This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
Should I show my partner my payslip? ¶
Managing finances as a couple can be challenging, especially when one partner earns more than the other. Annette, a reader, asked if she should disclose her income to her husband in its entirety, including overtime and side hustle income.
According to Annette, she has been showing her husband her payslip every month since she became pregnant with their daughter, Muna. However, she only discloses her side hustle income occasionally and not always. Instead, she makes her husband aware of how much she has invested in their joint money market fund account, which she manages.
She believes that by being transparent with her finances, she is opening the door for her husband to do the same. Annette's approach is to be accountable to someone with her savings and to compete with her husband in a healthy way.
GB, Annette's husband, has been warming up to the idea of being more transparent with his finances. He has started to pick up positive money managing habits from Annette, including creating monthly budgets and curbing impulse spending.
Stepping away from the practicality of shillings and cents, Annette's question highlights the emotional and spiritual side of managing finances as a couple. By showing her partner her payslip, Annette is sharing her nakedness – her financial information – with him.
As Annette's story shows, being transparent with one's finances can be a powerful tool for building trust and understanding in a relationship. By being open and honest about their financial situation, couples can work together to achieve their shared financial goals and build a stronger, more stable financial future.
