lending to spouses?

azjh77

My Mum was moaning the other day that she had lent my dad a tenner and he hadn't re-paid it. My brother owes his wife 200 quid for a Wii..

This is all quite bizarre to my OH and me because ALL our money goes in one bank - all ours bills come out of the same bank and whatever is left is what we have to spend. I have never understood the concept of 'borrowing' money from your spouse, isn't it all both your money? Perhaps it is us who is the 'odd couple' and everyone else has their own bank accounts with secret stashes their partners don't know about.

I had a friend whose boyfriend used to charge her petrol money when he gave her a lift (they lived together and he dropped her to the bus stop on his way to work)

I know a couple who earn very different wages and but both put in 'x' a month into their bills account- leaving him with loads and her with hardly anything ...and he then goes out on a Friday night while she stays in because she can't afford it! If he earns so much you'd think he would treat his girlfriend to a night out once a week!


So are we strange for sharing all our cash? How do others work things out? And what do you do if your husband/OH doesn't pay you back?!?

Sola

We're somewhere in the middle. I earn slightly more than him. Separate accounts, all household bills coming out of mine, all car stuff out of his, all income and expenditure treated as joint, he transfers money to mine by standing order so we have the same amount of spending money each month. Beyond that it's pretty fluid; he'll pay for a take-away, I'll pay for a cinema trip etc. We don't really keep tabs but one may say 'Oi!' if it starts to feel unfair.

billysmum

Hi, all our money goes into one account and we share all the money like you do.

MissEyre

Am single, but lived with a partner before and found it worked pretty well-will do the same with Daniel Craig when he realises that I am the right girl for him :rotfl:
Joint account-no overdraft-and we paid the same amount into it each month, which covered rent, bills and shopping, then each kept their own money for handbags (me) and football (him). Can understand wanting £200 back, but as for charging petrol money for a trip into town-maybe a money saving step too far? Need to be a bit flexible sometimes!

LuciferTDark

Everything we've ever been paid has always gone into a joint account where the bills get paid from & whatever is left over is ours, no borrowing or lending between us needed, that's just daft. And as for charging for lifts to the bus stop, what a tight fisted git he sounds.

bloomin_freezing

Same here. Both wages, child benefit, and tax credits go into the one account, obviously all bills are paid from that account, I shop at Tesco with that money and anything left over we try to treat ourselves when we can.

I find it very odd how married couples, some with kids too have separate accounts. I have a friend, she and her husband (married for 5 years and have 3 kids) have their own accounts. She pays all the bills and does the food shop with her wages, he spends his on whatever he likes, but does not contribute at all!!!! I know its disgusting, especially when they have children. But he's a huge waste of space...and thats a totally new thread waiting to be written!!

wannabe_a_mum

Both our salaries are paid into one account even though I earn more than hubby. We never argue about money (apart from that he thinks I spend too much!) - not about whose money is whose etc if you know what I mean......

I would never dream of owing hubby money - and vice versa...it's ours not his or mine.

play2day

My hubby & I have joint accounts too. All our money (and our bills) are shared. Now I think about it earn more than him and he spends a lot more than me but its never been an issue for us.

Joannef_2

I earn more than my boyfriend but I have more outgoings (well only one extra outgoing - an extortionate £4,000.00 rail season ticket from First Capital Connect). We both have our own accounts which our wages go into. We also have a joint account and both pay the same amount into this account each month where our mortgage and bills, gym etc comes out of.

southernscouser

This is quite an interesting subject.

Apparently money is now the biggest reason cited for divorces yet the majority of people have joint accounts! :think:

pulliptears

Same here, everything goes together and I also find it very odd when married couples have seperate accounts. Our marriage is a partnership, we share everything.

The exception to this is now Im a full time Uni student I get a loan and grant etc etc. This goes into a seperate student account and I use it solely to pay for my books, materials etc. Our joint account pays the bills and shopping etc. Should we fall short though the money will come out of the student account and Ive never considered for a moment to ask for it back!