Should you have a joint bank account with your spouse?
The issue of money is contentious in many families. Some families choose to keep money in a joint account while saving for a rainy day, while others don’t. Do you and your spouse use a single bank account, joint savings or current account? Do you choose to keep separate bank accounts? Our reporter Cecilia Kapalamula asked people on the streets of Blantyre on their views on the issue.
Joseph Lusiyo: Nancholi
No. It is difficult for couples to have one joint account when it comes to issues of trusting each other. One of them may go and withdraw the money without telling the other. As a result, everyone will withdraw the money anyhow; hence, the couple cannot do anything tangible.
Miriam Osman: Lunzu
No. If they have a joint account, the wife will not be encouraged to work hard because she will think that the money in the account is enough. If she has her own account she will be forced to work hard so that she can deposit some money in the account.
Chrissy Chataika: Ndirande
Yes. The husband and wife are one body, even the Bible can testify this. They have to do everything together. If the couple is spiritual, no one can get the money without the knowledge of the other. They can do some developments together.
Bernard Anderson: Ndirande
No.  It’s not good to have a joint account with your wife because women, in most cases misuse the money. They will think that the account belongs to them and will want to assist all of their relatives.
You just realise that there is no money. To avoid this, everyone should have their own bank accounts so that they can withdraw the way they want. In addition, if disagreements arise in the family, in most cases the woman would want to get a lot of money.
