V :
Young women, as a 40+ married, I have some advice. First piece is that if your future partner makes a fuss about any of the following things I am suggesting, it's immediately a red flag and you should think carefully about whether they are safe to be in your life. 1) Keep separate bank accounts. Open a joint account and work out how much each other's share of the bills is (for me it's 50/50, but this might not be the case for everyone). When you get paid, set up a standing order to pay your share of the bills into the joint account. Have all bills paid from that account. Keep the rest of your wages to yourself in an account he doesn't have access to. It makes it easier to disentangle finances if you need to. 2) Any loans, mortgages, finance agreements should be joint where applicable and individual if they relate to things bought for one person - if you buy a house together you should be named on the deeds as joint owners and pay jointly into the mortgage. Do not let him convince you it's 'easier' to just have it in his name - it's not. It's a ticky box - option 1 or option 2. If he takes out a loan for HIS car, it should be in his name only. Do not saddle yourself with his debt. If it's practical, keep ownership of things like cars simple - his car, his registration, his loan, insurance, tax. Your car, your registration, your loan, your insurance, your tax, etc. Do not take on joint responsibility for his stuff unless you know it's a joint purchase you will have access to. 3) Do not let him convince you to leverage equity in your house against loans for transient things like cars. Only leverage equity for things that will improve the value of the property being leveraged. E.g. By all means borrow on the house for a new kitchen, bathroom, extension, conservatory, new boiler or heating, new roof, redone driveway, etc. But don't borrow against the house for cars or holidays or weird crypto investments. 4) If you choose to take his name or don't choose to, it's up to you, but don't let yourself be pressured either way. I couldn't wait to ditch my maiden name. It's your choice.... Continued in replies as I'm at my character limit.
2026-01-25 13:16:53