Here are some ways that couples combine finances after they are married:

Example 1:  The couple pools their income in to one checking account. One takes on the responsibilities of paying all the bills.  Consider these questions:  Which one of you would best managed the bills and guard the finances? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this method.

Example 2:  The couple decides which bills each will be responsible for and then each pay those bills.  For instance one takes the mortgage or rent and the other takes the food and utilities.

List those current bills in your life and who you think should pay them.

Example 3:  Each person keeps separate checking accounts and contributes to a pool (perhaps yet another account) according to their ability to pay (A person making 1/3 of the total income contributes 1/3 of the necessary funds to that pool.)  The pool money is used to pay the bills which the couple determines that they mutually value—mortgage, food, health insurance, for instance.  The money left over after your share of the mutually agreed upon bills are taken care of is what you use to pay for those things that are not mutually valued—new sound equipment for the car, or a fur coat, or a new pet, or bills that an individual acquired prior to the marriage. 

List those bills currently in your lives which you think should be paid from the individual accounts and which should be paid from the pooled account.

Use this to determine the percentage each pays:

Monthly Income                                      Percentage each contributes  

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using this method.
Compare your partner’s worksheet to your worksheet and discuss.  Here is a list of typical monthly expenses that will help you not forget the “surprise” factors such as auto licenses.

Monthly Expenses   (Take yearly expenses and divide by 12)

(This include diapers and purchases you normally make at K-Mart, etc)