Monday, August 18, 2008

Money Sharing

If a man is married, and let's say he wins some money playing the lottery or something, is he obligated, morally, ethically, legally to share or split the winnings with his wife?

I am sure most of you that read this site just thought to yourself, "Well, hell yeah he should split it." except for a select few who may be thinking the "I broke even." rule could take effect here.

And if you answered the above question with a yes, does the wife have the same obligation to the husband if she won some money at Bunco night?

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Geez.... let a girl keep her stinkin' $35, wouldya?

Patience said...

The rule is this. Whatever the man has belongs equally to the woman. So he would of course split any winnings. However, whatever the woman has does not necessarily belong to the woman. Only if she decides to be oh so generous should he receive any of it. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

Patience said...

Oops. I meant to say whatever the woman has doesn't necessarily belong to the man

Mindie said...

I think if the man wins money, he keeps it. If the woman wins money, she keeps it. Sharing only applies to the money you work for.

Anonymous said...

When the man wins, he gives all the money to his wife, as a gift. Because to win the money, he was probably doing something the wife doesn't really like him doing anyway -- lottery, ponies, whatnot.

When the woman wins, she keeps all the money, because she probably won it while out doing something (e.g., Bunco) which provides a service to the family, namely, providing enough of a break/stress-reliever to keep her from harming and/or running away from the family.

To recap: Husband's winnings go to wife; wife's winnings stay with wife.

:)

Anonymous said...

I think there is a limit to the amount of money won that has to be shared. Like anything over $250 should be shared but anything under it can be kept. So that covers Lauren's BUNCO winning and if you were to win any position money with fantasy. Although if you bring home the whole pot in fantasy, you should at least take Lauren out to dinner for putting up with your obsession for 4 months!

So Lauren enjoy your winnings but I'm gunning for you in November!

The Maid said...

For better or worse, for richer for poorer...

By the way, when I said that to the Butler...I was lying.

Oh, and Bunco is gossip with dice. So we who attend really don't consider it winning...it is more like bribery to keep the secrets. LOL

The Maid

Anonymous said...

Excellent question. I think it depends on the source of the winnings. My work bonus is mine, although I often use it to catch up on bills. My husbands work bonus is his, although he often does the same. Our tax return we plan equally. Game winnings...belong to the winner.

Anonymous said...

oh William...trying to be so slick and all with your story...you ain't gettin' half the money...give up the quest...however if you win some, you MUST share it.

yep...that's the way of the world!

Anonymous said...

If it's $250 or more it needs to be split.

If the other women at bunco don't blab then bunco money should never be spit. It's bragging rights w/ bunco anyway and never REAL money..right ... just say right..shhhhh

Rachel said...

Well if she would have won the lottery then that should be split with you.

But if you were to win at poker ... that doesn't need to be split with her ... therefore her winning at bunco doesn't need to be split with you!

Bogart said...

Most states require an even split of assets at the time of seperation.

Until that point, you just need to do what you relationship tells you.

In your case, I am guessing that the old adadge "What's his is her's and what is her's is her's" applies here.

Mandajuice said...

My husband and I share a strict financial understanding: what's his is mine and what's mine is mine.

Anonymous said...

I know a funny comment when I see one.

"Lottery, Ponies, whatnot." That is funny.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised people even know what Bunco is. I thought it was fake!

Effie said...

depends on the pot, but, really, she bore (and will bear) your children--I think she deserves more than that...

(I like Susie's answer)


What's Bunco?

Carrie said...

well, I do the banking in our house, so it all comes to me regardless.

I guess some times it DOES pay to be the one doing the bills.

Anonymous said...

Simple mathmatics. Which is cheaper, giving her half the money or paying for divorce court?

Seriously, give the girl her reward. She's got to live you and that's worth something, right?

Ali said...

Don't be badmouthing our Bunco winnings, buddy.

April said...

Ooooh. This is a toughie. I have been known to share my bunco winnings with the husband, but only in desperation and it wasn't handed over to him willingly. I complained a whole lot and reminded him over and over I sacrificed a mani pedi so he could eat lunch that week. But if I win big money, like $300 when I took his grandma to bingo, then yes I share it with him. Which means I pay off a bill that we have acquired together. Ha!! But I don't ask him to spilt the fantasy league winnings with me. And those are usually a lot bigger than the bunco winnings.

Anonymous said...

My husband would say,'At Fat Lip's School of Charm, we learned to keep our noses out of the wife's money.
You are asking 'fer trouble, Buddy.'

Anonymous said...

"What's his is hers and what's hers is hers." This is how America thinks?
In this house, we share everything.

I'm glad I live in NYC. Maybe we can apply for membership to the EU.

David Cole said...

Dice money, whether craps or bunco, belongs to the winner and requires no sharing. The important thing is that these ill-gotten gains must be squandered on something impractical.

Anonymous said...

Dude, I think this is one of those times you may have to suck it up.

Let the woman keep her money.

And know that any money that falls into YOUR lap must be quickly tossed into hers.

Just the price you pay for a happy woman. After all, you'll never match the gift she gave you.

You know, bearing your children and all.

Wink.

Jody said...

$35? You can win money at Bunco? What is Bunco?

Maybe she should go buy lottery tickets with the money... The whatever is won is split (just what would you do with 50 cents?) and if nothing is won then you're both sittin' at ZERO.

Unknown said...

What's his is yours, what's yours is yours. Period.

Shonda Little said...

Redneck Momma is right. Bearing the children does warrant rewards.

James (SeattleDad) said...

If I won the lottery, I would split it happily...because I would have won the frickin lottery. Nuff said.

eclectic said...

Bunco?? Well, whatever Bunco is, if the amount of any windfall is $100 or less, the "winner" gets to choose whether to share or not.

(But if she's using the money to buy something for herself to look or feel prettier, I'd say even if she spends it all, you're the ultimate beneficiary..., so let a girl keep her stinkin' $35, wouldya?!)

JP said...

Render to Lauren what is Lauren's and God what is God's. It's totally biblical Dude... =)

Jared said...

I would never be lucky enough to win the lottery...so it doesn't apply to me. :D

Practically Joe said...

My wife just showed me a check she got for selling her gold pieces she never uses. I immediately asked … “Your gold? Why wasn’t that our gold and our check?” She took me out for dinner.