Question: Hi my name is Linda, I just recently got married and my husband and I are having a hard time deciding whether we should have joint accounts or separate accounts.
We’ve been together for 6 years, but he’s still very private about his finances. Now that we are married, he doesn’t want to share bank info with me at all. Should newlyweds have joint accounts? What are the pros and cons of each option? Thank You Linda.
I’m aware that there are many other new couples, such as Linda and her partner, who are going through the same situation. So today I’d want to speak directly to Linda and anybody else who is having a similar issue in their marriage.
Let’s dive in.
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When I got married, my wife and I had the same discussion about money. We’re thankful that we decided to deal with our finances as a team from the start.We discovered that talking about money might be uncomfortable, but in the end it will save us a lot of pain.
After several months of discussing and meeting with our mentor couple, we determined that there are a lot of money concerns that needed to be addressed for us to have a healthy balance. We finally pulled through and are now enjoying our relationship in terms of finances.
So we decided to create this guide to help you make the best decision for yourself and your marriage based on what works for us. If after reading this, you decide that having separate accounts is right for you, then by all means go ahead and do so!
Just remember that there are pros and cons either way, so keep an open mind when making your choice!
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Why Should Newlyweds Have a joint account
Having your own account is definitely safer, but it also makes you feel like an outsider in your relationship because you don’t really know how much money they make or what they spend their money on. This may create a lot of insecurities in your relationship.
On the other hand, if you get a joint account then you will be able to see everything that goes into it… which can lead to arguments because one person might not be happy with how the other spends their cash. There are pros and cons either way!
Benefits Of Having A Joint Account Early On in Marriage
Money is one of the most significant subjects newlyweds must have. This is since money might make your relationship joyful or miserable.
Here are some benefits of having a joint account early on on your marriage.
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Transparency
A joint account is the best option if you and your spouse are willing to be transparent about how much money goes into that bank account. You will know where all of your cash is going and can feel more in control, which in turn builds trust between each other.
You get a lot of perks by having an open relationship with your partner about money. This transparency may assist couples in keeping one another accountable.
For example, you can see if your spouse is spending their money on something that they shouldn’t be spending it on!
Accountability
Joint accounts keep both partners accountable for their spending habits – if one partner spends too much, they’ll feel guilty knowing that they’ve also hurt their spouse’s finances as well .
This also helps to avoid financial fights between newlyweds. If you see your spouse buying something that is way out of budget, then it’s best to discuss this with them immediately so they can tone back their spending habits before things get worse!
Less Stress & More Freedom
Having a joint account will help lessen the stress in your new marriage because you will be able to openly discuss your financial plans and goals with each other. This provides a sense of freedom knowing that you have the support from your spouse in order to achieve those dreams!
Joint accounts also allow for couples to know how much money they need before their next paycheck so there’s no stress when it comes time to budget out what you’re going to spend your money on.
Finanical Stability
Having a joint account is great for those who want to work together as a team and achieve their financial goals in life! This might assist you to become more financially stable as a couple by combining your financial objectives.
Challenges Of Having A Joint Account Early On In Marriage
There are always two sides of the coin, so with that said there’s also some challenges you’ll need to take into consideration when deciding whether or not to have a joint account.
Loss of Freedom
When you both get separate accounts, this allows each person more freedom over how they spend their cash without having the other partner involved in that decision-making process.
On the flip side if you decide to open up a joint account together then you will have less freedom over how you spend your cash. This again goes back to the accountability factor on both ends!
Conflict Resolution
If something is bought with a joint account that one partner isn’t happy about, it may cause conflict between them and their spouse since they are not in agreement on what was purchased.
This can lead to arguments because one person might not be happy with how the other spends their cash. There are pros and cons either way!
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a joint account. But I’d also want to add my own experience to the mix.
There are several things to consider when planning to have money conversation with your spouse.
- Background and Money History
Everyone has a unique background and money history. This is the first thing you should disclose to your spouse, and be honest about how it has shaped you as a person when it comes with spending habits.
For example, if one partner grew up in an extremely low income family then there’s most likely going to be some trust issues or control over their finances because of their upbringing. If you’re in a joint account with this person it’s going to be difficult for them to trust that you aren’t just trying to control their spending habits or hide your own debt from them!
2. Money Personality
Another thing to consider is money personality . This is a major factor in what makes us who we are today, so it’s important to talk about this with your partner. My wife and I both have two different money personalities -my wife is a spender and I am a saver.
Understanding your partners personality will help you to know how they view money. For example, if you’re different types of personalities it’s important for each person to understand what the other is going through and why certain decisions are being made!
3. Financial Insecurities
Some people are insecure with their finances and might not want to open up a joint account. This is usually due to past experiences or childhood where they were financially abused, cheated on, etc.
It’s important for you both to be aware of these insecurities because it will affect your financial decisions together . For example if one partner can’t stand the thought of their spouse spending money on something they see is frivolous or unnecessary, it’s going to cause major tension when they don’t allow you the same freedom with your cash like they have.
Relationship Expectations
The last thing I want to mention has nothing do with joint accounts but everything to do with trust and communication in relationships . When you get married, it’s not a one-way street. Both partners need to be open and honest with each other when it comes to their financial decisions or desires.
If you have joint accounts then your partner deserves the same respect as they do you because that is what marriage is all about! In order for this relationship to work out both people will need to understand each other and be willing to compromise.
Conclussion:
This are my thoughts and experience on joint accounts. I think they can be a great thing in some cases and not so much in others depending upon the people involved!
Let me know on the comment what questions or concerns you have.
