All non-joint expenses are our own responsibilities respectively – so he has his car payment, phone, discretionary, etc. and so do I. We’ve found this to work VERY well for us, and have never had a single argument about money – we’re both free to do whatever we want with the rest of our money.

I do have to qualify this one, as it really only works if both people have regular incomes that aren’t COMPLETELY disproportionate – but it takes into account whatever the “gap” is between the two incomes.

After that, you put all your money in one pot. You pay for your shared expenses and put an agreed amount toward paying down debt or saving for the future. You each get the exact same amount for discretionary spending per week, and that’s for expenses/luxuries that only pertain to you.

If one person makes more at one point or another, or is out of a job, that shouldn’t matter. All the money goes in, expenses get paid, savings build up, and each person gets the same amount out for themselves. I guess I have a socialist household, but to me it’s the only way to operate without tensions.