In recent years, matters of marriage have, rightly, turned very much towards equality. Roles which husbands and wives took for granted not that long ago are now things of the past. And, it seems to work wonders, with divorce rates dropping each year.

But, there is one often forgotten factor in these talks about the importance of equality. It’s fair to say that more households than ever now have two incomes. But, it’s still not unusual for one person in a marriage to financially support their spouse.

In many ways, this makes sense. You live together. You have a family. It’s easier just to take what you need. But, inequalities in contributions can lead to a whole host of family finance issues you might never have considered. According to the experts at Arnold, Wadsworth, & Coggins, these financial issues are one of the leading causes of divorce.

Obviously, expenses on house and children are a different matter. But, if you’re the supported partner, you might want to consider these reasons why it’s worth going back to a separate bank account.

Leverage for arguments

The most obvious reason split finances don’t work is the arguments caused. Even if you have a policy of sharing,  that money technically belongs to your partner. Your vows may state you share everything, but the reality is rarely as simple.

In truth, this setup could lead to all manner of arguments. It may be that your partner gets angry when you spend on things they don’t consider necessary. After all, they’ve worked hard for that money. What’s more, they may feel justified in spending on things they want, and they won’t have anyone to answer about it. Before you know it, every expense may become another argument waiting to happen.

Leaving you in the lurch if things go wrong

No one likes to think about their marriage falling apart, and there’s no saying that yours ever will. But, it’s worth bearing in mind that depending on a partner for money could leave you in the lurch if things go wrong. When you’re used to having that leverage on your expenses, you’ll struggle if the support suddenly goes.

What’s more, you would face the reality of having to afford a divorce attorney and any other number of legal expenses.  Before you know it, you could be in debt up to your eyeballs. All because you became accustomed to a life outside of your means. And, if you do fall in this way, it’ll be an awful lot harder to reach a level of financial independence again. At least if you stick with your budget, you’ll know how much money you have, and whether you need to earn more.

An imbalance in power

It’s also worth noting that inequality in financial contributions could lead to imbalances in power. Whether your partner takes advantage of your position or not, you may feel the need to ask permission to spend. No matter how understanding your partner attempts to be, this could rock the all-important balance of your marriage. And, that may lead to issues you struggle to come back from.