We, not I. Us, not me. Marriage is a union, so it entails adjustments on shared lifestyle and mutual decisions on important matters such as finances.
Money is among the top causes of misunderstandings, so couples are advised to settle it and set the agreements even before the wedding.
These celebrity couples can show us a thing or two about budgeting the household income.
These are the frequently-asked (and avoided) questions and how these showbiz personalities address them.
HOW MUCH DOES HUSBAND OR WIFE EARN?
Some couples choose not to know the earnings of their respective spouses.
In a previous interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Judy Ann Santos said, “…Hindi ko ugali tanungin kung anong income niya,” referring to her husband Ryan Agoncillo.
She continued, “Ganun din siya sa akin. As long as he provides for the family…”
Same thing with Solenn Heussaff, who said “Wala akong pake” about her husband Nico Bolzico’s income.
Though the Argentinean businessman has an idea how much his wife earns, he is clueless about the money Solenn saves from her multifarious activities as Kapuso actress, designer, and painter.
HOW TO BUDGET FOR MONTHLY EXPENSES?
Whether or not the couple chooses to tell each other their individual income, the important thing, according to Juday (Judy Ann’s nickname), is to set aside “monthly allowance for the whole household.”
Richard Poon and Maricar Reyes use an “envelope” for each of their monthly bills.
In their YouTube vlog, the crooner elaborated, “Let's say PHP14,000 ang suweldo mo.
"Kapag nakuha mo yung suweldo mo, kinsenas, maglagay ka na sa envelope.
"If there’s a loan or mortgage to be paid, separate the amount for that."
He reminded, "Do not forget to have an envelope for the 'buwis.' Mayroon rin akong tinatabing envelope for tax.
"Kapag nakuha mo yoong PHP14,000 mo or kinsenas mo, PHP7,000, ang mangyayari, five percent, i-times mo.
"Ilan yun? PHP350. Iyang PHP350, ilagay mo na iyan sa tax."
WHO SHOULD HANDLE THE MONEY?
In the case of Yasmien Kurdi and husband Rey Soldevilla, they both agreed she alone will handle their monthly expenses.
She told PEP.ph, “Nasa akin po talaga yung budget ng house.”
Rey turns over his income to Yasmien, but they don’t have a fixed amount.
Yasmien said, “Pagdating sa mag-asawa, ang importante diyan ay hindi madamot sa isa’t isa.
"Once na nag-asawa kayo, ang pera ng isa ay pera rin ng isa. Dapat ay hindi kayo nagiging madamot sa isa’t isa.
"Kung ano yung kinikita ko ngayon, kinikita niya. Kung ano yung kinikita niya, pera ko rin yun. We’re as one.”
The same goes for Neri Naig, who maintains a fixed amount for all the gastusin sa bahay.
In her August-2108 interview with PEP.ph, she revealed, “Twenty thousand pesos, lahat iyon."
That's the amount her family needs to maintain a modest life in Alfonso, Cavite.
She continued, “Kasi namamalengke ako, e, magkano lang naman ang gulay sa probinsya?
"Parang naba-budget ko siya kasi PHP3,000 saganang-sagana ka na in a week. Sobra na iyon, di ba?”
Neri added, "Every month iyon, pero siyempre, iba yung sahod ng mga staff namin, parang gano’n.”
On the other hand, Bianca Gonzalez lets her husband JC Intal take charge because “he’s more magaling at it than me.”
IS THERE A NEED FOR JOINT ACOUNT?
Solenn and Nico deposit in their joint account the fixed amount they have set for their monthly household expenses.
She said, "May joint account na every month, same yung amount na nilalagay namin.
"So pag kailangan kong magbayad ng bills for the house or ganun, dun ko kinukuha.
"Basta this amount goes to our joint account, you can do what you want with the rest.
"This saves us from the trouble of having monthly discussion about money.”
Now that they are about to have a baby, the French-Filipina star is thinking of opening another account for her baby girl.
“It’s for the baby's future...” she remarked.
Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes have a joint account for their family’s future apart from their individual bank accounts.
The Kapuso Prime-Time Queen said, "May sarili siya, may sarili ako…"
Their eldest daughter Zia has her own bank account, too.
Marian said, "Nag e-endorse na, e, so si Zia may sariling bank account, and lahat ng kinikita niya, pasok sa bank account niya.
"Pag 18 years old niya, 'Anak, eto yung kinita mo, bahala ka kung anong gusto mong gawin diyan.'"
ON PERSONAL EXPENSES and luho, must you tell your spouse?
Judy Ann said, “Whatever he wants to buy for himself, he can buy it. Ayoko nang nagpipigil ng mga tao.
"As a wife, I will support him with whatever that would make him happy.
“Ganun din naman siya sa akin. As long as hindi nagla-lapse yung monthly responsibilities, okey lang.”
Solenn and Nico are cavalier about it. She said, "Pag travel ko, sa bank account ko, pag travel niya, sa bank account niya.
"I don't have to inform him also about my purchases, and siya rin.
"Although, I'm not really the maluho type. I actually have very basic needs, even in fashion. Hindi ako yung always branded clothes.
"Siguro bulk of my personal expenses, sa travels. But I know my budget.
"I guess this set-up works because we pretty much have the same lifestyle. We also do not eat out often.
"Kumbaga, wala yung mga surprising expenses na, 'Saan galing yun?'"
Yasmien and Rey’s setup is based on trust.
The actress said, “Kahit ilan ang kunin ko sa kanya, hindi naman iyan kinukuwestiyon ng asawa ko.
"Kahit magkano ang kunin ko sa kanya, kahit kunin ko ang buong pera niya, hindi yun question dahil pera ko rin yun.
“Ngayon, kahit kunin pa niya ang buong ari-arian ko, buong pera ko, okay lang sa akin, dahil asawa ko siya, e.
"Kahit anong meron ang asawa mo, sa iyo din yun. Kung anong meron ka, kanya rin yun.
"Sa akin ang ari-arian niya, sa akin siya buung-buo, at ako rin, sa kanya buung-buo.
“Dapat hindi tayo nagbibilangan. Kung sino man ang meron, e, di siya ang magbigay.
“Pero we don’t count… kunyari, malaki ang kinita ko, malaki ang kinita mo, walang ganunan na portion.”
Meanwhile, Marian and Dingdong do keep each other informed about huge purchases.
She previously told PEP.ph, “Sinasabi ko din, respeto lang na parang pinapaalam ko lang.
“Honest kami, example siya, 'Uy, bili ako ng motor. Tignan mo, ganda.' ‘Ay, ganda! Magkano?' 'Ayos, ganda ba?'
"Gano’n kami. Hindi naman yung, 'Uy, nasa bahay na! Ay, may Mercedes na tayo?!' Hindi gano’n.”
Marian also recalled, laughingly, "Parang ako, well, babae naman, 'Dad, o, ganda ng bag.' Sabi ni Dong, 'Magkano ‘yon?'
"Sagot ko naman, 'Eto…' Biro ni Dong, 'Pangit!' Ako, 'Talaga ba?!’”
“Kasi, paano kung meron siyang gustong bilhin para sa sarili niya, meron siyang gustong bilhin para sa sarili ko, and then the other goes to our savings.”
Neri, with all her business ventures, does not feel the need to have an allowance from Chito.
She said, “…ako na bibili. Nahihiya akong maghingi sa kanya, e.”
HOW TO AVOID ARGUING OVER MONEY
Having an agreement is important, according to Solenn, who, as much as possible, avoids money discussion with Nico.
"I don't want to…if you think about it, life in general, not just marriage, but friends, business, pag may away, it’s always financial, it’s always about money."
Marian affirmed, "Sorry ha, nachi-cheapan talaga kami sa money issue."
She volunteered they, too, worry about securing the future of their family.
Marian said, "Parang siguro baka nasasabi ko lang, 'Kasi okay kami, financially, stable kami.'
"Pero, hindi talaga, e… hindi na kami masyadong OA sa gastos. Parang inisip naming future, kailangan makapag-business kami.
"Kailangan makapagbahay kami, kailangan yung dream house namin ganito.
"Kailangan ganito for Zia, future ni Zia, school ni Zia, saan si Zia mag-aaral.
"Kasi, naniniwala din ako sa school. Kung saan niya ipapasok yung anak mo, dun mabubuo yung personalidad niya, e—bahay and school.
"So pag-iipunan namin yun. E, paano yun? Gusto namin maraming anak. Alangan namang yung isa dun sa maganda, yung isa sa gano’n.
"So kailangan i-achieve naman na we work hard para sa kanila, hindi puwedeng bara-bara lang.
"Kasi mataas yung pangarap ko. Sorry, mataas yung pangarap ko sa anak ko, e.”
As Yasmien put it, "Kasi nga, mag-asawa kami, e. Dapat hanggang pagtanda namin, nagtutulungan kami, hanggang retirement namin para mas mapaginhawa ang buhay namin.”