[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

So I did something foolish and got myself married over the weekend.

Now that all the merry money wasting is over, we have a few realities to take care of. One of the more important ones of course is how to divy up financial responsibility, banking accounts, and general money handling matters. I'm looking to prevent any future mental anguish.

How do you married folks handle your finances? Does everything go and come from one joint account? Or do you still keep your individual ones? What spending amount is realistic to consult the other about?

I was thinking it would make sense for us to have one big joint account that all income goes into and bills come out of, but to also make small contributions monthly to individual accounts for each spouse to do with as they please (ie, pretty much like an RRSP, but for fun). I don't buy a lot of things in general, but I have gotten used to having the ability to buy random toys (ie, cameras, watches) every once in a while that I'd like to continue doing if possible!

Also, the assets I'm bringing into the marriage are definitely more than hers (not a huge amount by any means, but relatively speaking). How would you recommend handling these assets going in? It's money that I worked long and hard for, but I also don't want her to feel like she can't touch it.

I want any solution to be as simple as possible, fair as possible, and most of all, prevent any future argument.

The highlighted paragraph is good. Money will kill a marriage faster than anything. What's yours is hers. What's hers is yours. I don't know how folks make it any other way.

Also, you should have had this discussion with her before getting married!

Congratulations!