Should couples split finances after marriage? Man with Rs 1 crore income asks how to manage money. 'She doesn’t want to work for...'

Money is one of the biggest conversations couples have before and after marriage, especially when there is a large gap in income. One such discussion recently caught attention on Reddit after a 26-year-old man, who said he earns more than Rs 1 crore a year, asked other users how married couples usually manage their finances when one partner earns significantly less.

According to the Reddit post, the man said he is preparing to marry his 26-year-old partner after being together for several years. He described her as practical and not interested in expensive gifts or luxury brands. While he runs his own business and said he has a net worth of around Rs 2.5 crore, his fiancée had been earning Rs 5 lakh per annum before quitting her job because of office politics. She is currently pursuing a PhD with the goal of becoming a teacher.

Unsure how to handle finances after marriage

The man explained that they had never had an in-depth discussion about money because his partner becomes uncomfortable during such conversations.


"I currently make significantly more than her from (through my business). I take home 1cr/yr+ and she was making 5lpa (quit her recently job due to office politics) and is doing her PhD so she can teach (which she’s passionate about), she’ll find another job in a few weeks," he wrote.

He added that he wanted advice on how couples usually divide household expenses, major purchases and financial responsibilities after marriage.

The Reddit user also made it clear that, "She doesn’t want to work for my business & wants a clear boundary between work/family which I respect and I want her to do something she loves anyway."

At the same time, he said she values financial independence and does not want to depend on him financially, even though their incomes are very different.

Reddit users say income gap changes the equation

Many commenters felt that splitting expenses equally would not make sense given the difference in earnings. One user responded, "She can’t magically start making more money. So you will have to be the sole breadwinner in the marriage."

Another wrote, "You pay for everything. She pays for her day to day expenses. Why is this even a question?"

Several users suggested that the higher-earning partner should cover most household costs while allowing the wife to contribute wherever she feels comfortable. Others recommended opening a joint account for shared expenses without making her feel financially dependent.

One commenter suggested splitting expenses according to income rather than equally, writing, "Split expenses in ratio of income. So she's at 5lpa and you're at 1 crore, then she pays 4.76% of shared expenses. That's the most fair way to do this."

The original poster later clarified that his concern was not about avoiding responsibility. "Ofc I would take care of her. Considering she’d start to make her own money and doesn’t want to be dependent - how would one approach was my question. You’re quite quick to jump to conclusions," he replied.