Checking Accounts: Joint or Seperate?

And why is this even up for debate? Fortunately, the girlfriend and I see eye-to-eye on such things. But if a girl I dated ever suggested that she wanted control over my finances, the only thing I'd be debating would be whether the relationship should continue.

x2 on Hoyal. You have no convincing to do, the idea of joint accounts with somebody whom you aren't married to is ludicrous.

 

Oh it isn't so much a serious conversation as it is more of a debate type thing. A co-worked had mentioned something about their own personal finance situation and so she asked me what I thought.

Thanks for all the opinions!

She's a great girl. But my money is my money. I don't ask for hers, so she doesn't get to ask for mine Not yet anyway.

 

I've been with my fiance for almost 7 years. We have a house, and a brand new truck in both names, but all of our finances are completely separate. We don't care what each other spend money on, as long as bills are paid and we have that security cushion. At the same time though, we consider what is mine is hers and vice versa. I'm not sure if we'll merge accounts once we're married, or keep them separate. It's worked this way for this long, so I don't really see any value in changing what works.

Although the idea of having both at the same bank for free transfers is brilliant.

 

This ^^

 

I am not married, but I agree w/what most people are saying on here. Keeping everything separate is fine as long as you both pay your bills together. Whatever is left is yours to spend as you wish...

 

If your not married...seperate!

If you've been together 7 years or longer...Joint

 

.

 

Yup, too hard to keep up with each other's expenses.
We took it a step further and have a joint bills account and then seperate checking. So payday, we put money in to a joint checking acct to pay bills, money in a joint savings, then she gets most of the rest, I get an allowance. She does the grocery shopping and stuff. I'm a spender of useless junk if I don't have a limit.

 

I think I voted wrong....

 

I tried the joint account one time. I realized all the debts she occurred got paid first (i.e. Victoria Secret, Shoe stores, Out to eat). Then came the house bills. Lastly came any bills that did not matter as much to her (i.e. my bills).

Also, I was the one working 70 to 80 hours a week and she was working about 40 hours. I don't spend much money but, after working that many hours every week, I should at least have a little folding money.

A old man once told me, there is only 2 reason why a man gets married:
First reason is if he is tired of fooling around.
Second reason is if he is tired of having money to do it with.

 

That's all I wanted to quote, but until you are married, then HELL to the NO! Once you do the deed, its what workks for you; you may even try each at times, we did.

 

X2 I would definately wait til you get married cause if you dont she will have not only your balls but now your money.

 

Off topic, but this could also be

 

doh i missread that

so, ya, separate checking account while you are single

 

I've always thought it looked more like that also. must be a texas thing

 

Hmmmm. just gave me a money making idea, Longhorn logo thongs! (copyrighted)

 

we each have our own checking and savings, we electronically transfer 2k a month each and put the rent checks from our 2 family that we lease into a joint checking to pay the bills. we pay utilities, groceries, mortgage with the joint. everything else is separate.

and thats my wife, we started that when we got engaged, before that we lived in the 2 family that i owned and i paid the mortgage there.

if its your GF i would stick with separate and make one joint account that you each contribute equally to

 

My wife and I both have a seperate accounts and we have a joint account for bills and savings. I have two seperate accounts, one for my consulting company and one for my own use. It works well for us. I say keep your money seperate until your married....safer that way.

 

DO NOT give in.. my girlfriends dad got joint accounts with his gf and she took all his money and left. and she did not seem like someone to do that.

 

separate
We also split the bills since we make about the same. This way it is even. Also it can be a PITA to keep balanced with 2 people pulling from it.