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A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:36 pm
by Jeremy
A bit random I know but got chatting to a woman client at work today about personal finances and I'm now on a mission to find if I'm in the minority or majority.
Do you and your partner/boyfriend/wife/husband treat your income as one big pot of money (could be separate or joint accounts) or is it a MY money YOUR money set up ?
Regards,
Jeremy
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:39 pm
by pete
Joint. (Kind of.)
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:52 pm
by Stevoraith
A bit of both but mostly it's one pot.
Being both scientists we're quite anal about how we work it out!
We work out how much we need to pay for everything relating to the house, kids etc and what that is as a percentage of out total income. We then both pay that percentage of our wages into the joint account and all bills come out of that.
It works out that we both pay about 80% of our salary into the joint account and the small amount left is what we can use to treat ourselves/each other.
We think it's the fairest way 'cos whoever earns more has more to spend on themselves but also still contributes more to the joint pot.
We've always worked it like that since we moved in together but I must admit that since we had our daughter much more has gone into the joint pot and we think of it more as our money.
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:54 pm
by Justin
Totally separate!
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:01 pm
by vet111s
Joint, seems to work out easier
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:11 pm
by pete
Stevoraith wrote:A bit of both but mostly it's one pot.
Being both scientists we're quite anal about how we work it out!
We work out how much we need to pay for everything relating to the house, kids etc and what that is as a percentage of out total income. We then both pay that percentage of our wages into the joint account and all bills come out of that.
It works out that we both pay about 80% of our salary into the joint account and the small amount left is what we can use to treat ourselves/each other.
We think it's the fairest way 'cos whoever earns more has more to spend on themselves but also still contributes more to the joint pot.
We've always worked it like that since we moved in together but I must admit that since we had our daughter much more has gone into the joint pot and we think of it more as our money.
Hahaha. I gave a short answer, but ours is the same! Well it was supposed to be but over the years we lost interest as it just seems to work out.
You think scientists are control freaks, try air traffic controllers. (Actually selected for it at the recruitment stage)...
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:19 pm
by tut
Completely joint.
tut
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:20 pm
by Mikie711
Joint here as well. Primeraly because Ruth works in the bank which has it's up sides

and down

.
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:24 pm
by mckeann
We both pay the same amount into a joint account to pay our bills, then have our own account for our own money. Its not a hard and fast rule though, as i pay for all the cars and stuff, but neither of us complain, and if she ever needs money, she only has to ask.
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:25 pm
by SAJ
Joint in our case.
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:32 pm
by mikeyb13
Laura takes care of the cash. If she didn't I'd be sleeping in a 458 Italia and hiding from debt collectors
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:45 pm
by robin
I pay for everything.
If Katie ever earns anything, I never see it, though it does extend the time between her explaining to me that I have neglected to put money in her bank account
Katie never asks what money gets spent on cars and related expenses, though, which is the way I like it
Cheers,
Robin
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:01 am
by campbell
I kinda like the Iddon Method. Very chivalrous.
However ours is more like the Stevoraith method. For the moment at least.
We have friends who pay themselves a set monthly allowance as well.
We have spreadsheet trackers n stuff. I'll stop there...
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:07 am
by j2 lot
Joint. We started out with our own accounts but it works much better as joint.
Having said that we both also save money into separate accounts - me for GP trips and cars, Ann for trips to London and shows.
Re: A straw poll : Personal finances
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:25 am
by roadboy
robin wrote:I pay for everything.
If Katie ever earns anything, I never see it, though it does extend the time between her explaining to me that I have neglected to put money in her bank account
Katie never asks what money gets spent on cars and related expenses, though, which is the way I like it
Cheers,
Robin
Same here. Works ok for me.
Dan