Shirley might have had something going on or were they simply friendly business partners?

Sometimes Reuben seems a little more than the manager, but then again, he doesn't.

Was it remotely possible that Reuben Kincaid was probably embezzling? Well, if a presumably successful musical act like the Partridge family's finances actually “added up”, then why did live in a rather small suburban home? Shirley, the mother drove them to concerts in an old school bus, and they didn’t seem to enjoy the trappings of success (Keith had a car, Lori didn’t, for example).

Furthermore, despite her family being a group successful enough to appear on television and in concerts around the United States, Shirley Partridge employed neither household help to offset the time that would be needed for the children to practice, go to school, or simply rest. Nor did she appear to have a tutor for her children, as their going to school and performing on the road would have been nearly impossible in reality. So if they weren’t making enough to hire those people, why did they keep performing?