[LPIDelta]

I am excited to share what has worked for me and my husband--part of this advice comes from Suze Orman.

We each have our own checking accounts and one joint account. The joint account is used for paying monthly expenses and bills. We figured out what our monthly living expenses are and then determined what percentage of those expenses each of us would be responsble for, and that amount is submitted automatically from our pay to the joint checking each month.

The percentage contributed is based on the percentage of household income each person makes. So as an example and using round numbers: If my husband makes $40k and I make $60k a year, he would contribute an amount equal to 40 percent of the monthly expenses, and I would submit 60 percent. So if the monthly expenses were $1,000, I would pay $600 and he would pay $400.

Doing things this way has really helped us stay to a budget.

We then use our personal checking for spending money or for individual bills (I pay my credit card and student loan from my account). This way, he doesn't question when I spend $100 at Ann Taylor loft and I don't question when he spends $100 at the Harley store.

We also have a joint savings account where bonuses and extra monies go and I have a personal savings account (without my husbands name at a separate bank) and credit cards because I believe that any woman, even if she is married, should have a safety net.

Most important, just talk and plan. A good, mutually agreed upon budget and plan will go a long way to preventing issues. Good luck!