When it comes to bills, I am in charge. I am a complete budget geek with my pages of calculations and I always know at any given moment what our balance should be. So I was surprised to discover that many of my married friends rely on their husbands for all financial matters, and often have no idea where their money is being spent each month. Flashback 1960s, ladies!
While there is something freeing about letting someone else deal with all of that pesky number crunching, is it wise to stay in the dark? If something should happen to the Chief Financial Officer in your relationship would you be able to pick up right where he/she left off?
Just look one generation back at our Mothers. In their time, women didn't need to 'worry their pretty little heads' over things like bank statements and bills because that was a 'Man's Job'. But when they eventually divorced (as over 50% 0f them did), where did that leave your Mother? Was she able to confidently take over where he left off or did she suffer a crash course in Money Management 101?
Doing the bills together each month might not be realistic, but you should at least be aware of what your combined expenses and savings are. You should know how much is being spent on bills (and what those are) every month and how much you are investing. If you're on the same page you're less likely to argue over finances and should anything happen to either one of you, there won't be any unexpected surprises. That also means that if you're the one in charge you've gotta let them in on the details on a regular basis.
Who pays the bills in your relationship?
While there is something freeing about letting someone else deal with all of that pesky number crunching, is it wise to stay in the dark? If something should happen to the Chief Financial Officer in your relationship would you be able to pick up right where he/she left off?
Just look one generation back at our Mothers. In their time, women didn't need to 'worry their pretty little heads' over things like bank statements and bills because that was a 'Man's Job'. But when they eventually divorced (as over 50% 0f them did), where did that leave your Mother? Was she able to confidently take over where he left off or did she suffer a crash course in Money Management 101?
Doing the bills together each month might not be realistic, but you should at least be aware of what your combined expenses and savings are. You should know how much is being spent on bills (and what those are) every month and how much you are investing. If you're on the same page you're less likely to argue over finances and should anything happen to either one of you, there won't be any unexpected surprises. That also means that if you're the one in charge you've gotta let them in on the details on a regular basis.
Who pays the bills in your relationship?
