Do you know how much your partner earns? Post Reply

[Balhammom]

Hi Everyone
I was out for drinks last night and talk turned to money and husbands (this is not just a question about husbands though).

I was stunned to find a friend of mine doesn't know how much her husband earns.

She thought this was perfectly normal and although she has a rough idea (they have separate bank accounts and a joint one for household bills) she doesn't know for sure. I was really surprised. Its not as though I'd expect to know exactly how much my partner earns so I could track it - it just seemed an odd situation - I can't quite put my finger on it but it does seem untrusting.

Anyone else in the same situation? Wondering if it's just me!

[Goldhawk]

Not normal imho
Does her partner know how much she earns?

It is useful to know for tax planning and other investment decisions

[AbbevilleMummy]

I don't think its that weird if you have separate bank accounts or are financially independent of each other.

I couldn't say for sure how much my husband earns but if I wanted to know he would tell me obviously. I know broadly, but not exactly. He would probably say the same about me.

Also, in banking or other industries where bonuses make up a very large percentage of your income, annual earnings can fluctuate significantly.

[cuqui03]

I probably should know, he has told me and we take financial planning seriously but if asked on the spot I would not be sure! When you add variable and things it gets murky. I don't think is a mistrust question.
She didn't know any indications at all???
We also have separate accounts and a joint house one where we pay all expenses and we contribute in a proportionate way with our salaries.
He is American with all the tax mess that creates so have to be smart about things

[cuqui03]

I probably should know, he has told me and we take financial planning seriously but if asked on the spot I would not be sure! When you add variable and things it gets murky. I don't think is a mistrust question.
She didn't know any indications at all???
We also have separate accounts and a joint house one where we pay all expenses and we contribute in a proportionate way with our salaries.
He is American with all the tax mess that creates so have to be smart about things

[hellokittyerw]

Agree with Abevillemummy - I know broadly - he has told me but I cant remember exactly and also it varies from year to year, so difficult to remember.
We each contribute roughly the same amount towards household expenses.
I think everyone's situation is different though, so different things work for different households.

[Balhammom]

Hi
We were actually talking about a friend who is getting divorced and her husband has his own company and the discussion was about how hard our friend is finding it to discover how much money they have. It's hidden in the firm. I then said something like "yes it must be really hard if your partner doesn't earn a salary" and my friend replied that her partner did earn a salary and she didn't know!

You're right in that it's not an issue (and none of my business) but if anything happened and she had to budget to replace his earnings or for life insurance it just felt a bit "odd" not to know.

[jenwaken]

I think you are violating someone's entitlement to privacy with this last post on this thread. I suspect I know who you are talking about and I think discussing what you've heard about someone's divorce on a public forum is inappropriate.

[DadyO]

Maybe your 'friend' just didn't want you to know how much her husband earnt!

[Sarajojo]

Hiya

I'm with cuqui03. I probably should know but on the spot I would draw a blank. We also haver a joint bank account but I don't think its that important to know it, perhaps not the kind of question people should be asking in the first place.