Do you think who ever makes the most money in an household should decide how its spent?

Question

Just the other day we were debateing this topic in my sph class. Im curious to what other people think.

Answer 1

No, it is a partnership. You provide in other ways than the money making.

Answer 2

No I do not believe that,because a stay at home wife doesn't make a salary and yet she works a 24 hour shift,always on call and also provides the emotional "glue" that helps the household exist and run smoothly.If one person decides how the money is spent it is no longer a household its a kingdom ,where the family members become pawns to the whims and moods of its ruler. If both man and wife have discussed who might be best to handle the regular monthly bills such as mortgage/rent/utilities etc and one has more interest/time and they both decide who is to do it.then that's OK. My husband and I have a hard rule ,neither of us spends any money or makes any charges on our credit cards over the price of $100.00 without telling /talking about the purchase first. Control is also an issue here in this dynamic as in he /she who holds the purse strings controls the rest of the home. That could /does lead to domestic abuse . Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Answer 3

I'm in favor of both partners contributing some percentage of their income to a shared household account and some other percentage to their individual accounts. Then they can have equal input on how to spend the shared money, and spend their individual funds however they please--and the amount available in one's individual account would, of course, be proportional to whatever one is contributing to the household, since the contributions would be determined percentage-wise. This system won't work if there's a positively giant income gap between the two partners, but it seems like it should work for anyone who's bringing in at least enough money to support him- or herself.

If, on the other hand, one of the partners has given up a career in order to spend time at home keeping the hearth fires burning, as it were, then the partners need to decide together how much the stay-at-home partner's contribution to the household will be valued. This is an instance in which a pre-nup could be very useful in assuring that both partners will be supported and can agree on how their home will be run.

Answer 4

No - because if you are with a significant other (marriage, living together because you love each other), then you discuss the issues. If you can't figure it out, keep separate accounts, both pay for exactly 1/2 of the general bills and whoever has the most left over - then they have the $$. You will be quite unhappy though. That is not the way a relationship is to work. One is going to make more than the other. What are the odds of two making the exact same amount?

Answer 5

I don't think they should have the say over what to do with it. But if a marriage is involved, both parties should be able to say how it should be spent, but I do think the person that makes more money should have more of a say on it. Also depends on what they are spending it on. If the person that doesn't make it spends it on things that aren't really needed, and just spends it to spend it, then the person who makes it needs to be like hey, you can just waste money. So it would depend on the responsibilites of the parties involved as well.
I know if I make all this money, and the other person is just wasting it away, blowing it on things that aren't necessary, then I think I have a right to say hey, enough is enough, we need to spend the money wisely and not get in over our heads.

Answer 6

I am assuming we are talking about marriage. If so, then no. Marriage is a partnership and both parties should have equal say. My wife is a stay at home mom, I work full time. She logs more hours of doing her job than I do, it's just that I get paid more for mine. Without the work that she does, I would not be able to make the money I do.

Answer 7

No. I think both partners need to be involved in major purchases but one person may have a better understanding of where money needs to be spent on a daily basis. For example, a stay at home mom may have a better idea of the financial needs of the family each week if she is the one who does the shopping for the family.

Answer 8

I think the two adults in a relationship should decide together how all money is spent... in my household we sit down together and decide what bills need to be paid and talk about any purchases we need or want... it doesnt matter who makes what because we share in everything... however that doesnt always work with other couples because one trys to be domineering and doesnt treat their partner as an equal

Answer 9

It depends on the relationships within the household. For example the union of husband and wife should have equal say in how money is spent. If you are supporting you children or parents then it may be up to the breadwinner to decide. If you are in an unmarried or dating reltionship, each should have their own funds. and if planning on getting married, should practice combining funds on large purchases.

Answer 10

In a marriage, it is equal, no matter who brings home the bacon, the other one may be the one frying it. The role of mom, for example, has been given a dollar value well in excess of $100,000. My husband is way behind in his payments! Decisions need to be made jointly about spending large amounts of money, otherwise there should be trust between a husband and wife as to how each spends money.

Answer 11

The partners or all adults who make up the household & have a financial interest in the family should make decisions like that together. No one person should have that kind of control over it's members.