Financial Expert Shares ‘Controversial’ Take on What Married Couples Should Do With Money

Financial expert Rachel Cruze doesn’t think married couples should be keeping their money separate.

In a recent interview with People, The Ramsey Show cohost, 38 — who hosts the show with her dad Dave Ramsey — said that while her advice could be labeled “controversial,” she believes couples should “combine everything.”

“Because money and marriage, money is one of these aspects of marriage that if you are not on the same team, it is so hard to win financially,” she explained.

The radio personality said that while it can be difficult to talk about money, it’s important to be “unified.”

“When you are so intertwined with them — not that marriage is going to be perfect by any means — but it is a way easier climb to the top than having to drag someone that you’re like, ‘I don’t know how much she makes. I don’t know how much debt she has,'” she insisted.

While Cruze noted that in certain situations with abuse or addiction, people should protect themselves, other than that, “If you can share a bed, you can share a bank account.”

“I tell married couples too, regardless of who makes the money or if someone makes more or less, it doesn’t matter,” she told the outlet, adding that it leads to “emotional unification.”

In Cruze’s experience, some people are individualistic with their money, and others are completely uninvolved — neither is good.

“I’m not extreme; be your own individual. And I’m definitely not like, ‘Oh, just let one spouse take care of everything,'” she admitted. “We both take care of it, and we both have access, and we both have a say.”

Some women, Cruze said, are “like, ‘Well, my husband does everything, and I don’t really know what’s going on, and he just gives me money every month.”

“Red flag on that side. You are both two adults,” she continued. “Even if one of you is not working, I don’t care. You are both adults. You both get an opinion. You both get a vote, and you both need to know what’s going on.”