[mondk]

My dh is so clueless. I do Internet banking, which means I go to our accounts on computer/Net and balance our checkbook. I never use debit card receipts because I double check everything online.

So dh grabs the checkbook to pay the daycare lady and sees a balance of like $100 b/c I haven't done the weekly update yet, panics, goes to the bank, and transfers $700 from savings to checking!!!!!!!!!!!

He told me he wants me to show him the next weekend we are both off, how to manage the checkbook. I plan to show him but still plan to write the bills etc....he has never done it and if he'd do it all the time, I think it'd be okay with me but I need to first know that he can even do it once, KWIM?

Who keeps all the papers/money works in your household?

Blessings, Michelle

[Beth.]

Well, at least he didn't see a balance of $700 when you hadn't done the updates and it was really a balance of $100.

DH does all of the banking, bill paying, money management stuff. That being said, I can do it if I had to. We also have monthly meetings -- it's like I'm the manager and he brings me the financial reports -- so we can make the big decisions together.

[Beth.]

Oh, and funny that he went to the bank to transfer money! I didn't know people actually went to the bank anymore. You'll have to show him how to do that online.

[aclee]

I do...we rarely write any checks ever though...I pay everything on line or in cash. I try to keep DH in the loop about where we are, and he asks before he buys stuff...

[reetoreet]

My husband does all of the banking and bill paying in this house. He also does everything online and I couldn't even tell you where the checkbook is...we never write checks. Hubs only gets paid once a month so we do have a little meeting on the first of the month so we both know where we are before we go spending! My husband laughs at me because of how clueless I am about how to pay the bills. I should probably have him show me at least once just in case I have to do it.

[SupaModel]

DH does ALL the banking, paying bills etc... He's in finance so I trust him with the money Besides he makes it all so I let him take charge

[dutchmum]

Dh makes the money and I'm in charge of making sure it is going to the right places. Whether it is bills or otherwise. Dh knows what to do incase i'm not there.
Once in a blue moon, he will ask about our finance, but in general leaves it up to me. For him it is mainly to find out about our savings. He is in charges of retirement and so far does a pretty good job about it.

[ScrapMonkey]

Dh makes the money, I juggle the bills. It's our bi-monthly ritual.

[sugarandspice697]

We both do the finances. I believe its important that DP and I are always communicating about both our personal and business finances so in case one of us dies or becomes disabled. We will know how to run the business or take care of the bills.

[becky]

Over our 23 years of marriage we have traded back and forth. When one of us gets tired of doing it the other takes over. Right now hubby is doing it. I have to say I really do not like it much. He is sort of clueless when it comes to money. He doesn't really have any idea about a 'budget'. He will overpay some bills thinking he is getting ahead...when all he is really doing is making us short at the end of the month!! I have tried and tried to talk with him about this, but he just doesn't seem to get it.

I think it's time for me to take them back over!!!

[Fran27]

Dh does. I moved in with him so it was pretty much a habit for him anyway, I admit that if something happened to him I have no idea what I would do... check the mail and write a lot of checks I guess.

[greenrobin]

I do it and I always have. I'm the math teacher, he's a shop teacher. It kind of makes sense to us.

That being said, he still knows everything about our finances. And we make all major decisions together.

My aunt never had to worry about anything--he took care of it all, gave her spending money, paid all bills, made all decisions. When he died 7 months ago, she didn't know how to do anything--no idea how to write a check, how much she owed, how much they had. He kept about $80K in a safe in their basement so she'd never have to worry. He was the only one who knew the combination. He never got to tell her what it was. Inside of the safe was all of the important papers, like insurance and account numbers. She had to get someone out to drill the lock out of it!

She was taken care of, except her caretaker didn't prepare her. It's sad.

Everyone should be able to take care of themselves if they have to.

[becky]

I do agree with the post above. If you aren't the one who does the finances...be sure you have a list of every important thing...insurance policies, 401Ks, retirement plans, bills, etc. Because things happen unexpectedly.

We have had 2 40 year old men in our neighborhood die of sudden heart attacks this summer and their wives seem clueless about what to do and how to do it.

[dawnrenee58]

Good Lord, if I did the bills, we would be broke!! I only have 1 bill to pay, my Macy's charge, and I am usually running into the store to pay it the day it is due!! Then I usually put something else on the charge while I am there......what a bad cycle!! I am totally ok with admitting that is not my strong point, and DH is fantastic at it, so why should I try??? Some of my friends are horrified that I would let him have that control, but I would rather not have the responsibility!!!

[jp4ga]

DH actually does the paying of all of the bills. About 2 years ago we sat down and did a budget. We will spend (X) on food, (x) on entertainment etc... We meet at the start of each month to discuss any budget item that was over spent or under spent and make adjustments as needed. Most of our bills are paid automatically online, so paying them is not a big deal.

Since we have been on a budget we have paid off most of our debt. We owe less than $1000 on credit and within 6 months both cars will be paid off. Prior to the budet we never had any money and we had a huge amount of debt.

I have a website address with great budget tools if any of you are interested. The forms and advice are free you just have to download them. Just PM me because I am not sure if I can post it here.

As others have said it is important that both spouses know what is owed and to whom and how much is spent. You never know when you may have to take over this task.