[allknowingfrog]

In my mind, having a separate bank account is no different from being a physically separate human being. The taller partner will be the one who grabs more things off of high shelves. The partner with a higher salary will pay more of the bills. I don't think it's fair to characterize this arrangement as a lack of commitment.

However, my wife and I do not particularly struggle financially, in part because we do not yet have children. We both have careers and steady incomes, so our individual spending habits are not a major source of conflict. We expect to have a joint account when we become parents. This would be especially important if one of us stopped working.