Here's the complete breakdown of my household's financial system as a dual-income couple without kids.

Combined income: $165k gross.

Structure: we maintain separate checking accounts and a joint account. Each person contributes a percentage of their income (not a fixed dollar amount) to the joint account proportionally. The joint account pays for shared expenses: rent, groceries, utilities, joint travel, dining out together.

Personal accounts handle individual expenses: clothing, hobbies, gifts, personal care. No accountability to each other for personal spending.

Investments: each person manages their own retirement accounts. We discuss and align on annual goals together and review net worth quarterly as a household.

This system eliminated money as a source of friction in our relationship. No arguments about how one person is spending, no resentment about income disparity. The proportional joint contribution keeps it fair.