Should Couples Combine Their Finances?

In today's exciting video, Frugal Green Girl and Frugal Green Guy answer the burning question; Should couples combine their finances? There is a raging debate on this one, so which side do we fall on? More importantly, which side do YOU fall on?
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[@Myfrugallife]

You are so right. Keeping money together helps achieve goals faster. If one spouse gets sick or or has to stay home, because it might not make sense to work and spend it all on childcare, the other can work more. Both have to do the best they can. And if one is trying to do or give less for the family and expects the other to do more, that’s a relationship issue, and not a money issue.

[@mijadelsol]

Me and my partner do separate which is new, I like it much better for two reasons. 1) I have two kids that are not his children and feel they are my financial responsibility 2) my partner is much younger and is still learning about money . This way he can really see what he spends and what it takes to be on top of bills When our bank was joined his spending was taking from my kids. He felt clueless to it all because I did everything having more experience. Also splitting bills ( and having separate accounts) fairly by income and other factors has greatly reduced my stress levels. Sometimes you and your sweetie are just at different levels. It is important to have self responsibility and learn how to manage money before you partner up with someone else's.

[@brendasmiley6128]

If you married someone you trust, someone you respect then combining the finances should go smoothly👍.

[@shawnkovac1042]

'should'. uh huh. maybe they 'should', but in my experience, what 'should' happen and what *usually* happens, are so commonly very different things. i think combining finances is one classic example that *should* go smoothly, but commonly does not.

[@maehay4065]

You mentioned couples that I’m assuming married couples is what you are referring to. And it’s nice to meet Mr. Frugal!! You’re right about discussing how couples should have a joint banking account. I had a bad experience with someone who was my former husband who has passed away. But I remember buying him some new shirts for business which we owned jointly as,well as everything else we. He took some back to the store! These shirts were not expensive but he wanted to put more money away for our future. But he died that same year. I thought I was doing something nice by getting these things for him. He is also the one that didn’t want us to have joint bank accounts but I didn’t know why until we went to a bank and they pulled up our credit reports and they said I could open an account but he couldn’t because of his bad credit! I just wish he would have trusted me enough to tell me about this instead of making me wait and find out when it had to be more embarrassing to him than myself. When you love someone you need to trust them to in my opinion and experience. Thank you for the topic.

[@offgridsweden]

Awesome video you guys. Have a great week. Greetings from Andreas on Off Grid Sweden

[@monalexi649]

Love this video!!! And I appreciate how talkative your husband was. I 100% agree with combining finances. Me and my husband combined finances 3 years in our relationship. Knowing the goal was to get married we saved together. Set goals and helped each other get out of debt in the same process you guys suggested. We married 2 years later and was able to pay for our extravagant wedding in cash. Choosing the right partner is definitely important. I had a friend who never combined finances and when she had her child and had to quit working to be a stay at home mom he refused to pay her bills (phone car payment what not) saying it was her responsibility (he paid the home and utilities and food) but what was just hers he wouldn’t. Such a sad situation

[@mio.giardino]

Hubby and have one main account and I have a separate account for online stuff...I'd be devastated if anything I did caused our big account to get hacked. Hubs & I talked about finances and we both agreed that if I was going to give up my career for children that he would support me fully. We figured out quick that we both like nice things but we are both savers at heart. Great video 👍🏼

[@harrytinker2328]

Good video! Combining is easier and better because "the two shall become one". If a couple is not able to work together and trust each other then they will have many problems, not just financial ones.

[@rainbowphoenix8168]

Nice vid! I think you said it best-choose your partner wisely!

[@jacksprat1556]

For sure together. But if one person has spending issues than only the other person handles the $

[@livewhileyourealiveavj4536]

Nice one about finances. We're married but like to keep it separate. We communicate about any expenditure clearly, at least from my side :-)

[@ogtimmy2355]

Been married for 17 years and at first we had our finances together and like most couples we fought about money occasionally. After about 10 years we separated our finances and have never looked back. It has improved our relationship greatly! We have the bills separated accordingly and both manage to save plenty of money, we each donate to charities that we each find dear to us and still spend in our own areas of interest. I can trust that my wife will pay her portion of the bills and she trust me to do the same and neither has let the other one down yet. I agree it may not be for everyone but it works for us....plus it makes birthday/Christmas/Anniversaries, ect. much easier to pull off!

[@learningtobevegan8307]

You guys did great, my hubby and I do one big pot..

[@shawnkovac1042]

i agree on the overall outlook. i think your depth of exploring reasons against combining finances was rather shallow. it seems that your only recognized reason to keep finances separate was to hide finances. there are so many other good reasons to keep finances separate. so i think you just didn't dive deep into many valid reasons to keep finances separate. but there is also a hybrid approach like my wife and i did: we each managed our own incomes but we shared them both. to me, this is more like combining finances, but without the surprises of bank fees when we don't realize the other spouse scheduled a payment that will drop the balance when we anticipated a sufficient balance for something else. but even tho i think your reasons for separate finances were shallow, i quite agree that combining finances has much more advantages & i likewise encourage couples to explore how to combine their finances in whatever ways that work for each couple.

[@rons.6683]

Happily married 26 years w separate finances. Wife has her responsibilities, I have mine, but we are there for each other; none of that 50/50 silliness.

[@eileengust4388]

Love combining! Separate is stupid specially if your married. If you have a business you keep the business budget series but not your incomes!

[@sadieprice1205]

My partner of 20 years was hiding a huge debt and eventually i found out. We have seperate accounts because he never wanted joint accounts. If your partner won't talk about money or has either none then lots its really important to sit down and keep asking them what is wrong. We have paid off all the debt now thank goodness.

[@gracesimplified3860]

Trying to play tit for tat is no way to be a team. A healthy marriage should be based on trust and care for the mutual welfare of each other and mutual goals. Combining your finances creates a team mindset.

[@sonalibarve7231]

Initially we had combined, but then it started getting dirty. So I separated them. Now things are smooth. Its simple, I completely run house and he saves. That way he feels secure and in control of money. I won't mind taking responsibility of running a house as money has never been my priority. I spend wisely n invest carefully. Works best...

[@angelalowe5987]

I completely agree with combined incomes because We believe you can accomplish more of your financial goals together.

[@OneHappyFrugalFamily]

Here from Money Mom's shout out. Excited to watch your channel :)

[@klro173]

each should have their own checking/savings and a joined pot with the percentage based on income. say you make 100 and they make 60, the joined account should have that percentage in there for all bills plus 10percent, don't forget the emergency fund

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

Would not Ant be Fruguy Green Man?

[@klro173]

make a budget and use it for the amount you need, as for chores, it should be decided upon who does what and what the kids can do. less resentment more trust

[@heavymechanic2]

I just allocate spending money from disposable income factored into a budget and credit card purchase to be discussed

[@NothingToNoOneInParticular]

I have a friend who she and her husband pool their money. Pay all the bills and then split 50/50 the remainder of cash after bills. Works for them.

[@Bricko7]

i don't combine finances because were not married, but even if we were married, i still wouldn't combine. For the simple fact i want my significant other to be independent and responsible, if we combine finances and i give that comfort blanket (i earn more), it allows my darling girlfriend to be more negligent and not watch her pennies and splash money around more.

[@sali4691]

Team work makes the dream work !

[@unclemikessouthernoutdoors3783]

Great video, yall are a great couple

[@angelalowe5987]

How are you doing? I have not seen a video in a while.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

You two are so adorable together. Great video all.

[@carolynhiscock9457]

Jointly.

[@aprilbraugh8924]

The issues/problems with splitting are clear and are big problems. However a family is a family. The husband who respects God is the leader. I am married with 3 children. My wife is better with numbers. I am better with seeing the big picture. We both as you mentioned work together. Yet there can be one where the buck stops. This should be a topic only if both are married. Otherwise, no need to be messing with the other’s funds.

[@brendasmiley6128]

BTW you two are so cute and funny✌💚🌞

[@sambhrantlamba]

I thought you were a school girl 😅😅

[@lilymcg6230]

Hello Mr. FGG

[@klro173]

plus by combining and sharing the responsibility you both have and idea on what is where and how much. when my dad died my mom who never did the bills was completely baffled when she had to pay stuff plus she never knew he had insurance policies and bonds and three banks and four credit cards. luckily they had money and he wasn't a spender. maybe he did it because she was hahaha

[@Fidg234]

The man is the head of the house and it's his responsibility to provide the finances to support the family but every family is different and should decide their finances according to their own situation. In your case green girl, especially with your frugal capabilities, you deserve to keep a percentage of what you earn for that personal rainy day event or item.

[@suetolstad7199]

Wow I think u should shave off that beard dude!!! Are u trying to save $? I will send u a ton of razors free!!!!!

[@livewhileyourealiveavj4536]

Sue Tolstad :-) Nobody messes with the do! Beard do.

[@learningtobevegan8307]

Sue Tolstad what a hateful thing to say. This is what he likes, keep your hatefulness to yourself.. I personally think he looks fine..

[@dinetk3125]

Huh? I think he can decide that for himself. I think he’s quite handsome but most of all: he’s nice

[@doxiemomma87]

Don't listen to haters, the beard looks great!

[@andreadaines1284]

If your only takeaway from this video is "Wow. Look at that beard", then I suspect that you don't have enough finances that need managing. Please find another channel.