How Do Most Couples Divide The Management Of Their Finances? Hubby Or Wife?
My husband and I were both laid off from our jobs recently, and the task of managing our now dwindling finances has fallen to me. Though he has always made more than me, I have usually been the one in charge of paying the bills, managing our incoming and outgoing expenses, etc. It seems to work okay, because I stress less about money than him so I can handle it when things are a little tight. Lately, though, I feel more like a dictator or mother handing her child an allowance than like a partner. He is constantly asking me “Can I buy this, can I have that?”. He’s doing it to be considerate because he knows I have everything pretty much managed to the penny right now with us both not working, but it just feels like we aren’t on an equal level and I don’t like this role. It’s also sort of zapped the romance, because if he wants to plan a date or pick up some little gift or something for me, he is coming to me first to ask me how much money he can spend. I don’t think he has even looked at his bank account in two months, and he doesn’t keep track of when he is supposed to file for his unemployment payments every couple weeks, etc. I am having to remind him constantly and I just feel like a dictator.
How do couples out there manage their finances? I know a lot of women who are the ones to manage the household income rather than the man doing it, but I grew up in a household where my dad was in charge of all money and mom just really didn’t pay attention. I like knowing what is going on with the money, but I don’t like the roles my hubby and I seem to be in with it and I am wondering what most couples are doing these days…??