I wouldn't marry him until he paid off his debt, now I'm in charge of our money
A British couple shares their experience of managing household finances, highlighting a trend where women often take the lead in budgeting and saving. The article explores how they navigated debt and joint financial responsibility over their 25-year relationship.
Why it matters
It reflects broader societal shifts in domestic financial management and the importance of communication in long-term partnerships.
Image source, Sarah Reeve Image caption, Sarah and Lee have been together for 25 years and have always had a joint bank account
When Sarah Reeve got engaged she gave fiance Lee an ultimatum: he had to pay off his debt before she would marry him.
"I was paying my mortgage and bills whereas he was giving his mum some rent," Sarah says of their situations when they met in their early 20s.
"I told him I wouldn't marry him if he had any debts," says the 45-year-old.
So they set a wedding date for two years ahead which gave Lee the time to pay off the £2,000 bank loan - £4,000 in today's money , external - he had taken out to buy a car.
Once Lee's debt was cleared, the couple paid everything into a joint account and Sarah took charge of bills, saving and budgeting.
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