How do you earn your crust?

[titian23]

Hello,

I''m an accountant and I do make more then my bf but he''s 5 years younger then me and finishing up at university. I have to say though this has caused zero issues for us (apart from I''d prob like a bigger ring then his budget can afford but that''s what upgrades are for right?)

 

[4ever]

I''ve just finnished my University degree (graduating 10th dec!) and am looking for a job in the Film and TV industry and some summer work in the meantime.

I have some work experience coming up in the new year helping out on a hollywood production, but other then that no job so far.

My BF left the airforce to move to be with me and he now works in the IT dep at my old university. He earns money, I don''t and havn''t while I''ve been studying.

It dosn''t bother him that I don''t contribute much but it bothers me that I havn''t been able to be self sufficent, to take HIM out to dinner and a movie for once and to get new clothes when my old ones get broken without feeling like I''ve made him buy me things.

When I have a job I will pay off my (minimal) student debts and then I expect it to be a bit more fair in how we spend money.

 

[bee*]

I''m a vet student and work in a vet clinic. DH is an architect. He''s been earning quite a bit more than me seeing that I''m a student, but once I graduate, we should be about even. He pays the rent and I usually pay groceries/other bills so there''s no friction. We have a joint account but just use it for savings/unexpected purchases.

 

[KatM]

I''m a social worker, working with adults with psychotic and personality disorders. The BF is a lawyer for the city.

The money thing is a bit complicated, as I technically make less per hour but work more hours.

Since we''re both pretty poor, money isn''t really an issue. I could see it being uncomfortable if he got a big raise and suddenly made several times what I make (which will be the case at some point in the future). I like to pay my fair share for things, but a huge difference in income would make that weird.

 

[bobbin]

I have just finished my degree and post-grad diploma and am eligible to be admitted, but am waiting on results. At the moment I am working two casual jobs, one retail and one data-entry, so I making the equivalent of working five days a week due to loading.

SO is an animator. He was always the one with the stable income and up until yesterday, has always earnt more than me. Yesterday he was laid off from the only games company in our state, that he has worked at for four years

I am a bit panicky about what we will do because we are now both looking for full time work and my work is anything but stable and secure.

 

[lilyfoot]

Date: 11/12/2009 6:33:40 PM
Author: bobbin
I have just finished my degree and post-grad diploma and am eligible to be admitted, but am waiting on results. At the moment I am working two casual jobs, one retail and one data-entry, so I making the equivalent of working five days a week due to loading.

SO is an animator. He was always the one with the stable income and up until yesterday, has always earnt more than me. Yesterday he was laid off from the only games company in our state, that he has worked at for four years

I am a bit panicky about what we will do because we are now both looking for full time work and my work is anything but stable and secure.

Oh bobbin, I''m so sorry to hear that! I remember you recently started the thread about saving for your wedding. I''m sending you and your BF tons and tons of ****JOB DUST****.

I hope everything works out for you guys!

 

[laughwithme]

I work as a Treasury/cash management analyst at a large private corporation. FI is an electrical engineer with a mid-size firm. Our pay is basically identical.

No conflict/issues. He pays the bills, I save for the house

After the wedding & house, all money will go to the same account and we''ll take care of everything from that account. We''ve already worked out our budget for personal spending as well.

 

[Littletreasure]

Nursing student. So that is not earning me any money at this point. Next semester I am taking time off to take a 7 week course in phlebotomy. I will get paid for the course and receive help with job placement. On top of that I will get tuition reimbursement!

SO is a statistician. He enjoys it but wants to go back to school for physics and be a proffesor.

He makes more money than I do. We live together and while our accounts are seperate we already consider it our money. We haven''t had any problems.

 

[luckynumber]

Thanks ladies, what a fantastic array from all walks of life, brilliant!!!

As for myself, i'm an economist and SO is a psychologist. We have very interesting conversations as we are chalk and cheese.

I always tell him i only want him for his bedroom skills only though

All our expenses are separate anyway as we live 4 hours away from each other.

We plan to have a joint expenses account and separate accounts for the rest of our money so we can indulge without feeling guilty.

He says everything he owns is mine anyway, isn't he cute??

I've taught him well

ps winelover, i am so disappointed that you're not really a streetwalker

pps haven, thanks it's really cute isn't it. I'm the grey one and SO is the brown one

 

[stepcutgirl]

I''m an ultrasound tech, bf is an attorney. He makes double what I do. No biggie, he just picks up more tabs than I do!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Heh, before we were married we didn''t combine finances. Now that we''re married we have both joined and separate accounts, even though I currently make no income in med school.

I''m projected to make more than him when I become established as a physician, but it''s not a big deal. Haha, what I think is more likely to cause friction is that people will THINK I make more than him because of the "doctors are rich" stereotype (in reality, I''ll likely be making less than minimum hourly wage until at least 2016). But people think all doctors make the big bucks, so my hubby gets jokes about having a "sugar momma" even though it''s not the case at all!

 

[Lozza]

I work in strategy for a bank - negotiating contracts, developing new products, looking at financials etc... (it's kinda hard to explain!).

SO works in IT.

I have always earned just a little more than him (less than $10k). It caused a little friction when we both left uni and started working, but he's over it now. His Dad is VERY particular about the man being the breadwinner, which I think is why it bothered him at first.

We've had joint accounts for years, and as of this year we have a mortgage. We also have separate accounts for our spending.

 

[zoebartlett]

Same as Haven, I''m married already, but I lurk and began here.

Also same as Haven, I''m a certified reading specialist, although I''m not currently working as one. I''m also an elementary teacher -- currently looking for a new job until I can (hopefully!) return to my former position in our home state. I''m on a one year leave of absence from my school district.

My husband is an IT guy (database developer and data analyst). He''s always made more money than me, and he always will because teachers aren''t paid quite at the same level as other professions.

I had a hard time combining our money, to be honest. I think we began combining things once we bought our condo (before we were engaged). I don''t like spending what I make, and my husband is a little more care free in that respect. We haven''t always seen eye to eye on things but we do somehow make it work.

 

[Tuckins1]

I am a special education teacher and DH is a computer technician/student. Right now, yes I do make more than he does, but it all goes in the same account, so it doesn''t matter. As soon as he gets out of school he will make lots more than me, so whatever.

 

[jaylex]

I''m an interior designer and fiance is an HVAC-R tech.

We both get paid hourly *plus* commission.. he makes more than me hourly. Depending on the month, he can sometimes double my take home.
But lately, we have been pretty evenly matched as far as our take home pay is concerned since business gets slower for him in the fall.

But like some of you other ladies, whats mine is his and what''s his is mine so we''re really blessed to not have friction in that area of our relationship.

 

[brandithib]

Most of you have REAL jobs. Lucky you! I''m volunteering internationally until I figure out what I want to do. I just watched "Wanted" with James McAvoy and you know how at the end he says, "What have you done lately?" Well, that spoke volumes to me. I think I need a job where I can shoot guns and make bullets curve.

 

[mochamamasita]

I investigate unfair labor practices for the federal government and my boyfriend is a legislative assistant. Right now I make over twice as much as him, and I think that I''ll be making more than him for a while because he wants to go into politics and it''ll probably take a while before he gets to where he wants to be. I feel a little awkward making more money than him, but it doesn''t seem to bother him at all. Right now our finances are completely separate, but we''ll get a joint account after we get married.

 

[bobbin]

Date: 11/12/2009 8:24:12 PM
Author: lilyfoot

Date: 11/12/2009 6:33:40 PM

Author: bobbin

I have just finished my degree and post-grad diploma and am eligible to be admitted, but am waiting on results. At the moment I am working two casual jobs, one retail and one data-entry, so I making the equivalent of working five days a week due to loading.


SO is an animator. He was always the one with the stable income and up until yesterday, has always earnt more than me. Yesterday he was laid off from the only games company in our state, that he has worked at for four years

I am a bit panicky about what we will do because we are now both looking for full time work and my work is anything but stable and secure.

Oh bobbin, I''m so sorry to hear that! I remember you recently started the thread about saving for your wedding. I''m sending you and your BF tons and tons of ****JOB DUST****.

I hope everything works out for you guys!

Thanks Lilyfoot. It really, absolutely sucks as SO was on a good wage there and he will undoubtedly have to take a pay cut if he gets a job in the state. I lost my job this time last year and we were just starting to recover from that when this happens. However, the upshot is that he got a lump sum redundancy payment, so if he is able to get a job soon we will be better off.

I also forgot to mention that I will be admitted as a lawyer... oops!

 

[sba771]

FI is a software programmer and makes a very nice living. I used work be an account executive at a corporate PR firm. I gave up my job to become a ''trailing spouse'' for his work. While we were in NY he was still making 6-8 times for than me so it was a no brainer to move for his work. Currently I am an unpaid ''marketing trainee'' for a random company in Frankfurt, Germany. Money has never been a point of friction and I was attracted to my FI because we had a lot of the same ideas about money and finances. When we move back I am going to look for something part time as just an admin type position because we have so much on our plate with a wedding, buying a house,and in the end I still would not make close to what he is making- I would just have it for our fun money. I wasn''t in love with what I did so I don''t miss it other than the extra freedom to buy purses.

 

[AustenNut]

My boy and I are both teachers. We also both work part-time jobs. His has more hours, mine has a better hourly wage. Overall we probably make pretty close to what the other makes, and there is no friction on that score.

 

[sweetpea&babycorn]

Date: 11/13/2009 4:08:36 PM
Author: MakingTheGrade
Heh, before we were married we didn''t combine finances. Now that we''re married we have both joined and separate accounts, even though I currently make no income in med school.


I''m projected to make more than him when I become established as a physician, but it''s not a big deal. Haha, what I think is more likely to cause friction is that people will THINK I make more than him because of the ''doctors are rich'' stereotype (in reality, I''ll likely be making less than minimum hourly wage until at least 2016). But people think all doctors make the big bucks, so my hubby gets jokes about having a ''sugar momma'' even though it''s not the case at all!

so true makingthegrade!!! i''m currently applying to medical school (one interview invitation so far!) but am making a very small salary through a graduate fellowship. i also have a part time job hostessing at a restaurant

bf works in web applications/programming/computer software, and is a partner at a small development firm. he makes gobs more money than i do.

when i graduate from medical school, and finish my residency, i think i''ll ALMOST be even with my bf.

we keep our accounts separate but we''re very flexible in sharing our money. he usually pays when we go out to eat, will pay rent when we move in together, etc. and he just took us to st. kitts for our five year anniversary

 

[ts44]

I work as a benefits consultant and FI is a software engineer. He makes more than me and we have not combined our finances, he is a saver and I am a saver but he is an EXTREME saver and I like pretty things so I have my own spending money.

There is no friction at all.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I am a physician

My BF has an MBA and does marketing for high tech products

He used to make more than me until this year when I graduated residency. I believe we are even know. The funny thing is, depending on were we live, I might make more or less than him. Doctors have different salaries in different regions of the country.

 

[Blair138]

Hi ladies, I''m not a LIW any longer but I wanted to join in. I am a high school teacher and DH works in finance. I am almost done with my Master''s and DH didn''t go to college. I make really good money for being a teacher, but DH still makes about double. Totally fine with that, but like Elledizzy said, life is cruel!

 

[babycush]

I''m a medical student, FF works for a large coffee chain that you all know and love

Right now, we split the rent evenly and I just convinced him to let me pay for groceries every other week (he is a southern gentleman and chivalrous from head to toe). He pays the other bills and always pays when we go out, but we both know that as soon as I graduate I''ll be contributing equally, if not more!

 

[AllieGator]

I''m a barista at a local artsy coffee house, and my boyfriend is a sound technician. He makes a lot more than me, but he''s also out of college, and I''m still a full time student. When I graduate, I will probably make slightly more than he does, and eventually will probably make a lot more.

My job pays pretty well, when you include tips, so I''m able to pay for all of my stuff, and stuff we do together, although he likes spoiling me and doesn''t let me pay too much. I make enough that I feel independent enough, and it''s a pretty fun job.

 

[Dreamgirl]

I'm a graphic designer

FF isn't anything at the moment (got laid off IN APRIL. Stupid economy

) anyway, his area of study was government so that's what he's looking for...

So obviously I'm the only one making money at the moment. I make pretty good money for a graphic designer...(I'm lucky at my current job) Oh and there is no friction between us. Even when he had a job. Even when he gets a new one. We just aren't like that.

 

[snowglobe]

SO and I are both lawyers and relatively new to the job. We currently earn the same income and split the household bills (but maintain separate banking accounts). Our salaries and contributions to the home will likely diverge over time as we decide on our ultimate career paths. We''ve discussed this and it doesn''t matter to us who makes more money. What is most important to us that we''re both happy in our jobs.

 

[TooPatient]

B is a senior software developer for a major software company.

I was originally hired at this office to be the IT person (design a website for them, create & manage database, etc.) but have turned into a secretary since both of the guys here are old and hate technology.


Obviously B makes way more than I do. I''m starting classes this winter and will end up with a degree in computer engineering. After that, our pay should be pretty similar.

Until then he pays some bills and I pay some bills. If something comes up and he is short, I cover it. If something comes up and I am short, he covers it. He is going to take over a couple of the bills I am currently paying so that I can pay for my schooling myself.
(I don''t want to feel dependant on anyone. I don''t want to feel like I HAVE to stay with him because he is paying for my school. I don''t want him to think that is why I am with him. It is my schooling and I am doing it for me.)

 

[absolut_blonde]

I work for the government, he's a construction site supervisor. We make almost exactly the same salary, which is kind of funny! He makes more than me overall, however, because he does side jobs that pay very well.

His background is in architectural design so eventually, he plans to start his own company and will make significantly more than I do. I'm fine with that, since it will enable me to stay home with our children (hopefully) and will provide me the flexibility to find a career I am more passionate about. I may end up doing the marketing/business end of things for his company once things get rolling, since that's my true forte and doesn't interest him at all.

Money isn't a huge source of friction for us. Our main issue is that we just don't seem to have enough of it, these days! Especially with planning a wedding and paying for some of that. We do well 'on paper' and we don't live extravagantly, but the cost of living is quite high here so it doesn't go as far as I'd like. I think we manage money quite well overall, though, and we don't really fight about it.