Joint email account for you and your partner! Creating a joint email account for my husband and I was one of the best things we did to manage all of the household and parenting things. Whether you’re recently married, expecting your first child, just bought a house together or you’ve been together for a long time and are just looking for a better system to put in place, consider a joint email account! It’s been extremely helpful for managing all of the household and parenting things. Here’s why.
When and why we decided to create a joint email account
Several years ago when Jeff and I were first married we each had our specific bills that we were paying for and accounts that we managed. It makes sense. When you first get married you each have accounts, bills, maybe even credits cards that you have managed as a single adult and you bring to your marriage. Still we each managed the pieces that we were the original owners of — most of those are connected to an email account and you manage the incoming messages and notifications, online payments, etc.
It wasn’t until we were pregnant with our first child that I had the idea to create a joint email account.
We were setting up daycare visits (the first thing you should do if you’re expecting and will need care!) and all of the communication was coming to my email address or to Jeff’s email address, depending on who was setting up that particular visit. Sure, we tried to remember to “cc” each other on emails and talked about when the visits were and any other information that came up, but it felt complicated. So I asked myself how to uncomplicate it and I had a lightbulb moment to create a joint email account.
We went to google to create a joint email account, found a straightforward name that suited both of us, and we got started. Once we created the joint email account, it seemed like there were so many ways to use it that kept popping up and now I can’t imagine not having it!
What we use the joint email account for
There are a few categories of things that we primarily use the joint email account for.
Kid stuff!
Daycare — The source of inspiration! We use the joint email account to receive any communication from the daycare and send messages back and forth with the Director.
Activities — We recently signed Hayes up for ballet class. Everything for that goes to this email.
Medical – Our medical system is connected to this email so we both see when the girls have an appointment, if there is a message from our provider, etc.
Financial
Bills — Any household utility bills, like our energy and water come to this joint email address. As well as our credit card statements and bills.
Bank accounts — The setup and notifications of our joint bank accounts all go to this email address.
Budget app — We are signed up for Everydollar app and that is hooked up to this email.
Advisors — We work with a couple of financial advisors and all of the communication goes through this joint email account.
Consumer accounts — we have recently started adding our accounts for companies that we buy from for family items to this account. Our Amazon account, Instacart, LMNT, and Athletic Greens all go to this account.
Misc.
Travel — When we book a vacation the hotel, Airbnb, car rental, etc. information all goes to our joint email account.
Restaurant apps with rewards — We use our joint email account for restaurants that have rewards that we frequent often as a family like Chipotle and Chick-Fil-A apps. That way we can both access it to collect and redeem rewards.
Family newsletters – we subscribe to KzooKids, which is a family newsletter with kid activities and tips in our area.
Calendar
This has been HUGE for us and if you’re interested I’ll write an individual post about how we manage this and how to layer your joint email account overtop of your personal email account so you can see all activity in one view. But remember! A joint email account also means that you have joint calendar account by default and there is even more opportunity for clarity when you use that together.
How the joint email account helps
Visibility + awareness — Sometimes there is only a spot for one email, but you both need to see the information and have awareness. Having a joint email address helps to avoid constant email forwarding and/or “cc”ing to keep each other in the loop.
Password reset and/or two-step verification for accounts — a lot of accounts are requiring two-step verification nowadays and while it can feel like a pain in the moment, the benefits outweigh the costs. But have you ever needed to do two-step verification for an account and not had access to the email?! I have had that happen a few times at work and it’s pain. This makes sure we both have access when something like that comes up.
Less default parenting — I’m the primary person to manage most of the kid-related activities in our house and Jeff is the primary person to manage our financial accounts. We communicate often on both so no one is left in the dark, but it’s nice to have one person own it. Kid-related activities are less straightforward than managing finances, they don’t necessarily happen on my schedule, and Jeff is an involved father. So sharing this email account (and calendar) helps us maintain better communication and divide and conquer things that come up for the kids or otherwise.
Couple email address ideas
So! What is your email address going to be? We decided to use something straightforward, but I regret how long it is. I leaned so hard into it being straightforward that I forgot I have to type it in, write it down, and say it out loud to people all the time when I use it. My advice is to find a balance between straightforward and short. If you want to get cutesy, go for it! But if you’re going to be using this for the things I mentioned above, just remember you’ll be emailing your financial advisor and daycare director with this email 🙂
Tell me, do you have a joint email account or will you be making one?
I love this joint email address hack because it’s a free tool to try! If you’re even the slightest bit interested, give it a try and let me know what you think.