Quote Originally Posted by chet1028 View Post
Hang in there. You seem like you have a good grasp on everything and will be fine. I hope that you get to a point where you feel you can discuss this with your partner. My wife and I have always considered our incomes and expenses as combined. I have always made more than her but it doesn't matter. We put the income together and pay the bills. We rarely fight over money issues. Communication is vital to a strong relationship. Good luck.
Some days I have a better grasp than others, haha.

That's great to hear about you and your wife, and I'm really reassured to hear that you have a perspective from the other side. As someone who makes less in a relationship, it's difficult to ask someone else for money, you know? I know I make less, and I know he makes more because he has a very stressful job. He always tells me that he works hard for 'us', but it still doesn't stop that moment of worry where it's like: "Am I asking for too much?" It's a silly thought, I know. But the last thing I want to come across like is a gold digger, or some girl looking for a sugar daddy

Do you two have a shared bank account, or an account where you can both have access to each bank account?

It's a topic I've been toying with lately, if it might make things easier.

But I know that we both like to have some 'fun money' for ourselves, so I'm not sure quite how to go about it

Our relationship has reached a point where that type of discussion wouldn't be a surprise. Dating for over two and a half years, living together for quite some time and talking about getting engaged/married and long-term plans. If that helps shine some light on our position