re: How do you manage finances with your spouse?

We have separate bank accounts but they are both technically joint accounts, and linked. I pay most of the bills (mortgage, utilities, cellular, etc.) and generally big purchases come out of my account, but I make considerably more than her. She pays some bills, such as Netflix. She also usually buys groceries.

We have separate credit card accounts but that’s not really intentional. We haven’t really added any credit cards since being married. Separate investment accounts as well but she doesn’t really do anything there outside of 401k contributions.

We don’t talk about money very often. If her account runs low, she transfers money from mine. We both agree that it’s all “our” money; the separate accounts just give us both a little more freedom. Anything somewhat big (like more than $500-$1,000) we at least let each other know about, but we’ve never argued about it. If it’s over like $2-3k there’s usually a conversation.

We live pretty comfortably below our means which makes it much easier. That’s why neither of us care if the other wants to splurge every now and then. I think we both feel a little guilty about spending too much, which means we’re basically always on the same page.

X amount goes in 401k
X amount goes into vehicle replacement / emergency account
X amount goes into Christmas / vacation / xtras fund
X into my wallet/ slush
The rest , I don’t care buy whatever so long as it’s got a few Gs left in there if I want / need something a little bigger than my slush can handle

I check the accounts and cards every couple months to make sure no bs is going on other than that I let her have at it

I make it she spends it

Married (first time for both of us) for almost 40 years. She’s been in charge of paying the mundane monthly bills (electricity, cable, insurance, mortgage, etc) and the annual bills (property tax, kid’s tuition, etc). I have been in charge of buying & maintaining cars, maintaining the houses, negotiating property acquisitions, getting State & Federal taxes & quarterly estimates filed/paid.

Most of her responsibilities now are done through electronic accounts.

It works.

Joint account to pay bills like car/truck note, car insurance, utilities, cell phone, food, and basic household needs.

Her account is hers

My account is mine

Only time we use each other’s accounts would be on vacation if needed

Collectively

One checking, budget, plan, and team work for big decisions

Has worked well

The less she spends, the more manageable it gets

What's hers is hers. What's mine is hers.