15 guides
Couples and money guides
Plain-English guides for managing money as a couple. There's no single right way; these help you find yours. General education, not financial or legal advice.
Talk about it
First conversations, money dates, money styles and debt.
- The first real money talk
Start with stories, not spreadsheets.
- The monthly money date
Thirty minutes a month, on the same page.
- When one of you saves and one spends
Different styles can balance each other.
- Talking about debt
Honesty early is easier than surprises later.
Share the costs
Joint or separate, fair splits and fun money.
- Joint or separate accounts?
All joint, all separate, or a mix. Pick what fits.
- Fair ways to split shared costs
50/50, by income, or your own formula.
- Yours, mine and ours: setting it up
A popular middle ground, step by step.
- Personal spending money for each of you
A little money nobody has to explain.
Plan together
Shared goals, an emergency fund and big purchases.
- Setting shared goals
Goals you both care about are goals you both save for.
- An emergency fund for two
Protection for the household, not just one person.
- The big-purchase rule
Agree a number above which you check with each other.
Big steps
Moving in, marriage paperwork and independence.
- Moving in together: the money side
Rent, bills and what happens if it doesn't work out.
- Getting married: the money checklist
Taxes, benefits, beneficiaries and names.
- Beneficiaries and the paperwork that matters
Beneficiary forms can override a will.
- Keeping some financial independence
Sharing everything is fine. Losing access isn't.