Have you ever heard of Mint.com? I just joined it and it’s awesome.
It’s like a free version of quicken. It links to all of your accounts (credit cards, brokerage/investment accounts, savings/checking) and lets you keep a budget there, track all transactions and even make savings goals to meet. If you go over budget in any section, you’ll get an email. That’s so handy! Plus it gives you a pie chart to show how your money is being spent. A real eye opener!
Opening the joint account with John re-lit a financial fire in me.
I’m a saver (hoarder, miser…whatevs) by nature, and was really into personal finance, budgeting, investing a few years back but then got slack about everything that wasn’t automated. whomp whomp!
So, I re-read Smart Couples Finish Rich
last night.
(another awesome money book btw) I read this book about 5 years ago and learned so much! It helped me start to save more, budget better, and finally start my retirement savings. Reading it again last night it inspired me almost as much as it did the first time I gave it a go. 
Everything is joint in our household. We do the management together too but I am generally the one on the look out for better deals. I love Suze Ormon too because she kicks sense into people on Oprah lol.
I love the direction of your blog!
I'm on Mint too! 🙂 I love it… even if it yells at me. LOL We are just starting to "joint" everything together. It scares me… so grown up! HAHA Keep me posted on how everything works!
Hey love! Love the post and love the new blog design – too cute! 🙂
As far as joint accounts – Earl and I have had one from before we got married just to save for the wedding and out future.
Now, we have a joint checking and savings account, but also have out personal checking and savings account.
I am a firm believer in saving, planning and budgeting. Without those things u will BURN & DIE! Lol joke! But lets be real, we re not millionaires and thats the only way to keep things balanced and still get the things we want in life and not go crazy!
I manage the money, bills and all finances in our marriage. All of our bills get paid from our joint checking account. Everytime we get paid, we transfer a certain amount into our joint checking account. That way we know that whatever we have left in our personal accounts is for us and that we've paid our debts already. The money that we transfer covers the bills for that month and everything is automatically deducted.
This works out perfectly for us. There s no worrying about if we have money for this or that this month.. there s no worrying if this or that is gonna get paid. I don even know when certain bills are due – thats too much to keep up with. Everyone has their own method of doing things, but this way has been stress free for us.
I like the fact that you have read these books. Maybe I should pick up a book or two to see what else I can learn about finances! Thanks for the recommendations 🙂
Well…back in the day when I was married … we had separate accounts for our own personal spending and then a joint account for all bills.
We each had direct deposit and came up with a fair amount for each person to have deposited into the joint account each paycheck.
The amount was not the same for each of us since one of us (me) made more money than the other. So we split the bills fairly so each person could still have spending money of their own.
The personal accounts were NEVER questioned. It was YOUR money and you could do with it what you will. The joint account was just that…and we both had access but only one person paid all the bills (me).
It was the best financial arrangement I had ever had.
Of course if we needed something or whatever or something didnt work out right, then we would help each other out or whatever but yeah…it really worked well.
I am going to go pick up that women and money book! I need some help in this regard big time!
And we do it exactly how PunkRockPrincess did! 🙂
Thanks for the input ladies!! You guys are the best!
Jc – Suze kicks sense into ppl on her own show too. (and thanks, i kinda feel like i'm finding my blogging voice! eeep!)
Carolyn – yes i've gotten "yelled at" by mint already lol and it's only been a few days hahah
Mrs Green + PunkRock – thanks for all the details.
We are going to use our joint account to pay bills (actually to repay the card I use to pay bills so we can get miles!) and keep the savings account untouchable.
Punkrock I cant wait to read your blog!
It's complicated in our household. It's joint and it's not. We have a few accounts that are joint but then we also both have separate checking accounts too. My husband handles all the finances(including bills) because he is better at it (investing and all). We both have an astronomical amount of school debt that we hope to consolidate one day. The plan is to be totally joined once we are done with our training. What we are doing now works for us–no friction 🙂
That book Smart Couples Finish Rich sounds like a great one! I'm going to have to check that one out for sure! Thank you for the recommendation!
I love Ms. Orman financial advice, very practical and savvy, she's my role model. I also discovered few other great books:
1. How Rich People Think – by Steve Siebold
2. Think Like a Winner- by Walter Doyle Staples
3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
About how I run my own finances, I've changed my outlook on money and started saving in different accounts (tax free saving), mutual and the stock market. Reading a lot and micro-managing my shopaholic addiction towards books, art and fashion. Since I'm not married and have no intention of creating co-account with someone I'm not married to, most of my money is managed and budgeted by me….with my family's input.