The Family Budget: It takes dedication and unity.

Money shouldn't create a power struggle. You should both have access to it and beware of what it is being spent on. It should never create conflict or fulfill some jealous or other emotional need. You should never justify an expense with ' well you bought that, so I bought this'. That will only create problems. Both spouses (if your married) should handle the budget. Neither of you has the right to exclude the other regardless of who makes the money. This creates anger, hurt feelings, and trust issues. Even if one of you thinks the other is better at handling it you need to be involved. One good reason for this is in case one spouse becomes hospitalized or dies. You want your spouse to know how to handle the financial aspects of your lives so that they don't have to stress about that and deal with grief.