Maybe once a year I'll buy some toy >$100 without telling her.

Same here...

In my wifes previous marriage she handled the finances... so when we got married she wanted me take over because she was tired of doing it. Not a great idea on many levels (sort of like handing a flame thrower to a five year old).

As a bachelor I lived in a feast and famine mode... live like a king until my CC's were maxed then live like a pauper until I paid them down.

Over the three years we have morphed a bit and decided she needs to be involved and informed.

Which is a good thing because I'm not great at self control (see above).

One more thing -- regarding Porsche maintenance (*cough* and upgrades *cough*) -- Mrs. Z used to use the random 'spot - check' method -- where she'd ask to see the bill one in a blue moon.

Now, she knows that if my car goes in the shop, the bill is usually an increment of $500. ($500, $1500, $2000, $2500...etc.) So now, all she does is ask on random services, "How high up on the scale is this bill going to be?

Quite frankly, this year, the car hasn't been in the shop much, since it has been sitting in my driveway undriven, due to no time to play with the car, and all of our funds being sunk into our home improvement projects (new kitchen, new garage, and next up: new master bath).

Oh well...

-Z

My GF said "look at you." There was me in jeans and t-shirt bought two years ago. "What do you do with the money?" I replied "Well, when Maria Sharapova comes to town I pay for the meal and a hotel room, champagne, caviar"

I don't have a S.O.

Makes things easier.

Note to all who read this: This logic does NOT work with 944s. Ask me how I know.

"Hey, one's good so two must be better" doesn't really fly so well either. But they eventually do get over it.

We have 3 accounts (all funded from my paycheck); mine, hers and joint. I only watch hers to make sure the balance isn't approaching zero (one of the main reasons we have 3 accounts), but usually don't check the details unless there's a significant drop. She has access to mine, but I doubt she ever looks since she is always calling me to find out what her balance it...

I make the arguement that I save money by having two, as if one needs work, I can wait to fix it until I have the free time, rather than take it into the shop.

No money saved yet, I keep doing WIIT upgrades that are equal to or exceed the savings, but my cars keep getting better. ;)

Yep, and over half of the performance upgrades she has made the purchases on. Makes it tough to surprise her unless I take out cash ahead of time for a later gift.

No secrets in this house.

We keep separate accounts which is probably the main reason our marriage has lasted.

I don't buy much that I wouldn't be able re-sell at the pawnshop (and that's where most of my firearms came from). In the event of my untimely demise she may be suprised at how many guns and tools I've hoarded. It will be a good estate sale though.
I have no need to check her finances. She has her day job, and she hates to ask me for money.
She doesn't have to contribute to our 'savings' (other than her plan at work); I'm fine with her spending everything she makes.
Jim

I agree with this. We each pay a few bills, and the rest is our own spending money after the major payments are made, and money goes into the savings account. I typically don't have enough cash leftover after bills every check to really make much of a difference, lol.

My wife doesn't care much about it. However when I point out how many pairs of shoes she has, she counters by pointing out the amount I pay for one thing usually would fund several hundred pairs of shoes. As long as she can buy some clothes, shoes, and have her nails done, she is happy.

The thing to do is have a couple FDIC CD's beside your shared Roth/IRA's.
They pay next to nothing in interest but you can make a phone call, have the money in a week, get her what she wants and then hand over the correct amount of tax due. After you give her what she wants. It works every time.

Same here. Especially with Marvs Quote. I bet mine has yours beat in the shoe dept.:p

We pretty much split the bills, and other necessities what ever is left over is ours to spend.

She found out about the most recent motorcycle when I told her to expect a big delivery the next day. Paid for it by check. ;)

I also bought her a pair earrings. Got them the same time I bought a pair for a friend of hers (at my wife's request--it was for a birthday present) so it would wind up on one credit card charge. We'll see if Mrs. Noah is surprised or not when I give them to her next month.

What is this "savings account" thing you speak of?

As with most things about marriage IMHO each couple have to work out what works best for them... some have separate accounts... some have the S.O. who is better at handling money take care of it.

It is not like the old days, if my wife had the capability to make ten times the salary I could I would gladly stay home and cook/clean.

growing up I watched my Dad give my Mom his work check every week and she would give him 5 bucks allowance. My Mom worked also but she did all the paying of bills and investments. When my Dad started a side business, Mom got all that money too. My Dad also loved betting on the horses and he always had a wallet full of bills, he never complained.

Myself, I pay the mortgage and related expenses, all expenses related to my business, my wife who also works pays for the food of the house and her car payment, she usually buys my clothes but not suits or shoes. She has her own saving and retirement accounts as per myself also.