For better or worse, we were married after establishing separate professional careers. (And that was MANY years ago). There were (and are) some good reasons for setting up separate bank accounts and other assets/investments. And we each contribute to joint accounts for the "common" good.....Buying a house and cars, educating our son, setting up long term plans, normal living costs, etc. we do contribute.
Having the separate accounts allows either of us to do what we want so long as it does not cause "other" problems.
FWIW, she is much more conservative than me in terms of "buying things". While I am the person doing most of the long term financial planning, investments, etc. So the spending (of "my" money) is not much of an issue (if you discount her amazement and amusement) SO LONG AS the gear does not spill over into "her areas" (or too much into "common areas"). So we get along fine.....She sometimes says she wishes SHE had the same intense interest in such a "hobby" as I do.
And, on the positive side, when I decide to "downsize" on gear as I have been doing lately, there is a lot of cash flowing back into my own accounts.......About $25,000 over the past 3-4 months, another $13,000 (3 guitars) pending and, before I am done, probably at least $30-40k more on top of that. And, to my delight, all I have sold thus far has been WITHOUT having to resort to eBay and the like.
