVito]

I've taken care of all the bills since we were dating. We've always had a joint account. Never been a problem. Neither one of us spends foolishly so we don't see the need for separate accounts. We both have debit cards and spend as we need too. I can't imagine having to pay bills from two separate accounts, what a hassle. And since I'm a full time stay at home mom right now it wouldn't make any sense, one account would be empty most of the time

[kaykay]

My dh and I have separate accounts. This began when some years back I went to work for a financial instition and they wanted you to have an account with them they could deposit your paycheck into. They did not have locations close to where my husband worked so he didn't want to change banks.

Anyway, he pays most bills out of his account and I pay for household expenses like groceries, etc. out of my account. He is the one primarily responsible for the finances. This system has worked well for us for many years. That way we are each solely responsible for keeping up with our own account.

[songinthewind7]

We have a joint checking and savings account, debit and credit cards.
We pay the bills, stick some in savings and have the freedom to spend some on ourselves also (within reason) but the major purchases, we discuss first.
I usually pay the bills since my job is parttime and I have more time. He'd rather me do it anyway. He doesn't like paperwork.

[arguy1973]

We have two joint accounts, one is "kinda" mine and one is "kinda" hers and we have done it this way for several years now. we (I) pay most of the bills outta mine and most of the household clothes stuff outta hers, but its not really a this is mine this is your thing, considering we both have checkbooks to both accounts. I just keep up with one and her the other.

[Synopsis]

I bring home the bacon and she manages the finances. Can't have separate accounts because we only have one source of income, me!