We each contribute 50% of the bills/payments, etc. This way we both win because we are each paying 1/2 what it would REALLY cost if we lived apart. This is a constant reminder that we have it MUCH BETTER by being Together.

If we eat out, we split the bill, my wife will throw in roughly 1/2 of whatever the bill+tip comes to. This way we are treating EACH OTHER to a nice night out.

If I want to buy my wife a gift, it’s easy because I simply use MY MONEY to do so. Likewise if my wife wants to go shopping and buy herself something she has her own money to spend however she wishes.

If we go on vacation we EACH put up 1/2 of whatever it cost to go on vacation then we both contribute to the food, gas, etc.

If we make a big purchase such as furniture or something big for the house we each put in 1/2 of the cost and we BOTH get to enjoy it as if we paid for 100% of it by ourselves.

I swear keeping the money separate is MUCH BETTER than getting a joint bank account in marriage. There is NO WAY that putting everything in one big pile is every going to be fair. You have to ASK the other person to buy anything… Screw that. My wife and I are adults, we will spend our money the way WE Choose to. The best part is, my wife is not some lame duck who expect me to pay for EVERYTHING, she is a smart capable woman who can stand on her own 2 feet. She’s not living with me because I’m her Meal Ticket. She’s with me because she WANTS to be with me for love and great sex. Not $$$.

I learn some new info today as well good content.

I’m freshly married as of last October, and we’re still working on finding a balance with money.

Don’t get me wrong. We have the same priorities and goals. We’re both responsible and respectful with our spending.

I’m just a details kind of guy. To an obsessive point. She just likes to know that everything is OK.

I recently realized that my attention to detail often makes her feel nervous, so I need to make more of a point that things are really OK. I guess it all comes down to communication.

I really like you saying that gifts don’t have to be huge or expensive. We recently stopped trying to outdo each other, and instead have started making joint donations to charity instead of buying each other gifts. We save money, help a good cause, and feel better about ourselves.

For Christmas, we made a donation to the humane society, and we’ll probably do the same for Valentines Day.

I love doing that…it takes so much pressure off of me!

I do agree that communication is crucial in dealing with finances. Once we started working from a budget, and agreeing on where our money was going to be spent, things got even better.

Congratulations on 7 years.

It’s the easiest, smoothest way to get through stuff.