The matter in summary: Some couples, such as Maria Turmo Hatten and Thomas Wahl, are very open about their finances and share all expenses, but have their own savings and share savings accounts. Other couples, such as Vår Eline Brasetvik and Martin Arnesen, discuss all purchases over a thousand kroner and are very open about their finances. Professor Ellen Katrine Nyhus believes it is important that both parties in a relationship are aware of how the money is managed and what risks are taken. Psychologist Eva Truti refers to figures which indicate that approximately half of all couples have completely shared finances, but this is more common among older couples. Younger couples often have their own salary accounts and share joint expenses. Married couples can demand access to most of each other’s finances, except for shares, according to the Marriage Act. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. In the wake of both the Solberg and Huitfeldt cases, it has been hotly debated whether they should have known more about their partner’s spending. But how common is it really to be open about finances in a relationship? A trip to the store? New computer? Car purchase? Or heavy stock investments? Do you discuss finances openly with your partner? Yes, we are very honest with each other No, we don’t talk about finances We talk about it, but it is impossible to know if the partner is hiding something I am single/none of the answers fit me Show result – We are extremely open Parents Maria Turmo Hatten and Thomas Wahl live together in Mosjøen in Nordland. They tell news that all expenses are distributed between them and they pay all bills through a joint account. – We have two cards linked to a credit card limit and all purchases are made with it. Then we get one joint bill per month. But they have their own savings, buffer accounts and their own share savings accounts. – In addition, we have a fund account for the children and godchildren, which both save for, says Maria. Maria doubts that she would have made any investments without talking to Thomas first. Photo: Private – If you were to make a large investment, would you tell each other? – We are extremely open with each other about finances. It would be very strange if we hadn’t told each other about it, replies Maria and adds: – Both know what the other has in terms of money. From time to time we take a step back and look at each other’s finances. Thomas believes it is very important in a relationship, especially if one has more money than the other. – You have to talk to each other like adults and be a little transparent. We contribute to the community we have together. For me it would be very strange to keep things hidden. – Very natural On the opposite side of the country live Vår Eline Brasetvik and Martin Arnesen. They recently moved from Bodø to Lillestrøm, and have started their first “adult job” after being apprentices. The couple have been living together for two and a half years. At first it was difficult for them to discuss finances, but over time they have become very open with each other. – Now we really talk about everything. How much we spend, earn and save. It is very natural as we have common savings targets, says Vår Eline. Our Eline Brasetvik says she and her partner believe it is important to talk openly about the finances in a cohabitation. Photo: Private – How big should a purchase amount be before you mention it to your partner? – As soon as we buy something over a thousand kroner, she answers quickly. – If it approaches NOK 5,000, we discuss it. Is this really necessary? Do we have good enough reasons to buy it? Reading about politicians who spend far larger sums than that without talking to their partner seems frightening, she thinks. – It is absolutely sick to hear. We are talking about so much money that it is completely unrealistic for me that you don’t talk about it. It’s so much money that it must mean something to both of them. Our Eline Brasetvik and Martin Arnesen have been living together for about two and a half years. They talk very openly about finances. Photo: Privat The majority makes decisions together Ellen Katrine Nyhus works as a professor at the Business School in Agder. She studies personal finance and says finances should be discussed relatively openly between the four walls of the home. – There is always a call that people should talk more about money and have more of an overview of all parts of the financial situation and what consequences different ways of adapting have for everyone involved. Also investments. Nyhus emphasizes that both parties should know how the money in the relationship is managed and what risks are taken. Among other things, because there can be a skewed distribution if the relationship breaks down. – For example, there are couples where one party is responsible for the mortgage while the other takes the day-to-day expenses. In the event of a break-up, there could then be a very skewed distribution of assets between the parties. Nyhus says some couples are concerned that they should pay the same amount for joint costs. If one person earns a lot, there will be welfare differences in the household. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news Nyhus says some couples are concerned that they should pay the same amount for joint costs. If one person earns much more than the other, there may be welfare differences in the household. The professor is aware that there is great variation in how much openness and equality there is in different couples. – Some are concerned that you are left with the same amount at your own disposal and therefore contribute differently to joint expenses. Some people lump everything together and use without much discussion. She adds: – In any case, it is important to discuss this because there are a lot of emotions in connection with the distribution of money. – Is it common for partners to hide expensive purchases from cohabitants? – What the majority does is difficult to say. The majority probably make decisions together. Not common with total shared finances Author and psychologist Eva Tryti has extensive experience in couple therapy. She refers to figures from Nordea in 2017 which show that approximately half of all married couples have completely joint finances. – This means that the salary goes into a joint account and that everything is completely transparent. This mainly applies to the elderly, and the numbers are probably about the same today, she says to news. – Younger couples today often have their own salary accounts and some variant of joint expenses that are shared. Although there are fewer young people with completely shared finances, Tryti says that it is also common for them to be relatively transparent. Psychologist Eva Tryti says most people are relatively transparent, despite the fact that more young people have more separate finances than older people. Photo: Privat She also adds that married couples can, through the law, demand access to the vast majority of financial matters, apart from shares. – According to the Marriage Act, you can demand access to your spouse’s tax return and bank and insurance details, and get information from “others who have funds for management”. But the Marriage Act does not give you a right to obtain information about your spouse’s shares directly from the Central Securities Depository (VPS). Therefore, you have to go to the person to possibly gain insight into this, of which the Solberg case is an example. – There are good opportunities to hide it. You have to stand on quite a lot and have a fairly high level of suspicion to ask for insight. She adds: – This is also a very special situation. If Erna had a different type of job, perhaps this would not have been perceived as a betrayal. Perhaps he had never hidden it either.
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How much should you know about your partner’s finances? – news Nordland
