How many women handle the household finances?

Question

I handle all the finances and I wish that my husband would do it. The only problem with that is he was terrible at it. That is why I took it over when we moved in together. When we got married I was already handling everything. Sometimes it is very stressful and his ex-wife ruined his credit. Sometimes I feel like I am the husband and he is the wife. Does anyone else feel like they could step back in time to the 1950's and let the husband handle everything?

Answer 1

I'm feeling your pain. I do it and he complains about it. Yet, when he did it...he never really did it. It works better this way from a financial standpoint, but as far as the stress? I could definately do without that. And trust me, you don't want to go back to an earlier era. The June Cleaver lifestyle was a bit over-rated. :) Just be glad you are smart enough to take care of things.

Answer 2

I handle all finances even though he manages multi-billion dollar accounts on a daily basis. My husband only has to make sure that the money is directly deposited into our joint checking account and I handle all bill paying, and making sure extra money is sent to the appropriate accounts. Now he does check the bank statements monthly and help me pick our investments since those are some things I just don't do. He almost never asks me how much things costs but today he did ask how much we paid in utilities--he was doing some research for work. He was shocked at how much we spend, he even asked if he should contribute more of his check to the bills. Men take advantage of the fact that the money is there and procrastinate with paying the bills. My husband would buy DVD's and other junk just because he can, so most of his paycheck goes into the bill paying account and the rest goes into his personal account that he uses to buy his other crap. It doesn't bother me. I have been doing it since I was a very young girl. My father worked very hard and after my mother left he would bring the money in but forget to pay bills, so I started writing checks and using his ATM card to go grocery shopping. He would have one of his drivers take me to the store or mall and I would purchase whatever was needed for the household.

Answer 3

I pay all of our bills also and i make sure that everything gets done on time and everything. Same as you, I am just better at remembering all the little things that need to get paid so it just made more sense for me to do it than for him to, and its a lot safer cuz i know that if i do it then it is done! I don't think that it is a bad thing, i think that most women are more organized, and i also don't think that it is a new thing, its just that in the 50's men worked only, but women still made out the checks mostly...well my grandmother and mother did so that is what i saw. I think that you are not alone, a lot of women handle the finances.

Answer 4

I definitely feel more comfortable handling the finances myself. However, at one point my husband was getting a paper check and I had to depend on him to give me the money for the bills. Needless to say we received a stack of disconnect notices. Now with direct deposit, I don't know how we ever lived without it. Now I don't need his permission to pay anything or have to wait for him to give me the money. He always questions how I pay the bills but whenever I "sarcastically" offer him to take over he always declines because he knows I handle the finances best.

Answer 5

I handle the financed in our family and I wouldn't have it any other way. Men tend to be irresponsible when it comes to money. If it's causing you that much stress refuse to do it and he'll have no choice but to do it. Otherwise, sit down with a glass of wine and don't get stressed out about paying the bills. Getting stressed and worrying won't get them paid. Good luck hun!

Answer 6

Women are always smarter than men in handling household finances. There is no need of stepping back to 1950's. Days of illiterate and submissive women are gone for ever.

Answer 7

I also handle the household finances,my husband just recently learned how to write a check,I mean that. I pushed him to learn because he can see what I go through.I told him only one person should handle the checkbook.I have been for our entire marriage,he can have the job any time he wants it.

Answer 8

No. I pay most of our bills. I like being in control. I dont have to worry if it got done. I know where the money goes and how much is left. We make joint decisions on big purchases, but I handle bills,groceries,kids clothes etc. It may not work for everyone but it does for us.(he does the shopping with me, but I do the budgets)

Answer 9

Well stepping back would be nice,but we can't so do your best.I like you handle the money in my household and like you I hate it,but if my husband took over we would bankrupt in 6 months. Love the guy,but he has no consept of money. I make him go shopping with me so he can see how much ever thing costs.and leave the high electric bills out so he can see how much that is. Try including him in paying things.GOOD LUCK

Answer 10

I handle our finances. I couldn't imagine not knowing how much money we had and when the bills were paid. Just think of it as protecting your family.