It really is very easy to recognize newly married couples. Even the ones that do not walk around like Siamese twins have a twinkle in their eyes and a glow on their faces that reveals them to us. Of course, once the honeymoon period is over, the issues of daily life have to be taken care of. Long hours at the office. Coming home to wash dirty utensils or cooking. Taking care of the monthly bills. Marriage is not like permanently being on cloud number nine! Just as married life has its ups, it also has its share of downs.
So if you are a newly married couple looking forward to sharing wedded bliss together, you should make sure that you learn to cope with the potential thorns in your relationship. And finances are one of those thorns.
If both of you are working, the question of who will pay the bills will arise. Be prepared for long-winded arguments over the size of the phone and electric bills. It is astonishing how many arguments begin and end over monetary issues. How do you minimize the occurrence of such arguments? Perhaps you should think about mechanisms such as that of the joint credit card.
How do you get hold of a joint credit card? It really is quite convenient. You could directly apply for a joint credit card. Alternatively, you would have to provide your spouse's details to the credit card company asking them to add him/her to current credit card account.
Sounds a lot like the joint bank account doesn't it? However, despite the similar nomenclature, joint credit cards are significantly different from joint bank accounts. Whereas in the case of the joint bank account, both signatories are held responsible for the debts that are incurred, in the case of a joint credit card, the original signatory is held accountable.
This is a good idea for those who are in a completely stable marriage. However, if you are the type that marries fifty or more times, my suggestion is that you steer clear from such an account. If you take the risk of bothering your spouse too much, you might just end up penniless, thanks to a revengeful shopping spree on his/her part.
As with everything, even a joint credit card is not free from its set of problems. Moreover, it is a big step to take. So you think you are ready to make such a commitment? Sharing a credit card with someone else is a huge bug deal. Make sure that you do not take such a major step unless you are absolutely prepared for it.
