Managing finance in Marriage

Some friends of ours are newlyweds and trying to figure out how they’ll manage their money together. Finances are a hot topic for any couple, and can often lead to arguments if you don’t devise a strategy that you both feel works for you.

Money Management Styles

There isn’t one right way to manage a couple’s money. It’s largely dependent on your personalities, how you were brought up, your values, and your expectations about money.

The best way to find out what works for both of you is to have an open discussion about your money, goals, and money management styles, preferably before you get married. Try out your plan, and if it doesn’t work, make adjustments.

1. Joint Finances

This is how Scott and I manage our money. All of our earnings are combined in one account. All of our expenses are paid out of the joint account, and once money comes into our house, there is no division of who it belongs to.

We contribute to retirement plans, benefit packages, and savings by evaluating the best offer. For example, when we were saving over 50% of our salary for retirement, I took almost his entire paycheck and deposited it into his 457 and 403b plans, because they were better options than my 401k I had at work.

Tips for Success:

• Agree on a joint budget.
• Include spending money for each spouse in the budget.
• Determine a threshold, and discuss purchases over that threshold.
• Set joint savings goals.
• If one person manages the money, have regular discussions about the status of the family finances.
• Be open to change if it isn’t working.

2. Yours, Mine, and Ours

There are two different methods if you want to manage your money independently from your spouse, but share the joint household bills.

Even Steven. This is the college roommate style. Deposit your paychecks into separate checking accounts and share the cost of all your bills evenly. You’ll each contribute half to the mortgage, utilities, groceries, and other monthly bills. With the leftover amounts, you can save or spend as individuals on your own interests and hobbies.

Proportional Contribution. This strategy is similar to the even contribution for a couple, but works well for a couple who have vastly different salaries. You each determine what percent of income you bring into the household, and contribute that amount to the household expenses. For example, if one spouse makes TZS 80,000 and the other makes TZS 20,000, you’ll contribute 80% and 20% of the cost of the bills.

Tips for Success:

• To ease bill paying, you may want to calculate a total contribution each month required by both of you for bills and transfer that amount to a joint account.
• You both will need to contribute to savings and an emergency fund each month for the long term.
• Be aware that one of you may be saving all your leftover money, and the other spending it.
• You still need to discuss your long term goals together and plan for retirement.
• At tax time your money will be combined on your tax return; plan for this to avoid frustration and to account for the Marriage Tax Penalty if it returns in 2011, as planned.

3. Independent Finances

You can also manage your finances separately without contributing to bills together. And it does work successfully for some couples. I watched my parents practice this method of money management all my life and it works for them. They split their bills into his and hers. For example one spouse may pay for groceries, cable, and insurance and the other spouse pays for gas, clothes, and electricity.

As long as you find a way to divide the responsibilities in a way that makes you both happy, it can work.

Other Impacts

In some cases your money management is largely influenced by where you live or who you work for. For example, we live in a community property state, so all of our income is viewed as 50/50 by law. While it doesn’t matter for your day-to-day money management, it does impact your taxes (both for filing status and eligibility as an innocent spouse), and if you ever divorce. It’s something to be aware of if it applies to you.

Another example is working for the military, which is subject to different laws. I don’t pretend to know anything about military laws, but if it applies to you, you may want to check out the Military Finance Network.

Tips for Managing Money with Your Spouse

No matter which strategy you choose, there’s bound to be bumps in the road. When that happens, keep some of these tips in mind.

Cool down. If you have a disagreement about money, try not to discuss it in the heat of the moment. Let some time pass and be prepared to discuss it when you both are calm.

Establish guidelines. Even if you decide to use one of the more independent money management strategies, you’ll still have to discuss money with your spouse. For example, if you have kids, you’ll need to agree on your plans for spending money on them. Setting up guidelines ahead of time, will avoid conflict down the road.
Give credit for good things. When you have a disagreement about money, keep your perspective. I have to admit that 11 months out of the year, my husband is exceptional at managing money. We always discuss large purchases and he tries really hard. It’s probably a challenge for him, since personal finance isn’t an interest. I try to remind myself of this if we ever have a money matter that we don’t agree on.