In this video, I recommend keeping finances separate before marriage—as my wife and I did when she contributed her previous rent amount toward my mortgage while splitting bills evenly—but combining accounts after marriage since you're officially a “team” and it simplifies family bookkeeping. In my household, we follow an unspoken rule where purchases under a few hundred dollars don't require discussion, but larger expenses warrant a conversation. From my experience managing finances for myself and clients, joint accounts after marriage are both functionally easier and philosophically better, though everyone needs to find what works for them.
