Money the root of all evil at home?

Priceless advice on sorting out joint finances

Separate to stay together - Good fences make good neighbours. And separate accounts - where money is your not joint - make for a good relationship. If one  of you is the only earner, then give the other person an allowance that is theirs.

Common costs - Have an account for joint expenses: your home, the car if you both own it, holidays, food. Each pay a share, which may not be equal.

Shop together - You both ear the food, after all. Pay out of the house account or take it in turns. Things that are for one of you - cigarettes, beer - pay for separately.

Private money is just that - If you have your own account and your own money, what you do with it is up to you - your partner should never criticise.

Focus on understanding - Make sure you both understand your join expenses and how they are paid for. Discuss problems as soon as they arise and make your join decisions about money and expenses that really are joint.

November 2002

e-mail Paul Lewis on paul@paullewis.co.uk