%20(1).jpg)
Savings Accounts
July 28, 2026
Money is one of the leading causes of conflict among couples. While many disagreements appear to be about spending, they often stem from a lack of structure on how finances are managed. Questions such as who settled the electricity bill? or why am I contributing more? can slowly create resentment, especially for young couples still adjusting to married life.
For this edition, Money254 covers the story of Wellington and Faith, a young couple who have been married for nine months. Wellington is a media practitioner earning a net salary of Ksh80,000, while Faith is a teacher at a private high school in Westlands with a net income of Ksh60,000. The two live in Kinoo and commute to Westlands every day for work. They explain how adopting the 90/5/5 budgeting system helped eliminate money-related disagreements while giving each of them financial independence.
Also Read: I Was About to Buy a Plot in Isinya; Then I Realised It Wouldn't Help Me Escape Rent
Here is their story.
When we got married, we assumed managing money would be one of the easiest parts of marriage. We were both employed, earning a combined net income of Ksh140,000 every month, and we believed that as long as we shared responsibilities fairly, everything would work itself out.
The reality turned out to be different.
During the first few months of marriage, we didn't have a clear system for handling our finances. Sometimes I paid the rent while my wife bought groceries. Other times she settled the internet bill while I handled household shopping or transport. We were both contributing, but because nothing was structured, we often found ourselves trying to remember who had paid for what.
The disagreements were never about expensive purchases. They were usually about small, everyday expenses that neither of us kept track of.
At the end of the month, one of us would feel like we had spent more than the other. We were not arguing because either of us was irresponsible. We simply lacked a system that gave us clarity.
After talking about it several times, we agreed that we wanted to stop thinking of money as "my salary" and "your salary." We wanted to manage it as household income.
After 4 months into our marriage, that is when we adopted the 90/5/5 budgeting system. In this system, 90% of combined take-home income goes strictly toward shared essentials, fixed bills and goals. With the remaining 10% split between the couples (5% and 5%) for their personal use.
I earn Ksh80,000 net every month, while my wife earns Ksh60,000. Together, that gives us a monthly household income of Ksh140,000.
Every month, we transfer 90% of our combined income, Ksh126,000, into a joint account. The remaining 10% is split equally, meaning each of us keeps Ksh7,000 in our personal account.
That Ksh7,000 belongs entirely to the individual. If I want to buy football tickets, meet friends, or purchase something for myself, I use my allocation. If my wife wants to go to the salon, buy clothes, or have lunch with her friends, she uses hers. We don't question those purchases because we already agreed on that amount.
Everything else comes from the joint account.
Also Read: How I Save for My Kids’ Ksh50K Fees Every Term Without Taking Loans
The first expense is our Ksh18,000 rent for our one-bedroom apartment in Kinoo. We chose the location because it offers relatively affordable rent while making it easy for both of us to commute to Westlands.
Transport is another major expense. Since we both work in Westlands, we budget Ksh12,000 every month for commuting and this covers for fluctuations of fare prices. Normally, we pay Ksh between Ksh100 to Ksh120 per trip per person)
Our monthly grocery and food shopping budget is Ksh20,000, while household items such as detergents, toiletries, cooking gas and other essentials take another Ksh10,000.
Electricity, water and internet consume approximately Ksh8,000 every month.
One thing we agreed on from the beginning was that we wanted our marriage to build wealth, not just pay bills. Because of that, we automatically transfer Ksh30,000 every month into a Money Market Fund. That money is specifically meant for our long-term goal of buying land and eventually building our own home. So far the account has over Ksh150,000.
We also budget Ksh12,000 every month for shared experiences. Sometimes we go out for dinner, take a short road trip or simply enjoy a weekend together. We realised that budgeting for enjoyment prevents us from overspending because the money has already been planned for.
After meeting all those expenses, we usually remain with Ksh16,000 in the joint account. After which, we set a side Ksh6,000, which is split and sent to out parents back at home.
The remaining amount, Ksh10,000 minus the transaction fees, then acts as our emergency fund for the month. If unused at the end of the month, we usually transfer it to our MMF account.
Also Read: 65/15/20 vs 50/30/20 Budgeting Formula: Which Is Suitable for Your Salary?
Looking back, the biggest benefit of this system wasn't the percentages.
It was the conversations.
Today, we no longer argue about who paid for groceries or whose turn it is to settle a bill. We already know where every shilling is supposed to go before the month begins.
Ironically, the Ksh7,000 we each keep for ourselves has created more financial freedom than when we were trying to split every expense. We don't feel guilty spending our personal money, and we don't feel the need to explain every purchase.
The 90/5/5 rule may not work for every couple, but for us, it shifted our mindset from keeping score to building a future together.
.png){kind=small}
Join 1.5M Kenyans using Money254 to find better loans, savings accounts, and money tips today.
Money 254 is a new platform focused on helping you make more out of the money you have. We've created a simple, fast and secure way to find and compare financial products that best match your needs. All of the information shown is from products available at established financial institutions that our team of experts has tirelessly collected.
.jpg)
