Joint account best option?

[sirmione16]

So my partner and I are looking into finances come late December as I'll be on maternity leave. This means he becomes the "breadwinner" as such, I'll be only eligible for about £600 or less a month. Which, after car costs and personal outgoings, isn't going to leave enough even for my usual half of the mortgage/household bills. Between us we cover all costs fine and have extra left over.

My suggestion was to have a joint account, set up standing order into a savings one (his one his has already which we use otherwise a new one if better offer/interest rate around) and basically use it as a family pot we both take out of to live.

His argument is that he likes having some of "his money/my money" aspect - eg he worries it'll turn into 'well you spent £50 up the pub, I'll spend it on clothes' which wouldn't be sustainable. I've argued that we've never been like that, and nor would we end up like that. However, I can see his point of this being a potential issue. My solution was to say ok we still have one pot for family outgoings (nappies, food etc) and give ourselves £150 a month of "our money" into our own accounts.

The whole things left me wondering if I'm actually an adult and if this very basic way of looking at finances is what would be best. I'm going to book an advisor appointment I think, will ring and get appointment tomorrow, but in the mean time:

does anyone have input on what works for them? What felt 'fair' when one person earns 3/4times as much as the other, but both are liable for mortgage and bills and baby etc? And is there something financially I haven't considered or don't seem aware of? How does all of this affect our credit ratings too?! Help! Thanks in advance

I think what you are suggesting, is what we do / have done for years.
All money coming into the house (both salaries, Child benefit, and tax credits you are entitled to) all go into the one joint account. From that account you set up all the STOs and DDRs - mortgage, insurances, utilities, phones, etc etc., and you pay off the credit card spending (supermarket, petrol, etc). If you are fortunate enough to be able to, you set up STO for savings for different things too ('emergencies' / decorating / replacing the car / holidays / long term / whatever). You also set up standing order to each of your own personal accounts for however much you can afford. We started with about £20 a month back in the day, and it has gone up over the years- that will depend on your circumstances. That way, you still have your own "pocket money" to do as you want with, but the bills are all covered first and no-one is 'asking the other for money'.

Thank you @BackforGood good to see we're on the right lines with this! Why does sharing money seem a bigger deal as a couple than the baby right now?!