juggling joint finances... any tips?

[waterbaby]

Having accidently hijacked WWW's thread earlier today, I thought it might be easier to set up a different one... the MN court seems to be split on joint accounts versus seperate accounts, and what proprtion of income can be kept seperate as spending money. Any suggestions?

What we are doing at the moment (joint ac and each have a seperate ac from our recent student days, both with overdrafts that are coming down each month so no spare cash in them) doesn't seem to be working very well, so all suggestions welcome! Maybe its working fine but we're not communicating well..

I can still surprise my DH with a birthday present that he doesn't know the cost of as I have my own credit card that is paid for by our joint account. That's about the only time I would use it, otherwise I use joint credit card or account for everything. Neither of us would ever spend a huge amount on something without discussing it.

Ah but Thunderbird, that means that your DH is paying for half his own present so if you get him something extravagent doesn't that take some of the good out of it?

No because the present itsn't about who pays for it I have super original ideas (irk!) and get him things he wouldn't get himself but he likes e.g. digital radio for last birthday

I don't know about that Thunderbird. I think if I had to pay for half of my eternity ring it would take some of the shine off it! Gave me the warm fuzzies knowing that DH had scrimped for it while I was pregnant.

Neither of us actually pays exactly for "half" for anything, just all costs shared without any working out who can afford or is prepared to pay for what (I usually get the benefit )

My DH brings in almost all our money but on the odd occasion we buy stuff for him (he hates shopping) he says thank you. He certainly doesn't find presents spoilt by the knowledge that he's earned the money that pays for them.

He is hopeless with money, never knows where it went, so he is only allowed a tiny amount for daily expenses at work. Our finances work like jimjams, one joint account, all bills on direct debit and overdrawn every month. We would definitely benefit from being more careful with it but he's always been the "first to buy a round" type and I tend to buy things on a whim so it's not going to happen!

Joint account - both salaries go in, money goes out to separate accounts each month to cover bills etc and savings, then each of us has a standing order into our own personal accounts which covers clothes, CDs and other personal shopping. If we want to have a weekend away with friends (individually) we can save from our monthly allowance. Works a treat.

Started this when I was working and DP at home with DS. No one gets housekeeping and as the money for bills, car maintenance and other rainy day stuff goes out at the beginning of the month we have covered everything before we start over spending.

We also merged our debts and accepted that it wasw important to start afresh and accept that all debts needed paying off so no point one of us being broke to pay off debts whilst the other lorded it up.

Message withdrawn