Do you have a secret stash of money?

[crosses]

I was reading the thread about whether you trust your spouse with money and I do, but I also have a hidden stash of money that is all mine. It's kind of like my own personal emergency and fun money fund.

Now before anyone gets mad at me, all the money was saved from "my allowance" - I just chose to put it somewhere where nobody else knows it is instead of in a bank where DH could see it.

Do others have a secret stash of money?

[PrincessPerky]

Back when we had cash around and were less insistant on paying off the debt I did, not as a secret, but as a suprise stash, used it to pay for his birthday dinner last year. He does the same, used it to pay for the rest of DDs halloween paint. As you can guess it wasn't large, hard to get when trying to send every spare thing to the CC.

[sweeps]

This may not be what you mean by secret stash, but my wife and I experimented with the 3-account plan (joint account for bills, shared savings, etc., individual account for her purchases, and individual account for my purchases). The idea didn't really pan out though because it was hard to maintain -- always remembering to transfer money between the accounts. Also we lost out on interest because money would be in checking accounts instead of savings accounts. But probably most importantly, we both are fanatical about saving money. We found we really didn't need to "stash" money away.

However -- I think there are some relationships where the couple needs to keep a certain amount of money stashed away from their spouse/SO. A lot of tension arises when one person is not spending any money on himself or herself while the other is spending a lot.

[CRFSaver]

A girl I work with, her and her spouse have 3 bank accounts. One home and 2 personal accounts. They both give themselfs an allowance they can do anything with they want and the rest goes into the housing account. The housing account pays their mortgage and their other bills and has no ATM associated with it.

[robex]

We each have our own spending money to do what we want with. If I choose to save some of it that's my own business. We've been married for 15 years, and have always handled our money this way. If Dh asked how much money I have, I would tell him, but I don't think that he's ever asked. He spends all his money during the month...

[tomkat]

My husband and I currently have separate accounts. We do have a joint savings account, but I'm the primary contributor to it...that way, I won't be tempted to spend it because his name is on it, meaning I have to consult with him before I touch it. He saves money in his own account (and he's not a spender, so that money is safe), and I have my own personal savings as well (which I'm always dipping into...hence the joint account with his name on it). I know, I know, it's a complicated arrangement right now, but it works well as far as us saving money. He knows about my separate savings account, so I guess I don't have a "secret" stash, I just have a stash that I can spend at my discretion.

[Armywife]

Earlier this year I started an envelope fund that substituted spending for bad habits. I amassed quite a bit of loot before I caved in and spent every last cent. I recommitted myself to this good habit in August and have even upgraded my secret locations for this growing pile. Hubby knows about my money but he doesnt touch it out of respect :P

[genchan]

No, we barely have a "stash" of money, let alone a secret one.

[jmjj215]

My wife has no idea how much is in my wallet (eleven dollars) - but that's not intentional.

[BillsGirl]

i have $20 hidden in my wallet, does that count?

[mom-from-missouri]

I have some cd's that I hide from myself. Its my only use if i have to money. I found by putting it into a CD, its more of a hassel to get it out-so I won't spend it. Since I am no longer married, I have no one else to hide it from...

[locolorenzo24]

Too bad I can't hide it from myself!!!........

[BillsGirl]

I have no clue whats in my hubbys bank and savings account so I am pretty sure he has a sectret stash!! but I trust the man, thats why I married him!!

[marglo]

Originally Posted by genchan

No, we barely have a "stash" of money, let alone a secret one.

LOL same here! I can't imagine keeping a stash of money from my dh anyway. What if something happened to me and he didn't know abou the money? We have always put our money together and we share it. Actually we have never even referred to it as "my" money or "his" money...it is just our money. Maybe I would feel differently if my dh couldn't be trusted with money, but really I have been the one who ran up debt much more than him in the past.

[jhd815]

Well if I tell you it won't be a "secret" anymore!

[Armywife]

hehe.. cute!

My best friend gave me a funny looking hello kitty ceramic coin bank. I'm thinking of stashing my secret cash in there...

[larosa7357]

[b]Sure do! DH is the type to spend $20 when he only has $10.

Fran

[arianeira]

Originally Posted by larosa7357

[b]Sure do! DH is the type to spend $20 when he only has $10.

Fran

That's how my ex was!

My bf and I are doing the three account finances and it is working very well for us. Ironically we probably would be okay with just one joint account because our spending patterns are pretty similar, but I have found that it is just easier for my sanity to not have to think about what he purchases as long as his half of the bills are paid, and I don't have to feel like asking about every purchase I make.

I guess in a way I have a "secret stash", but mostly because he doesn't worry about how much money I have as long as the bills are paid.

[PRICEPLUS]

No. No secret stash. I have made transparency a condition of finance with my wife. I don't always get the same in return but I have no secret stash. I will admit that the thought is tempting at times!

[PRICEPLUS]

Funny how things change!