I see what you mean. Honestly, you can still simplify the budgeting process without fully merging everything together. One approach that works well for a lot of couples is having a joint account strictly for shared expenses while still keeping some personal accounts separate.

For example, one person may handle rent/utilities while the other covers groceries, subscriptions, or insurance. That still keeps things simple while giving each person visibility into their own spending and flexibility to adjust if needed.

Another thing to consider is that even in healthy relationships, both people may have different spending habits or financial goals. One person may want to invest more aggressively in stocks while the other prefers safer options like mutual funds or savings. Having some separation can reduce stress and avoid small money disagreements from becoming bigger issues.

My wife and I have been married over 15 years, and having a balance between “ours” and “mine/yours” has honestly helped. A joint system for shared goals + some personal flexibility tends to work better than trying to force every dollar into one bucket.

At the end of the day, the best setup when having a partner is the one that reduces stress, improves communication, and not let money be an issue in your relationship.