lauren and i invested a lot of time in talking about finances, planning our finances, spreadsheeting our finances, and then setting up the system.
Now, we have a conversation about money that lasts about 2 minutes per month. And the conversation goes like this - "wow we saved the money we wanted to this month- what should we do with it?"
It's not like we're rich, we just planned correctly. We have (no joke) 3 checking accounts, and 4 savings accounts. My friends thought I was crazy when I told them that - but it makes sense. We both contribute money to our joint checking account - and there is always enough in there to pay all bills. She gets the rest of her paycheck in her personal account (she can buy whatever she wants - out to eat, movies, shoes, cards, gas, etc) and I get the rest of my paycheck in my personal account (which i use to pay off my credit card ... argh .. but i use that for going out, gas, etc).
For the multiple savings accounts - Saving for a house is different from saving for a vacation - do you want to use your house savings on your vacation? of course not. so plan it out.
And then when you're ready you buy the house from me for an awesome deal :)
Good job on the financial control. That's commendable.
ahem... i bought them a book on financial planning for couples when they got engaged (its called "Smart Couples Finish Rich" and there is a workbook for anyone whos interested and theres also "Smart Women Finish Rich" and Smart Men Finish Rich" and you can buy it from Staples