For my wife of 24 years..We have common interests in Mustangs, Motorcycles, our House, Truck, Toyhauler and well guns.
Some things are common, House, truck, trailer so Spending $$ on those is for both of us.... and the other things.. repair parts and tools are never considered gifts or optional spending, Upgrades, new guns ect are, and we do a hers, mine, hers mine, OURS
or buy for both at the same time.It was harder to do when we first started, but a little money each month to spend as the individual sees fit, not budget money, not recurring expense money, not common things like gas.. Just something goes a long ways to monetary happiness in our house.
I have $500 a month that goes into an older account, wife still has access to it, but Im normally the only one to use it. I spend from that as a way to not dip in to budge money that is in our other account, and to keep from double spending disposable income with my wife. I use that much of that money for recurring stuff most months and some on a new tool or part for the bikes... hers or mine, new sights for a gun maybe. Other times I've spent the entire $500 on payday 2 for a new gun or tool.
It seems a dysfunctional way to manage money to many..my divorced, or always at odds with their spouse over $$$, or broke, or non house owning, non new car, toy owning friends tell us all the time what a bad idea it is to manage our money this way . We smile and remind ourselves we are happy, secure, married to the same friend for 24 years and those telling us we should not be satisfied with the financial arrangement we have, are the ones not happy.
