There are lots of ways for married people to share money.

If you think marriage means two people must put every penny into a joint checking account, well, you’re probably still dusting and vacuming to burn calories June Cleaver-style. So take off your apron a minute while we tell you about this decade. There’s hip-grinding workout music and even couples who employ modern day money strategies, helping them to fight less about finances – leaving more time for hip-grinding.

Basically, many people don’t feel the love when it comes to sharing money the old fashioned way. And they’ve either modified those methods or tossed them out entirely. Of course there still are those crazy couples who say joint checking accounts keep them sane. But read on because stealing their ideas could make your relationship richer.

THE COUPLE: Lorraine, 27, a property manager, and Joseph, 32, IT consultant

THEIR STRATEGY : A joint account for household expenses and seperate checking accounts for personal purchases.

For this couple, buying a home and filling it with children brought them closer — financially anyway. Though they maintained their individual personal bank accounts since taking their vows, it was the leap into family life that prompted them to start sharing expenses. Now, the two have a joint account to cover the costs of all household purchases — from home-improvements to diapers.

But the buck stops there. Even though Joseph’s income is higher, they allot themselves an equal monthly allowance that’s tucked into each of their individual accounts. That money funds hobbies, such as a gym membership for Lorraine and electronic gadgets for Joseph.

WHY IT WORKS: They’re both empowered financially, says Erik S. Sherman, an investment advisor at John Hancock Financial Network.

THE DOWNSIDE: As long as they agree to cut back if necessary, says Sherman, ”I don’t see one.”

THE COUPLE : David 39, CPA, and Yuladys, 33 both accountants

ACCOUNT STRATEGY : One joint bank account – that’s it.

This savvy pair of accountants is accustomed to itemizing dollar amounts. But when it comes to money in their marriage, they comingle every penny. Since tying the knot in 2003, the two have had both joint checking and savings accounts — and even share the real estate David owned before they met.

Sure, David earns more money heading up the accounting firm that also employs his wife. But Yulaeys takes on more of the child care responsibilities for their two young daughters. What’s more, she does most of the household bill-paying.

”We coordinate on an on-going basis about our finances,” David says. ”We plan for the future together. So there are fewer surprises.”

WHY IT WORKS: A centralized system makes it easy to track spending and saving, Sherman says.

DOWNSIDE : Spending habits change over time, he says, and hopefully they’ll grow together.

THE COUPLE : Howie, 52, entrepreneur, and Fran, 46, psychologist,

STRATGEY : Completely seperate accounts

When this pair married, both partners were blissful about merging their lives and not their checking accounts. Frances had one marriage behind her and both had accumulated assets over the 35-plus years before they met.

”We actually never thought of doing it differently,” says Frances.

Today, each of their paychecks will head directly to its earner’s bank account. And for household expenses, Goodsite and Berman will finance a favored domain. He pays for cars, car insurance, restaurant dinners and the kids’ after-school sports. She buys the health insurance, weekly groceries and the new washer that just arrived.

For smaller expenses such as the electric and cable bills, they did eventually open a joint account and contribute evenly.

”We never argue over anything,” Goodsite says. ”We pay for certain things as a choice.”

WHY IT WORKS : ”They’re happy,” Sherman says.

DOWNSIDE : It’s impossible to get a handle on total household expenses, he says, which makes it hard to budget and plan.