Married couples do not need to combine their financial situation. You do not need to obtain a joint bank account, nor do you need to jointly submit income taxes. But many couples do choose to combine finances, which is the move of financial expert Rachel Cruze Champions.
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In a recent post on her YouTube channel, Cruze discusses how not only can you manage your double income as a married couple, but how to maximize it.
First, Cruze recommends that spouses share bank accounts. It might feel weird if you raise one person only as a person, but after a while you will get used to it and appreciate it helps simplify monetary management, as a couple of financially living are now intertwined legally.
"Bring your money together and saying, 'Yes, we're one. When we got married, we weren't two teams running on two different paths.' "'We're sharing life together. '"
As Cruze points out, sometimes sharing a bank account is not a wise move. "If you are in a marriage and have insufficient addiction, or if there is infidelity, loss of trust, possible divorce, abuse, something like that, then yes, yes, there is a separate account," she said.
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When budgeting, don’t just look at your income, but also on your spouse’s income. By doing so, you can have a clear understanding of your financial position and see the full potential of your income. Cruze recommends sitting down with your spouse monthly to exceed your dual income budget and to set priorities.
You and your spouse may have a lot in common, but you are still different. If you are going to relax in the mall, each free money and anything you want, you may be shopping in a different direction. When it comes to money, you may have different trends. It is crucial that you learn as much about your spouse’s tendency to have as much money as possible. And they know everything about you.
"We all have natural tendencies when it comes to money...your spouse may have different trends," Cruz said. "That's great, but know those."
Change is inevitable and they can shock a couple’s foundation. One of you may lose your job or decide to change your career. You may have a child, or relocate or start taking care of an elderly person. The list continues. The key here is to prepare for large-scale changes by developing plans on how to deal with financial losses and how to deal with financial gains.