In my parents time perhaps, but not in my experience. Not one of my circle of married friends have such an arrangement. As for my marriage, we own our own properties, cars, share portfolios, other investments, and maintain separate bank accounts. We throw a set amount into a kitty each month for living expenses, but everything else is by negotiation.
Why? Probably because the average age for a bride is now 29 and a groom 31. At this point you've spent a decade in the workforce and have achieved a certain degree of independence. This kind of arrangement reflects that. For us there was never any question.
"everything else is by negotiation" could either mean: we functionally share our finances - but for tax/legal/convenience reasons we choose to keep seperate accounts...
My experience is the opposite - generally the major part of finances are shared and there are small accounts on the side.. (things like cars etc are usually "owned" by a single person - but that's more of a convenience)
I've definitely got one mate like that, but plenty of others are the opposite. Sounds like we're probably not representative of the bulk of married couples though.
In our case, by negotiation really does mean by negotiation: XX wants a new couch. XX either convinces XY a new couch is a great idea and we split it, or XX buys the couch. Works the same way when XY wants to concrete the carport.
It would just weird me out. I'd arrange everything so that communal bills are paid proportionally, i.e. you make twice as much as your spouse, you pay 75% of the rent, and everything else stays separate.
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In my parents time perhaps, but not in my experience. Not one of my circle of married friends have such an arrangement. As for my marriage, we own our own properties, cars, share portfolios, other investments, and maintain separate bank accounts. We throw a set amount into a kitty each month for living expenses, but everything else is by negotiation.
Why? Probably because the average age for a bride is now 29 and a groom 31. At this point you've spent a decade in the workforce and have achieved a certain degree of independence. This kind of arrangement reflects that. For us there was never any question.
"everything else is by negotiation" could either mean: we functionally share our finances - but for tax/legal/convenience reasons we choose to keep seperate accounts...
My experience is the opposite - generally the major part of finances are shared and there are small accounts on the side.. (things like cars etc are usually "owned" by a single person - but that's more of a convenience)
we functionally share our finances...
I've definitely got one mate like that, but plenty of others are the opposite. Sounds like we're probably not representative of the bulk of married couples though.
In our case, by negotiation really does mean by negotiation: XX wants a new couch. XX either convinces XY a new couch is a great idea and we split it, or XX buys the couch. Works the same way when XY wants to concrete the carport.
It would just weird me out. I'd arrange everything so that communal bills are paid proportionally, i.e. you make twice as much as your spouse, you pay 75% of the rent, and everything else stays separate.