Do You Make Joint Gadget Purchases?

April 19, 2008

The pain of a breakup is already a lot to take, and when you add the separation of home technology, well, it's just the image of a broken home that breaks my heart. Though there wasn't too much to lament in the big breakup of Heidi and Spencer, in the latest episodes of The Hills, there's a reference to the separation of their gadgets. Who can forget that sad, surgically-enhanced pout Heidi made when she and Spencer fought over who bought the 42-inch TV and who bought the 50?

Well, here's to hoping your co-habitating home is happier than the Montag-Pratt condo — and this makes me wonder, do you, as a couple, go in on tech purchases together? My boyfriend and I are talking about buying a new flat screen together, and I gotta tell you, it feels like a pretty big step! Have you taken the plunge?

32 Comments

itsme3683 4 years

My boyfriend and I recently bought a little point-and-shoot camera for our upcoming vacation with the change jar savings we had, and when I told my friends they freaked out! "If you break up it's going to turn into a divorce!" Jeez, it's not like it's a freakin' puppy... I figure, I'm going to use it more, and most of the money in the jar was mine anyways, so if we break up, I'm taking it, and he can just deal ;) That said, it would be different if it were a flatscreen or something really big.

cmorgan321 5 years

That depends heavily on the tech being purchased

rymo 5 years

I'm currently single, so I'm used to buying gadgets for myself. The only time I could see buying joint gadgets useful is when purchasing cellphones.

fussnfeathers 5 years

I'm single now, but when I was in a relationship, all "unneccesary" or "fun" purchases were made by one or the other of us, I was the computer techie, so I built her a computer that would last a few years, but with her money. Likewise, I never used her money, or the "household" money for my purchases, they were seperate. I think that every couple should have a "fun" money account for each person, and if something is too expensive for that amount saved, it's probably not worth it. That said, if a couple wants to buy something relatively expensive, like a flat panel TV, there needs to be an option to buy out the other half.

Pistil 5 years

We haven't been together long enough to make any major purchases, but we're planning on maybe buying a wii together :)

darlene 5 years

No, we make our own purchases.

snarkypants 5 years

my bf and i just bought a garmin together. we are planning a lot of road trips this summer, and i get lost all the time, so it was a good idea. one of us can buy it off of the other one at any time though.

Ryot 5 years

When my husband and I were first dating, we had a long serious talk about buying a PS2 together. Who would keep the console and who would keep the games if we broke up, who was putting it on their credit card and who was giving the other cash for it, etc. That was our first major purchase together, and I think by the time the next one rolled around we were engaged, so it became much less of an issue. We split rent for a couple of months when we first moved in together as well, but then got a joint checking account right before the wedding. Now that we've been married for five years, we discuss all purchases over $50 or so, and get opinions from each other even on the "personal" stuff like computers and mp3 players. We're both major geeks so when we're putting together a new computer for one of us, that person gets the final say in what parts go into the computer. But because we're both major geeks, we both have opinions on what *should* go in. ;) The home theater system is one area he's let me have complete control over, beyond discussions of what kind of TV he wanted. I picked out all the parts (including the TV) and all the cables, and wired the whole thing myself, but it was a “joint” purchase.

amvbob 5 years

We don't make huge purchases together, like he bought his own computer and I bought my own TV. BUT, we like to combine moneys to make fun purchases, like we both pitched in on the Wii and we both bought Nintendo DSs so we could play them together.

clareberrys 5 years

We are the exact same as you FinnLover and I like it that way....we bought a TV together

CoconutPie 5 years

Since the beginning, it's always been like "my money, his money, it's all our money". Doesn't matter who earns more, we go according to what we have and what we need.

bengalspice 5 years

I don't live with my boyfriend, but one of the reasons why is because I can't afford to help him pay for his toys. For now, he and his roommate/friend buy all their toys together.

LadyP 5 years

Excuse me, it should have read "Married for four years..."

LadyP 5 years

Of course! Married for for years, you're bound to make some big purchases together, considering our money is in the same account.

Jude C 5 years

I would never tell him what to buy, nor would he tell me what to buy. But I must say that I was totally behind him getting an iPod Touch, since our cellphone contracts won't be up for more than year and therefore we can't get iPhones ;)

tdamji 5 years

everything we have is "ours".

Madamesoybean 5 years

Big items, yes. Little tech things like pods and lappys....we buy seperately. It's lik ebying a personal item such as knickers or magazines or day planner. Gadgets MINE!

dolceproserpine 5 years

My husband and I have always made our purchases together. It doesn't matter the size or the cost of the item, we always consult each other before a purchase.

supermommie 5 years

I have in the past. Once the nimrod lost the camera and by the time he replaced it (with a super expensive one) we had broken up. Another time I ended up 1 tv and 2 dvd players broker. Never again.

skilledatlife4 5 years

I probably would if I were living with someone. for the larger things, like, well, TVs. but i would have my own iPod and other small things.

Performita 5 years

The main mistake people are making when in relationship or marriage, they think they are one person. Realising that we are two individuals with our own dreams, wishes, taste and desires, and that when we are together we are happy - will help to stay healthy and strong in any situation during the happy times or even breakup... If we keep on believing that we are ONE, that we have to do everything together that can lead us to many disappointments and pain

Schmange 5 years

I make "joint" purchases.. but that's a different story :)

natali3nguyen 5 years

i don't live with my boyfriend, but i think if we did i would just ask his opinion, but i would be the one to make the decision

leeluvfashion 5 years

I wouldn't by joint products. It can make a break-up messy and I don't like to share!lol.

MandyJoBo 5 years

We do, but that's because we've been together nine years and I don't work. :p I ultimately have the final decision about everything except computer guts because I don't know (or care) anything about that. I do the research to find the best items like T.V.'s and he gives his input.

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32 Comments