How to Combine Your Finances the Right Way
Combining your finances as a couple isn’t just about math—it’s about trust, communication, and building a shared future. And if you do it wrong, it can lead to resentment, secrecy, and arguments that fester for years. But when you do it right? It becomes one of the most powerful tools for building wealth together.
Here’s how to combine your finances the right way.
1. Have the Money Talk First (Yes, That One)
Before you touch a spreadsheet or link a bank account, sit down and talk about your financial history:
- How were you raised around money?
- What are your current debts, assets, and credit scores?
- What are your biggest money fears and dreams?
This isn't about judgment—it's about understanding. If one of you is a natural saver and the other spends freely, you need to know that upfront.
🧠 Pro Tip: Be radically honest. You can’t build trust if you’re hiding a credit card balance or student loan.
2. Go All-In (And Why It Works)
There are a few ways couples can combine money—but we’re all-in on the All-In method.
That means:
- One joint checking account.
- One joint savings account.
- All income and expenses pooled together.
Why? Because it creates total alignment. There’s no “your money” or “my money”—just our money, our goals, our future. It forces clear communication, simplifies everything, and strengthens the idea that you’re on the same team.
It might feel scary at first, but in our experience, this is the most powerful way to build wealth as a couple.
🎯 Bonus: No mental gymnastics, splitting bills, or figuring out who owes what.
3. Open the Right Joint Accounts
Start with:
- A Joint Checking Account for everyday expenses and bills.
- A Joint High-Yield Savings Account for short-term goals and emergencies.
- A Joint Brokerage or Investment Account for long-term goals beyond retirement.
Set up direct deposit from both of your paychecks into this shared system.
From there, build in automation for saving, investing, and paying bills. This is the heartbeat of your financial life together.
💡 Want to keep a bit of freedom? Allocate a set monthly amount to “fun money” for each of you (more on that below).
4. Set Shared Goals—Then Automate Them
Money fights usually come from clashing priorities. Sit down and set your top 3 goals together. It might be:
- Pay off debt
- Save for a house
- Max out your Roth IRAs
Then automate your entire system to serve those goals. Every dollar should have a job, and you both should agree on the plan.
💬 Remember: “Let’s plan our future” beats “Why are you spending so much?” every time.
5. Create a Weekly or Monthly Money Ritual
You don’t need to obsess over every receipt, but regular check-ins are a must. Try:
- “Money Mondays” or “Finance Fridays”
- Look at your spending and savings
- Adjust your plan if needed
This keeps you both in the loop and removes surprises—because money issues usually come from miscommunication, not math.
📅 A consistent 20-minute check-in builds long-term harmony.
6. Build in Freedom (and Fun Money)
Yes, you’re all-in—but that doesn’t mean no freedom.
Set aside “fun money” for each of you every month. It’s guilt-free, no-questions-asked spending money. Whether it’s coffee, golf, or plants from Target—this creates freedom without needing to ask permission.
🧠 Think of it as personal space... for your wallet.
7. Revisit and Adjust as Life Changes
Every big life change deserves a financial check-in. Whether it’s a new job, moving, having kids, or just shifting goals, ask yourselves:
- Is this system still working?
- Do our priorities look different now?
- What’s our next big financial goal?
Financial alignment is not a one-time decision—it’s a lifelong conversation.
Combining finances isn’t just a logistical move—it’s a relationship move.
Talk honestly. Go all-in. Build shared goals.
And remember: the best wealth is built together.
