Now that I'm older, it's easier to see some of the inequities in decisions I made earlier in my life. Social media probably calls these things out more openly now than it used to. We always had joint bank accounts, but I earned significantly more. In my mind I rationalised it: I made more money and had the more professional job, so I should be the one driving the more expensive car. Looking back, I think I had it backwards. The person driving the kids around was the one who needed the comfortable car. That's an easier call to see clearly now than it was then. What I notice now is a newer version To View More >>

People sometimes talk about bank accounts as though they are a relationship test. Joint means committed. Separate means guarded. A mixture means somebody has not quite made up their mind. Real life is less tidy. Two people can put every dollar into one account and still avoid deciding what their money is for. Two other people can keep most of their income separate, pay shared costs clearly and build the same future on purpose. The account structure matters. It just cannot do the relationship's work for you. Good Shepherd NZ's Healthy Financial Relationships Toolkit makes a useful point: some couples To View More >>