Replying to my own comment instead of editing it... There seems to be a common statement of it would be a nightmare if two people are spending out of the same

Replying to my own comment instead of editing it... There seems to be a common statement of it would be a nightmare if two people are spending out of the same account. This is were a budget comes in. My wife and I have been monthly budgeting for most of our marriage and I think it is an essential tool for a few reasons: 1. Unless you plan what you are going to spend (even with one person) how do you know you'll have enough in your accounts to handle both mandatory and discretionary spending? 2. Spending it all on paper, together, before the month starts lets you have money discussions without the stress of already having or wanting to spend the money immediately. 3. It gives you an overall picture of your spending vs savings vs charity. 4. It helps you remember to pay those occasional bills, like property taxes (for those like us without mortgages where you pay them yourself instead of paying into escrow). Not having a budget is just as strange to me as having separate finances.