Opinion: Uncomplicated – Who should bear the joint expenses of a couple?

The first thing to do is to talk about it openly. Leaving this in the air or not clearly defining how they will split bills and pay is a surefire way to start a fight.

This decision often has a strong family and cultural impact. People whose parents grew up sharing all the bills are likely to exhibit the same behavior. The same is true of more liberal creations where women are encouraged from childhood to inherit and be independent.

In more conservative creations, it is not uncommon to see the man paying the house bills while the woman is free to do whatever she wants with the money. None of these ways can be considered right or wrong, what we need to know is that extremes should be avoided.

For example, if one member of the couple earns much more than the other (for example, double the salary), there is no point in dividing the bills and expenses equally. One person may live a much better standard of living, while another earning less may find it difficult to maintain the household and do what they enjoy. In this case, it is worth dividing the bills in proportion to the salary.

Conversations about financial matters need to be constant when the couple decides to collect all the money in a joint account. It’s normal for couples to blame each other and criticize financial decisions when finances go bad.

That’s why it’s so important to take time each month to plan your finances and talk about your future plans. Money shouldn’t be the only issue in fights.

The more you talk, plan and save for the future, the better your chances of succeeding financially. Wealthy couples understand that building a legacy is something that needs to be done and planned together.

The truth is, like almost everything else in the couple’s life, there is no absolute truth. There are people who prefer to leave rather than join accounts, while others prefer to put everything in one account just to avoid headaches.