Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
No, it's really not.
There's no reason joint finances need to be adversarial or cause marital problems. Using the method my wife and I setup, we enjoy all the benefits of being single (so long as it's within our means, each of us can buy whatever we want whenever we want no questions asked) plus the benefit of splitting all our bills and living expenses 50-50.
|
I have an issue with this reasoning -- and this isn't specifically directed at MarchHare but it's captured in his quote. The fact is that once you're married, you
aren't single anymore. It's no longer two people living single lives but with rings on their fingers (I'm oversimplifying of course) but one family unit, and her finances are tied to yours and yours to hers. In a perfect world, you make the same income and split all the bills and life is easy. But what if she loses her job? Or what if you start earning more? Does not mean you get to live a better life with your extra discretionary income whereas she doesn't get to buy as much "cool stuff" once all the bills are paid? Not saying it can't work (and if it does, more power to you), but the whole "50-50 split mentality" would only seem to make sense if there are two incomes and both are very similar.
And that's just talking about money. What about time spent on chores? Is that 50-50? Once you have a kid, all bets are off -- no way child rearing is going to be split 50-50, and unless you remain a dual income family, the expenses won't be paid 50-50 either.
Again, not trying to attack those who do the whole "50-50 plus an allowance" system -- just looking to expand the discussion past the dual income no kids phase...