Couples share a lot, no matter if they’re married or in a long-term relationship. That said, one of the best financial tips for couples is having three separate accounts: yours, mine and ours.
Yours
What expenses are your partner’s sole responsibility? This may be a personal debt or a recurring expense you’d rather not chip in for.
Mine
What expenses would you rather take on by yourself without help from your partner? Maybe you like going to the movies and your partner doesn’t, which means you may want to pay for a movie subscription service by yourself.
Ours
Your joint account is where you evenly divide expenses. This is for things like groceries, your mortgage and maintaining the car you both drive. Decide how much goes into this account each month, and work together to meet (or exceed) that amount.
Having separate accounts can help prevent arguments and frustration. Try it for your relationship to see how it works.
