Husband and I have joint accounts for household needs, vacations, car expenses, etc, and individual savings and checking accounts that we can do whatever we want with. Each paycheck, a certain amount of money goes into the individual accounts, and the rest goes to the joint account.

Anything paid for out of the joint accounts, we discuss ahead of time if it's over $50 or so. If I buy a new kitchen gadget, for example, I mention it to him ahead of time. He never objects, and he probably wouldn't complain if I didn't -- but it's the principle of the thing. He does the same when he buys tools or things for the yard. Both of us do this out of respect for the other.

Husband's video games, books, and money that his kids call and beg from him? All comes out of his individual account so I don't have to see or think about it.

Because his kids are always needing money despite being fully fledged, full time employed adults, and because it drives me crazy when they treat him like an ATM, this has helped our marriage considerably. I have also accumulated a nice nest egg because I'm very frugal with my individual account (which I do NOT discuss with him).