The Federal Reserve board has made it tougher for stay-at-home spouses to get their own credit cards.

If I go into Macy's and want to get a store credit card, so I can get 20% off a big purchase, I CAN'T DO IT. You know why? Because the Federal Reserve board says I have to get an okay from my husband who makes the lion share of the money around here. I need my husband permission to spend OUR money? Really? How old am I?

From Ann Carrns in the New York Times: 

All this struck a nerve with me recently, because of a problem that arose with an account I hold with my husband. A few years back, he got a new credit card so he could rack up frequent-flier miles. Even though I was working full time and had my own set of plastic, he got a “companion” card for me, so we could pool our spending and earn miles faster. I’ve used it often, without thinking much about it.

Until last week, that is. I had a question about a statement fee and called the card company — only to be told that the assistant couldn’t discuss it with me without first obtaining my husband’s permission.

I was speechless. I began supporting myself financially in my early 20s. I have my own credit history and credit score. Yet, I was being told that I couldn’t be taken seriously without a say so from a man (albeit, one of whom I’m exceedingly fond). It felt like a scene from the “Mad Men” era.

When I insisted, the representative partly addressed my question, but said a full review would require spousal approval. For me, the incident provided a good laugh and an anecdote for a blog post. But for an at-home mom in, say, a deteriorating or possibly even abusive relationship, it could be devastating. Forcing such women to piggyback on a husband’s account means that she is still subject, to an uncomfortable degree, to his oversight — which strikes me as an unhealthy step backwards on the long, hard-fought road to gender equality.

This is utterly bullshit. My husband's salary is our joint property. It's joint property as soon as that check is cut on Friday. This credit card law not only puts me on par with my children in this house, it also robs me of control over my own money.