Joint or Separate CHECKING accounts.

[Madeline]

Do you married couples have joint or separate accounts? Should married couples have joint accounts?

Love,
Madeline

[matie-k]

Could you re-word the poll question?

[chev1958]

I'm pretty sure she's asking about checking accounts.

[Anon]

How is it yes or no? The question is a choice.

We have a joint account and then I have a Paypal acct for my cakes which we both have a debit card for.

I feel personally that seperate accts for married couples encourages seperate spending and makes divorce easier. Obviously some have good financial reasons for it but by and large its a feeling of independence that is not healthy for a marriage.

[Samer]

Fixed 'er up. Joint all the way. If you can cleave, so can your money.

[LAF]

Joint

[dwayner79]

How is it yes or no? The question is a choice.

We have a joint account and then I have a Paypal acct for my cakes which we both have a debit card for.

I feel personally that seperate accts for married couples encourages seperate spending and makes divorce easier. Obviously some have good financial reasons for it but by and large its a feeling of independence that is not healthy for a marriage.

Could not have said it better myself. Is it wrong, no. Is it ever a good thing, yes. Is it generally wise, no.

We do, however, have various accounts. We keep our business stuff separate from our normal stuff. We open up checking accounts for all sorts of things. Mostly though, they are all in both our names. That said, I would not mind if my wife opened a checking or savings account on her own. If she did, it would be because I have been too busy (or lazy) to go down to the bank with her. So In our marriage, I would not mind it, and don't think its all that necessary for us because of the nature of those accounts. I do know of many people who both work, and who split the bills, etc. That is, IMO, dangerous because of the reasons Kitagrl mentioned. So I suppose my answer is "it depends".

[Anon]

I do know of many people who both work, and who split the bills, etc. That is, IMO, dangerous because of the reasons Kitagrl mentioned. So I suppose my answer is "it depends".

Definitely...and I know of families like that and I don't see how there can be the proper unity. I hear people talk: "My husband was supposed to pay the kids dental work but he didn't have it this month so I had to use MY money for it PLUS pay utilities...." etc. NOT good.

Like I said I have my Paypal acct with my cakes, but my husband has direct access through a debit card with his name. If I ever open a bank acct for my business, it will be in my name, but he will be secondary as a joint acct.

[John81]

I still have the same checking account I had before we married. My wife never writes checks so there has never been any reason to change it. My wife is fully aware of what goes in and out of the checking account as I believe it's important for married couples to keep money matters open and honest.

[Anon]

I still have the same checking account I had before we married. My wife never writes checks so there has never been any reason to change it. My wife is fully aware of what goes in and out of the checking account as I believe it's important for married couples to keep money matters open and honest.

I hope her name is on it in case you die.

[John81]

I hope her name is on it in case you die.

We have paperwork drawn up so that if anything happens to one of us the other will have full and immediate access to everything.

[Psalms18_28]

I told my husband that I am afraid I would overspend without checking the balance would be after the bills been paid so we have separate account.
He doesn't make much to even worry about getting access to his account if something happen. (we live paycheck after paycheck). IF something happen, I will be forced to work.


I know what he spends on too. His file cabinet is right there out in the open. He does have life insurance in my name in case something happen and I will have enough to pay off any debt we have and the funeral but no more than that.

[MilkmanDan]

Joint.

See Sames explanation.

[speerjp1]

Helps keep couples honest about finances, but sure does make it hard to surprise my wife with a gift. Openess in every aspect of marriage is optimal. :thumb

[RayJr]

I believe that my wife and I became one when we said I do, we are seperate no longer.. :Green smile to let u know i'm not being snotty just my way, as long as it doesn't cause hard feelings and spitefulness so be it.