After eight years with my partner and three years of marriage, we've never merged our finances, and it's been the best decision for us. We split shared expenses proportionally, but each of us has total autonomy over our personal spending and savings—no arguments about purchases or surprise debts. Yet I know couples who swear by joint accounts, saying it builds trust and forces transparency. Is separate money in marriage a sign of lack of commitment or a practical safeguard for individuality?