Starling Bank Joint Account: The Stress-Free Way to Manage Money as a Couple

💰 How We Manage Our Shared Money—Without the Stress

Money can be the #1 cause of stress in relationships—who’s paying for what, tracking bills, sending “you owe me” texts… it adds up.

When my husband and I moved in together, we wanted a simple way to split bills, track spending, and save together—without constantly discussing money. That’s when we tried Starling’s Joint Account—and honestly, we haven’t looked back.

Here’s what makes it work. 👇

💡 How Starling Makes Managing Money Easier

Unlike a traditional joint account, Starling adds smart tech features that make managing money together automatic, transparent, and effortless.

✅ Instant notifications – See every spend, in real time
✅ Spending Insights – Find out where your money actually goes
✅ “Spaces” for budgeting – Set aside money for bills, date nights, or holidays
✅ Round-ups – Save small amounts automatically
✅ Fee-free spending abroad – Perfect for couples who travel
✅ Fast & easy sign-up – 100% online, no paperwork

💡 What We Use It For:
✔ Paying bills & subscriptions automatically from one shared account
✔ Grocery shopping & eating out—without worrying about who’s paid what
✔ Saving for big things together (we even had a wedding savings Space!)
✔ Full transparency—no surprises when one of us spends

This is the perfect balance of joint finances & independence—we split what we need but still keep our own accounts for personal spending.

📊 The Best Features:

🔹 1. Spending Insights: Know Exactly Where Your Money Goes

Ever wondered how much you actually spend on takeaways? Or whether that £9 “free trial” is still charging you? Starling’s Spending Insights breaks it down for you.

✔ Track spending by category (Groceries, Holidays, Eating Out, etc.)
✔ See who spends more (👀 no judgment, just data!)
✔ Get notified of bill payments so you never miss one

💡 We used this to spot sneaky subscriptions & stop wasting money!

🔹 2. Bills Manager: No More “Who’s Paying for What?” Confusion

Forget splitting bills manually—Starling lets you set aside money for rent, utilities, and subscriptions in a separate Space.

✔ Pays bills automatically on the right date
✔ Keeps your “spending money” separate from “bill money”
✔ Helps avoid surprises or running short at the end of the month

💡 We set up a “Household Bills” Space—every month, our share of bills and subscriptions gets tucked away automatically. It’s a stress-free way to manage recurring expenses.

🔹 3. Spaces: Save for Shared Goals (Without Merging All Your Money)

A joint account doesn’t mean you have to combine all your finances—Starling’s Spaces let you create mini “pots” for different goals.

✔ Holiday Fund – We set money aside each month for future trips
✔ Emergency Fund – Just in case something unexpected happens
✔ Fun Fund – For date nights, spontaneous plans, or guilty pleasures

💡 Spaces helped us plan for our honeymoon, guilt-free!

❌ The Downsides:

🚨 Not as feature-packed as Monzo – If you love budgeting challenges & bill-splitting features, Monzo might have an edge.
🚨 Both partners need a Starling account – You can’t just open a joint account directly.
🚨 App layout isn’t the most intuitive – Even after a year, I still find myself searching for certain features.

But overall? The pros far outweigh the cons.

💬 So, Is Starling’s Joint Account Worth It?

✅ If you want to stop money fights & easily track shared expenses—YES.
✅ If you want an app-based bank with modern features—YES.
✅ If you travel a lot or spend abroad—YES.
❌ If you want deep budgeting tools, Monzo might be better.

💡 Final Verdict: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

✔ Best for: Couples & housemates who want to manage money without stress.
❌ Not for: People who prefer traditional banks or want budgeting challenges.