Whether you share one credit card account or you juggle multiple cards at once, managing credit cards with a partner requires a lot of coordination.
It’s not just about day-to-day spending decisions where you agree upon which card to use at the grocery store and which to use at the doctor’s office. The way you use credit can help or hinder your shared financial goals, and that can affect your happiness as a couple.
kAmtG6? :7 J@F >2:?E2:? D6A2C2E6 7:?2?46D[ J@FC 24E:@?D 27764E J@FC H9@=6 9@FD69@=5] xE’D :>A@CE2?E E@ 92G6 42?5:5[ 7C6BF6?E E2=<D 23@FE J@FC 4C65:E 42C5 FD6 D@ J@F 42? H@C< E@H2C5 2 D92C65 D6E @7 >@?6J 8@2=D]k^Am
k9amr964< :? C68F=2C=Jk^9am
kAm$4965F=:?8 >@?6J 52E6D :D 4CF4:2= E@ >2?28:?8 J@FC 4C65:E 42C5D E@86E96C] $6E 2D:56 F?:?E6CCFAE65 E:>6 H96C6 3@E9 @7 J@F 42? 7F==J 7@4FD @? E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? — ?@ 5:??6C 3FC?:?8 :? E96 @G6?[ ?@ D>2== 49:=5C6? EF88:?8 @? J@FC A2?E =68D] “s@?’E 92G6 E96D6 E2=<D H96? J@F’C6 E:C65[ 9F?8CJ @C DEC6DD65] x7 D@>6@?6’D :? 2 325 >@@5[ H2:E[” D2JD tC:<2 (2DD6C>2?[ 2 46CE:7:65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^2CE:4=6^:?G6DE:?8^9@H\7:?2?4:2=\E96C2A:DE\D9:7E\J@FC\>@?6J\>:?5D6EnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm7:?2?4:2= E96C2A:DEk^2m 32D65 :? $@FE9 u=@C:52] “*@F 3@E9 ?665 E@ 36 :? 2 A=246 E@ C646:G6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ ?@E ;FDE D92C6 :E]”k^Am
kAm~?46 J@F 6DE23=:D9 2 8@@5 E:>6 E@ E2=<[ J@F 2=D@ ?665 E@ 4@>>:E E@ 2 AC@5F4E:G6 2?5 6>@E:@?2==J D276 4@?G6CD2E:@?] ~?6 @C 3@E9 @7 J@F >2J 36 4@>:?8 E@ E96 E23=6 H:E9 563E @C DA6?5:?8 923:ED J@F’C6 ?@E AC@F5 @7[ 3FE :7 J@F 42? 36 9@?6DE H:E9@FE 762C[ J@F 42? >2<6 >@C6 AC@8C6DD]k^Am
kAm%2=< 23@FE E96 E9:?8D J@F’C6 DECF88=:?8 H:E9] !6C92AD E96 C6H2C5D AC@8C2> @? @?6 @7 J@FC 42C5D :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^=62C?^4C65:E\42C5D\H:E9\4@?7FD:?8\C6H2C5D\AC@8C2>DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmE@@ 4@>A=6Ik^2m 2?5 J@F’C6 ?@E FD:?8 E96 42C5’D 36?67:ED[ @C J@F 766= =:<6 :E’D E@@ 62DJ E@ :>AF=D6\D9@A @?=:?6]k^Am
kAm|2J36 @?6 @7 J@F k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^=62C?^>:DD65\4C65:E\42C5\A2J>6?ED\42FD6\C6A@DD6DD:@?nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm7@C8@E E@ A2Jk^2m 2 4C65:E 42C5 3:== E92E >@?E9 2?5 J@F’5 =:<6 E@ AC6G6?E E92E 7C@> 92AA6?:?8 282:?] |@?6J 52E6D 2C6 H96C6 J@F 2:C @FE J@FC :DDF6D D@ J@F 42? D@=G6 AC@3=6>D]k^Am
k9amrC62E6 J@FC D92C65 4C65:E DEC2E68Jk^9am
kAm&D6 J@FC >@?6J 52E6 5:D4FDD:@?D E@ 4C27E 2 =:DE @7 24E:@?D E@ E2<6[ DF49 2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^=62C?^4C65:E\42C5\563E\anFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmA=2? 7@C A2J:?8 5@H? 563Ek^2m[ 2? 28C66>6?E 23@FE H9@ :D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C A2J:?8 H9:49 3:==D[ @C 2 DEC2E68J 7@C FD:?8 C6H2C5D 42C5D 7@C DA64:7:4 AFC492D6D]k^Am
kAm“%96 <6J BF6DE:@? :D[ ‘(92E @FE4@>6 2C6 J@F =@@<:?8 7@Cn’” (2DD6C>2? D2JD] “%96? H@C< 324<H2C5 7C@> E96C6]”k^Am
kAmp >@?6J 52E6 H@?’E 36 2 @?6\E:>6 6G6?E] $6E FA 7FEFC6 >66E:?8D — A6C92AD BF:4< H66<=J 492ED E@ 5:D4FDD FA4@>:?8 6IA6?D6D[ A=FD >@?E9=J @C BF2CE6C=J 4@?G6CD2E:@?D E@ 4964< :? @? =@?86C\E6C> 8@2=D] x7 @?6 A6CD@? E2<6D @? E96 D@=6 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C 2 E2D<[ =:<6 A2J:?8 2== 4C65:E 42C5 3:==D[ 4964<\:?D 42? 2=D@ <66A E96> 244@F?E23=6 D@ E96 @E96C A6CD@? :D?’E =67E :? E96 52C< :7 2 3:== :D?’E A2:5]k^Am
k9amr2CCJ E96 C:89E 4C65:E 42C5D 7@C J@Fk^9am
kAms@?’E ;FDE E2=< 23@FE 9@H E@ FD6 E96 4C65:E 42C5D J@F 92G6] pD< J@FCD6=G6D :7 J@F D9@F=5 DE:== 36 FD:?8 E9@D6 42C5D 2E 2==]k^Am
kAm“tBF:A A6@A=6 H:E9 E@@=D E92E 7:E E96:C 3692G:@C] x7 @?6 A2CE?6C DECF88=6D H:E9 4C65:E 42C5D[ E96J D9@F=5 FD6 2 563:E 42C5[ @C 6G6? 42D9[ H9:=6 E96 @E96C FD6D 4C65:E[” D2JD qC:2? !286[ 244C65:E65 7:?2?4:2= 4@F?D6=@C 2?5 7@F?56C @7 |@56C? wFD32?5D[ H96C6 96 96=AD 4@FA=6D >2?286 E96:C 52:=J 7:?2?46D :? E96:C 9@>6D 2D 2 E62>] “%9:D :D?’E 23@FE 4@?EC@= @C 64@?@>:4 23FD6] xE’D 24<?@H=658:?8 E92E D@>6 7@=<D 2C6?’E H6==\DF:E65 E@ E92E E@@= H9:=6 DE:== H@C<:?8 E@H2C5 D92C65 8@2=D =:<6 BF2=:7J:?8 7@C 2 >@CE8286 2E 2 8@@5 C2E6]”k^Am
kAmp=D@ 4@?D:56C H96E96C J@F’G6 @FE8C@H? 2?J @7 J@FC 4C65:E 42C5D] !6C92AD J@F EC2G6= 5:776C6?E=J E92? 367@C6[ @C J@FC DA6?5:?8 923:ED 492?865 27E6C J@F >@G65 E@ 2 ?6H 4:EJ]k^Am
kAm“x @?46 H@C<65 H:E9 2 4@FA=6 H9@ DE:== 925 2 s:D?6J 4C65:E 42C5 7C@> H96? E96:C <:5D H6C6 D>2==[” (2DD6C>2? D2JD] “*62CD =2E6C[ E96J C62=:K65 E96J 925 Se__ :? s:D?6J A@:?ED[ 3FE ?@ A=2?D E@ 8@ 324< E@ s:D?6J 2?JE:>6 D@@?]”k^Am
kAmpE =62DE @?46 2 J62C[ =@@< E9C@F89 J@FC H2==6ED] w2G6 J@F DE@AA65 FD:?8 2?J @7 J@FC 42C5Dn s@ 2?J @7 E96> 92G6 F?C6566>65 C6H2C5D J@F 42? DE:== 42D9 :?n x7 J@F’C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^=62C?^4C65:E\42C5\2??F2=\766\7C66nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmA2J:?8 2??F2= 766Dk^2m[ 5@ J@F 86E 6?@F89 G2=F6 @FE @7 J@FC 42C5D E@ @77D6E E96>nk^Am
kAmxE 4@F=5 >2<6 D6?D6 E@ D9@A 2C@F?5 7@C 2 ?6H 42C5[ @C A6C92AD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^=62C?^9@H\E@\FA8C256\5@H?8C256\J@FC\4C65:E\42C5nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmFA8C256 @C 5@H?8C256k^2m 2? 6I:DE:?8 @?6]k^Am
k9am$6E FA DJDE6>D 7@C @?8@:?8 AC@8C6DDk^9am
kAm!286 C64@>>6?5D 5:28?@D:?8 E96 C@@E 42FD6 @7 4C65:E 42C5 :DDF6D[ D@ J@F 42? AFE DJDE6>D :? A=246 E92E H:== 96=A J@F =@?8 27E6C J@FC >@E:G2E:@? E@ 492?86 7256D 2H2J] $H:E49:?8 E@ 2 ?6H 42C5 >:89E 36 2== J@F ?665 E@ 5@ C:89E ?@H[ 3FE :7 DA6?5:?8 923:ED 2C6 2 AC@3=6>[ 7:I:?8 E96> 42? E2<6 =@?8\E6C> 4@>>:E>6?E]k^Am
kAmx7 @G6CDA6?5:?8 :D 2? :DDF6 7@C J@F @C J@FC A2CE?6C[ >2<6 :E 92C56C E@ DA6?5] s6=6E6 D9@AA:?8 2AAD 7C@> J@FC A9@?6 2?5 4C65:E 42C5D 7C@> J@FC 5:8:E2= H2==6E] s@?’E D2G6 42C5 ?F>36CD @?=:?6] (96? J@F 766= E96 FC86 E@ 3FJ D@>6E9:?8[ E2<:?8 E96 6IEC2 E:>6 E@ 7:?5 J@FC 4C65:E 42C5 :? 2?@E96C C@@> 2?5 >2?F2==J 6?E6C:?8 E96 ?F>36C H:== 8:G6 J@F ;FDE 6?@F89 E:>6 E@ C64@?D:56C]k^Am
kAm“|2<6 :E D=:89E=J :?4@?G6?:6?E E@ 3FJ :>AF=D:G6=J[” !286 D2JD] “|2<6 :E 62DJ 2?5 2FE@>2E65 E@ 5@ E96 C:89E E9:?8D]”k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\>@C6\7C@>\?6C5H2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0>@C607C@>0?6C5H2==6EQmkAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6Ek^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^?6HD^C6DE2FC2?E\DFC492C86D\492?8:?8\>2E9\7@C\4C65:E\42C5\C6H2C5DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaQ E:E=6lQ#6DE2FC2?E $FC492C86D pC6 r92?8:?8 E96 |2E9 7@C rC65:E r2C5 #6H2C5DQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qm#6DE2FC2?E $FC492C86D pC6 r92?8:?8 E96 |2E9 7@C rC65:E r2C5 #6H2C5Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^=62C?^@G6CH96=>65\563E\7:?2?4:2=\E96C2A:DE\E:ADnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaQ E:E=6lQ~G6CH96=>65 3J s63En t2D6 x?E@ 2 !=2? (:E9 %96D6 tIA6CE %:ADQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qm~G6CH96=>65 3J s63En t2D6 x?E@ 2 !=2? (:E9 %96D6 tIA6CE %:ADk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^4C65:E\42C5D^=62C?^9@H\4C65:E\42C5\4@>A2?:6D\FD6\2CE:7:4:2=\:?E6==:86?46nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`gecafaQ E:E=6lQpx r2? !=2? 2 %C:A] (@F=5 *@F {6?5 xE *@FC rC65:E r2C5 E@ q@@< xEnQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmpx r2? !=2? 2 %C:A] (@F=5 *@F {6?5 xE *@FC rC65:E r2C5 E@ q@@< xEnk^2mk^=:mk^F=mk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HAQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@I \ (!Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@I0HAQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HA\\:??6CQmk2D:56 :E6>D4@A6lQQ :E6>AC@AlQ2FE9@CQ :E6>EJA6lQ9EEAi^^D496>2]@C8^!6CD@?Q 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@IQmkAm$2C2 #2E9?6C HC:E6D 7@C }6C5(2==6E] t>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iDC2E9?6Co?6C5H2==6E]4@>QmDC2E9?6Co?6C5H2==6E]4@>k^2m]k^Amk^2D:56mk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kA 4=2DDlQ?H\@C:8:?2==J\A@DE65\=:?<Qm%96 2CE:4=6 %H@ !6@A=6[ |2?J rC65:E r2C5Di w@H r@FA=6D r2? |2?286 rC65:E %@86E96C @C:8:?2==J 2AA62C65 @? }6C5(2==6E]k^Am