ABSTRACT
Whatever the nature of their previous relationship, when two people decide to start living together as a couple, many of the decisions they face will have economic consequences. In the first place, they may decide to cohabit rather than get married, and this may have legal implications for property ownership and inheritance. They will need somewhere to live, but should they rent a house or flat, live with parents, or embark on home ownership? (See pp. 71-72.) Having set up home together, they will then have to decide how the necessary chores will get done, and by whom. How should they organise their finances? Is it better to pool their incomes or to keep them separate? Will one person take responsibility for managing the accounts and making sure that bills are paid on time, or will they share this task between them? If they do not already have a child, then other decisions will follow, such as whether to have any children, when to start their family, and when to stop. The children will need to be looked after. In practice this responsibility is typically shouldered by the woman, who either gives up work altogether or moves to parttime working. However, in some cases, couples may decide that both can continue to work with the help of a child-minder or nanny.
