My husband and I kept our finances separate after marriage. It worked well — and then, we had a baby.
For years, my husband and I kept most of our money in separate accounts. It worked at first, but when we had a baby, things started to feel less fair.
Rebecca Strong, who has always valued independence, initially kept her finances separate from her husband's when they married. The arrangement worked well for years, but after having a baby in the summer of the previous year, she began to question whether this financial independence was hindering their teamwork. Although they had a joint account for shared expenses like the mortgage, utilities, and groceries, most of their money remained in separate accounts.
When they bought a house together in 2020, they opened a joint account to cover those expenses as well. However, after the birth of their son, they found themselves competing for working hours, with one person's earnings not directly benefiting the other. This led to resentment and a desire to combine more of their money to feel like a team again.
Now, they contribute nearly all their earnings to the joint account and set aside the same amount for personal spending. While they acknowledge there's still room for improvement, they recognize that independence and partnership can coexist as they share the same financial goals.
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