When you’re married, should you combine your finances with your spouse? How you navigate money will either pull you together or push you apart.
In this episode of the Finance for Physicians Podcast, Daniel Wrenne talks about managing finances for married couples. Consider the pros and cons of couples combining (or not) their finances.
Topics Discussed:
Good and bad reasons to separate finances:To keep some stuff private from spouse (i.e., gift giving)To spend without scrutiny or criticism from spouse (no finger pointing)Unequal spending habits and/or unequal income causes discomfortLet the more responsible spouse manage all the money/financesTo hide spending that a spouse does not want the other to know aboutIn most cases, operate as one and pull everything together. Why?Consult and follow advice from the BiblePersonal experience transitioning from being single to marriedClients experience better outcomes when finances combined completelySheds light on major problematic issues that need to be addressedKeys to a Good Marriage:Open communication about issuesTransparency builds and breeds trustAccountability aspect of sharing everything in a loving way50/50: Combining finances helps to establish equalityCompromise when operating as one with combined financesAction Items - Before Combining Finances:Talk through and resolve big issuesGet rid of individual accounts and combine them into one joint accountOngoing, regular conversations about finances to be on same pageGive spouse opportunity to speak and listen to what they have to sayCompromise more often than you have in the pastLinks:
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