Should Married Couples Have Separate Bank Accounts?

[{"selector":"#anim-6978cde8-cf5f-4291-af8b-a8f48c2c1803","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bacc4546-6409-4f5a-9c1a-d7a33c8f526e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c23607b6-faf9-4577-8590-5a0028b6f868","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 153.06003%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

In an era where financial issues are the second leading cause of divorce, I’m proud to say that this is one thing that has never been a significant issue. So what’s our secret?

[{"selector":"#anim-4baf7c0f-a9be-4bf0-baaf-c18b26f76384","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0a4bf59-fa9d-4098-bcfa-940fa0b9221a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 99.53428%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46a57819-2d28-45d7-8266-7e5548707d21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f746ca6b-6b78-4fb0-9e7c-55dad7a52179","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

The main reason is that we’ve never been in a dire financial situation on the verge of bankruptcy or anything even close.

[{"selector":"#anim-04bedcf0-2ecb-4b94-b29e-493f04214d08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcd02c2d-8e11-442c-ba98-173192672207","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.64486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6882025-f1d1-452c-b4e2-7cfc9deb720c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-161ea915-cd2d-4f01-a225-30610888501a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

However, I believe a secondary reason is that we’ve ignored all the advice about having a joint bank account.

[{"selector":"#anim-d89ace68-367d-4b42-a116-87138feabdb4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-931d8c2d-5759-44ff-9df5-f605d06681eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.64486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3b74b3c-aed0-4991-85a0-536939957ad7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88bfc429-6cdd-4ede-8c41-34b2dff1052d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Our Decision to Keep Separate Bank Accounts

[{"selector":"#anim-21afd533-cebc-48e3-a529-dff08f3a69e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66783df7-4dc4-4d58-b95f-adce341bb194","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.64486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86193119-a35a-4931-9bce-5295f33f1d86","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3de20d6f-ab33-4826-8dc9-365887d76d91","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] I’d say that we’re both natural savers instead of spenders, so we have never had issues making this work for us. Learn more

If there are trust issues, or if one partner is a big spender and needs some accountability, then, by all means, go for joint accounts.

[{"selector":"#anim-f6200e5e-aa54-44ff-86d8-b6d833a6e979","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-592df079-90de-4b70-8637-8480b191bc6c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.64486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a19a5c83-9e75-4b8a-bc79-b6b08e53d0ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c6321e1-183f-404b-990f-da09bbf497e9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Our Rules With Separate Bank Accounts

[{"selector":"#anim-97da0dca-88a7-4f4b-aa9f-4d0054db410f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0957136-7e84-4eb0-8f62-b3cf9617c0ef","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.64486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed512f58-a750-4a48-b516-2b8b89249fa3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e75982b5-acdd-4850-bf8e-e10beadfc824","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] - We are not allowed to take on significant credit card debt. In addition to our bank account, we also have our credit cards. Learn more

- Even though we have our own accounts, we still discuss significant purchases. We do not have an exact threshold, but it usually ends with anything about $200 or $300.

[{"selector":"#anim-b1ac58b5-6ddb-4b2f-9372-6d85d4b29cda","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dac0ff27-180b-4c1c-887e-87d3e87b347e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.64486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6004da8a-2a38-44be-888f-4db075cf1951","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7726ff04-e316-4ca5-bc97-8c8cdc56742a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

How We’ve Managed Our Money With Separate Bank Account

[{"selector":"#anim-a76f0cc9-40eb-4e7f-88de-d0d241a155f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-132bb026-6d23-45ee-b0a6-23515361dd6c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.64486%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3599e0c6-bf23-47f2-8db1-c85027c090a2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a996c3d-6016-406f-be5c-35d3056f1981","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] We’ve never kept a budget. However, we’ve used for years what has been coined as the anti-budget by Paula at Afford Anything. Learn more

Swipe Up To Learn More

[{"selector":"#anim-752d11ef-2da1-4bd8-b44d-fe1d66b75844","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c78e4919-841a-4093-a0b8-50aa21fa6852","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 147.59259%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Swipe up

MORE STORIES

[{"selector":"#anim-983f6b3a-6a2b-4933-a39a-28e24e460cf2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df9052ef-bb82-487a-836d-d04073769c5e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(259.40593%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eea8854e-08a2-48d0-b75f-652a23260a59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2695337f-7c2c-4c2b-a36f-96cd0a49cb70","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(42.07921%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f553226-9b81-423c-a190-39a4bf48bd95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09f4e5f9-2d98-4f30-9479-ea363f711833","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(152.25000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81c76695-ba5c-41a7-ad19-1280f1bd56fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2acc92ef-92b7-4763-9aba-75d9cb7b2484","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.55445%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39c79a0f-9ed8-47a6-8f85-d4e7a08bdafd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-feec6b8b-4466-41e0-84a9-a94f4d986ca1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-260.89109%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d195ba39-6e48-4805-a6a0-06abb19e7238","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e417868-e87b-4257-856b-2f4efe1c8fe9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-153.74999%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] From Broke at 30 to Becoming a Millionaire By 40 Can You Become Financially Independent with Kids?