hso -
Right on the money (sorry for the pun).
He has a job, she has a job, they each have their own individual bank account, and there is a shared household account. The couple decides on an amount needed for household expenses and shared goals, and each contributes half that amount on an ongoing basis.
Whatever is left over from your paycheck, is yours to do with as you wish. She needs perfume? Comes out of her account. New shoes? Her account. Needs to take a class to get a promotion at work? Her account. He wants new boots? His account. He wants a winch for the truck? His account. Wants a new gun? His account. All the family bills get paid from the family account to which they both contribute half, light, rent groceries etc...
I just can't understand why more people aren't doing it this way, it gets rid of all the arguing about money, gets rid of all the control issues about money. A bonus is that when you buy roses or jewelery or take her to dinner, it is truly a gift from you and not a drain on family resources. A wise man will do this often enough to keep his generosity freshly in her mind at all times.
I make more money than my wife. Honestly I can say this is because I have worked harder, smarter, and longer than she has, and I have earned it. Correspondingly, my play money is larger, and my gifts to her are more generous. We never ever fight about money regardless of what I buy for myself because of this simple system.
Yes, gentlemen, I do pick up my 50% share of the work that needs doing at home, this wouldn't be a fair system without that, would it? Freedom always comes with a price. I believe it is well worth it.