We each have our own checking account. We also have a joint account. Each of us receives our paychecks in our personal account. We each keep a small portion in our personal accounts for each month for personal expenses, gifts, etc. The rest goes into the joint account.

We set up credit cards the same way. This gives us the means to buy gifts for each other without the other knowing. It also provides redundancy for lost cards.

We can both see the joint accounts. We cannot see each other’s personal accounts. Our bank has it set up so I can see everything I have access to on a single online account.

This arrangement has been working well for years.

Married 30 years. His check goes into one account. Mine goes into another. We both have access to all accounts. I handle all the bills. We used to put both into one checking account - once our debt card was stolen and they spent so much money that we were still negative after both checks went in. Then we split them so there’salways a backup just in case.

We had a joint account where all our income was deposited even before we were married, now we have shared access to basically everything. I mostly manage our money because she hates dealing with it. There’s not really been any drawbacks, it makes life a lot easier having a single primary account that all our cash flows through.

Been together 20 years and we’ve never shared an account. I works really well for us. I’d say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.