Finances

[Xylochick216]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

What is it with guys and cash? My husband has a debit card, and he never uses it because he likes cash. I guess it makes it easier for me to keep the bank account balanced, but still....

Same here. His logic is he knows just how much cash he has and using the card doesn't feel like "real money." Cash burns a hole in my pocket, though. I find excuses to spend it, but if I don't have any, I refuse to charge just a soda.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Xylochick216

Same here. His logic is he knows just how much cash he has and using the card doesn't feel like "real money." Cash burns a hole in my pocket, though. I find excuses to spend it, but if I don't have any, I refuse to charge just a soda.

Yes, and then I don't feel guilty because cash disappears. No tracing.

At least when I'm bad with my debit card, I feel guilty because when I look at my bank account I see a whole list of stuff I bought that I didn't really need.

*Cato*
*Cato*
*DSW*
*Shoe Dept*
*Cato*
*FK Boutique*

[SoCalGirl]

Originally Posted by James

Right. And the pre-nup only protects pre marriage assets. So if one spouse makes a million a year and the other makes 45k its split in half later.

Nice.

I have never been fond of the financial consequences of marriage.

But a pre-nup can determine how the assets earned during the marriage are split. You could have a pre-nup that makes sure your money remains your money only.

Originally Posted by AGDee

Consulting your spouse before making a large purchase is just common sense. If you both just happened to make a $300 purchase that day because you knew there was enough in the account to cover it, you could easily overdraw an account in a hurry. My ex used his ATM for EVERYTHING, including lunch out every day. So, I'd be happily balancing the checkbook, paying the bills, thinking we had money in the account and then the overdrawn statements started coming. He sometimes spent $600-800 a month with his ATM/Visa card without ever telling me or showing me a receipt. I had to find out when the bank statements came. Of course this was before online banking. At least these days, I'd be able to find out what he was spending daily!

I think it goes back to spending habits and making sure everyone's on the same page. As long as a couple has a system that works and their both happy with, that's all that's important. I was taught to use my credit card like a debit card. If you can't pay it off at the end of the month you don't buy it. Therefore the only time I use my ATM card is at the ATM and when I have to buy gas at Costco. And trust me, if they took Visa, I wouldn't use my ATM.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Seriously. There's nothing controlling or abusive about it. I would never consider making a large purchase of any kind without checking with my wife first. It's not only common sense, it's common consideration -- it's our money, not mine. (Unless, of course, I'm using my separate account. )

I understand that but since I don't think either person should feel compelled to do it I just don't see the point. (I know, I know, I'm naive. I've also been told that I'm domineering so that, I'm sure, is part of it. ) I wouldn't expect you to check with your wife before dropping $300 at Home Depot anymore that I would expect her to check with you before dropping $300 at the mall.