One Snarky Chica with Issues

I was having lunch with a friend yesterday and from various things that were said it was apparent that she does not share checking accounts with her partner. In fact, they keep their money totally separated.

This is weird to me.

They have been together for a few years and are in a committed relationship. They talk about having kids and the like. But they do not share money.

I think this has got to take it’s toll on a relationship. The way I see it, only two things can come from this non sharing/merging of money:

1. One person has more disposable income than the other, which leads to resentment in the one with less.
2. One person is able to spend more money on gifts, etc for the other which leads to resentment and guilt. Guilt because one cannot afford to show affection in the same magnitude.

I think that by not merging your money you are saying to the other person, “Hey, I want to keep everything separate so that if I wanna leave it will be a clean break. I know what is mine and you know what is mine.” Or maybe that’s just the cynic in me.