I don't see that there's a benefit to having more than a few thousand dollars in my checking account since that money just sits there doing nothing at all

Gosh.

It is very helpful to work toward getting on the same financial page (each coming to the middle from different directions) before your finances are actually totally together. We did baby steps for that- even before we lived together, I think, we each contributed to a household account that would cover groceries (and then later utilities and rent) and we contributed to it sort of proportionally to our individual incomes. Then we eventually just had the one checking account and one credit card.

Right now we have a joint savings account, but we pay bills separately and reconcile the finances at the end of the month. It is the easiest way right now for us to negotiate about money. We'll merge our finances more eventually.

GF and I are both good about saving. We also both paid off our cars in the last year and plan to drive them into the ground. Of course, we are both fortunate enough to be in good-paying jobs with excellent benefits (including stock bennies, which actually pay out good money). I try to sock as much away as possible so that someday if I don't have this job or want to change jobs (read: make less money), I can do it without too much financial hardship.

I should come in and read this on those frequent occasions when my job is sucking out my soul. It helps to remember that I stay so that I can do what I want in my off-time.

Gosh.

Yeah.

Right now we have a joint savings account, but we pay bills separately and reconcile the finances at the end of the month. It is the easiest way right now for us to negotiate about money. We'll merge our finances more eventually.

Whatever works is awesome. Because- hard.

I am bored and restless today and prone to babbling and storytelling. So, er, don't mean to be preaching or anything.

It's no longer a 401k, it was rolled over 15 years ago into the annuity.

As I understand it, the costs of an annuity are very front-end loaded, so once you've had one that long, you need to keep it in an annuity.

Birds in the house never seem to understand that the door is the way out.

Heh. I'm goshin' with Connie.

I have a student loan that is beyond insane and just sits there. I actually defaulted on it once, and I've about hit the end of the possible deferments. Even with the minimum payments (where you pay what they think you can afford for 25 years and then forgive the rest) I can't afford it. I'm just hoping we've got the mortgage under control and me able to work more before we have to start paying on it again.

stupid student loans. Leave Deena alone!

Pretty Deena.

Deena, can I go home now?

once you've had one that long, you need to keep it in an annuity.

Piffle. It's better than nothing, but when it's all you've got, it's nice to have more.

Sorry! I'll shut up now.