If you depend on ATMs for cash, or plastic for everyday expenses, what do you do when the electricity is non-functioning? Maybe it's because of growing up (and still living in) a hurricane-tornado-tropical storms area, but I always expect to *need* to be able to make purchases even if there is no electricity for several weeks. Thus, I always keep enough cash on hand to function without plastic for a month... but I also keep in mind that light fingers are a reality in life, so that money is [like a stash], well-hidden but easily available should it be needed. Sara - the only way I can see the homeowner's fault in being burglarized is if s/he left the door wide open and the valuables in plain sight! OTOH, I try to look at "plain sight" from the burglar's viewpoint, which means purses/wallets, jewelry in or out of its box, and cash should never ever be left on top of a table or chest; or in the freezer; or in any easily opened drawer (or a locked one if it can be jimmied); or taped behind pictures or tucked into books, especially new-looking ones; and should not be tucked in, on, or under any kind of clothing, food storage container, or cushion/mattress - I've never understood why folks think there is some sort of magical protection in the sock or lingerie drawer, but an amazing number of people *do* keep spare cash with their socks. And I think leaving the door key easily available [under a doormat or flowerpot or hide-key stone] is just the same as leaving the door wide open. I've lived in apartments, and was burglarized once; the thief did not find my jewelry or emergency money although they were within easy reach of anyone who knew where to look.

Noodlesportland asks, why on my own account? Well it is not to teach him anything. I really just have in mind his being able to access cash and maybe pay some bills by check should there be some sort of emergency or situation in which his parents are not able to do so. The possiblity of that is probably remote, but it just seems wise to be prepared. Let's say, my husband and I were in a horrendous car accident and hospitalized and the car totalled. My son would need transportation for his daily life (and to come visit his parents!). I would trust him to buy a used car if need be and to pay cash for it. Big expense. Smaller needs for cash come to mind, too. Our closest relatives are far away and we would have to rely on local friends in such an emergency, but I think it might be easier for everybody if he would have access to checks and cash. I have already given him a credit card on my account and he has been spotlessly responsible about that for over a year. He's got a good head on his shoulders and he knows pretty much everything about our finances-- where the dollars come from, how & when bills are paid, where records are, and so on. We have always been forthcoming about and explicative of money matters, so he is well grounded. Still, if anyone has any cautions, I'm interested to hear.

Stargazzer, let me clarify my explanation as I think we may be discussing two different things. "Step up basis" is not 'a state thing'. It is the IRS definition regarding estate taxes. Yes, there are many ways to deed property. But not all of them are tax-advantaged to the beneficiary. Being ignorant of these consequences can be financially painful. Now, admittedly the OP's SO is probably at a low risk for dying from this surgery! But my point was that this couple has been together for a lengthy period of time already, yet has not made a real effort to consider what MIGHT happen on that future date when something goes very wrong. Because....eventually something will. We all die, and not at the same time; that's a fact of life that is inevitable. No matter what state you live in, or how much your total and/or separate assets are, if you want your assets to go to someone else, it behooves you to find out what is the best way to pass your assets on, with the least amount of hassle and the least cost to the survivor. Loving someone, but leaving behind a legal/financial mess - or even worse, accidentally disinheriting them - is not a kind bequest to anyone. What is the point in leaving someone 50% of the house, for example, if they can't pay the taxes due upon death because the legalities ignored the tax consequences of the original joint decision? For the majority of people, setting up their legal and financial affairs properly takes very little real time, once they stop procrastinating, LOL. There are ways for SOs to leave their various assets to one another without need to resort to a Revocable Trust, for instance. And there is absolutely no time like the present for the OP to begin getting started! These are things (wills, durable healthcare POA, financial POA) that one should do BEFORE something bad happens, because you never know when Life/Chance/Luck may decide to take that freedom of choice away from you.

You're right, it is an authorization Cynic, however, the store where I worked had the funds in its account three days after the sale date. Actually, how it works is the funds are deposited into a credit account with the fuel distributor. Say we sold $100 in gasoline on Monday. On Thursday that money would be deposited directly into the store's account with the vendor who supplied the fuel. If we had $200 in fuel delivered on Friday we would then owe the vendor $100. Techinically I suppose you could say the business didn't directly get first $100, however, if a store is selling very much fuel they are constantly getting deliveries. We had three or four deliveries a week so really the business was getting its payments rather quickly. Perhaps for a small store, where fuel sales are slower, getting payment for credit/debit purchases might be a problem but that wasn't the case for us. Of course, non-branded stores obviously have different arrangements. If there's no big fuel company sign out front then they probably have to pay for their fuel upon delivery. When we went pre-pay it was very difficult on our clerks as it was a small town and the "regulars" were very upset. Fact is we'd had dozens of drive offs to the tune of about $150 a day. The owners blamed the clerks for not paying attention but really, it wasn't the clerks' fault. It's virtually impossible for one clerk to keep an eye on 7 pumps all the while waiting on impatient customers. What the regulars failed to see was that "they" were the ones doing the drive-offs. Eventually everyone settled down but those first few weeks were brutal. And just a note to everyone, please treat convenience store clerks decently. The price of gas is not their fault. They have families. They have problems. And they probably aren't being paid anywhere close to a living wage. Cut them some slack. Most of them are probably stuck in a job they hate working for ungrateful employers. Be kind.