Best Way To Split The Bills When Living Together.

[dave50]

My niece is planning to set up home with her boyfriend. He thinks all bills should be split equally, however he earns more than she does. I say the bills should be split pro rata based on their earnings. What do others think?

[aelmpvw]

i think he sounds like a penny pinching so and so . . .

[Prudie]

Ooh dangerous subject that could start ructions. In my opinion I'm with you. Pro rata is the fairest.

[SparklyKid]

Is he going to share the cooking, cleaning, washing clothes etc ? Split the bills equally and also the house chores.

[Peter Pedant]

best way is to get someone else to pay your bills hur hur hur

what do THEY think? and then they do it.
I pay ALL the bills - just is....

the minor payer is likely to be more kissy kissy and mwah mwah because moving out means a great payment hike - - unless of course the move is to someone who will pay everything

[calmck]

Rent, utilities and food split equally. Partners are partners and should be equal in all things. Advise No joint bank account unless just for household costs and each put in the same amount. They should have their own accounts for personal expenses

[Patsy33]

Oh, watch this one!..
Start on the right foot and tell her split pro rata..

[Vagus]

The best way is one which is agreed on by both parties.
Regardless of who earns what, some people want to pay equal shares so they don’t feel beholden to anyone.
If one person feels it’s not fair then they need to sit down and talk about it to reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

[barry1010]

If one is earning more than the other, do they rent/buy what the lower earner can afford or the higher earner?

[CrapAtCryptics]

We always split bills in proportion with our take home wage. Any overtime went towards holidays. Worked well for 36 years.

[bookbinder]

All the facilities in their home are used equally, are they not? Therefore, the simplest thing to do is to split the bills equally. It would surely be a fiddly business to apportion all the bills pro rata. They would soon be fed up of doing the sums.

[david small]

My wife and I operate upon the principle that, what’s hers is hers, and what’s mine is hers. We’ve been together nearly fifty years and no arguing about finances. It helps that I like giving, and she likes taking.

[pat2604]

For 50 years we have had a joint account through thick and thin times and periods of redundancy. We support each other. I have always been the one to deal with finances because I'm better at it. If we want things and can afford them then we get them. I spent too much on clothes and him on tools! When we buy presents the cost doesn't matter. We know our limitations. We don't need accounts of our own but any savings are split between us in equal amounts so that if one of us pegs it, the other has immediate access to a decent amount of dosh cos we don't ever have a large amount in our current joint account.

[Smowball]

Tricky one, but basically it means if split equally then he has far more spare money then her, so what would happen if she wanted something that wasn’t a utility/bill etc??

[Bazile]

Resentment is no good in a relationship .

They need to come to a mutually acceptable agreement to both parties .

One important question here .
How much more does he earn than her .
Are we talking hundreds / thousands ?

[Khandro]

People who don't love one another enough to make the commitment of marriage shouldn't live together as if they are, then the issue doesn't arise

Well you asked.

[naomi24]

Khandro, I know married couples who split bills.

[choux]

I hope your niece is certain, dave.

In my mind "splitting bills" is a portent of "splitting hairs"...

[davebro]

//I say the bills should be split pro rata based on their earnings. What do others think?//

I think you should keep your thoughts to yourself!

[Hopkirk]

If they can't agree between them, there is no hope for this relationship long term.

[pat2604]

Khandro, I see living together with a loved partner as being the same as marriage, but these days marriage isn't an important thing. It's the commitment thats important. We just decided to have a joint account because we were commited not because we were married. But each to their own. I couldn't be bothered with splitting bills, but many do. There are no right or wrong ways. We are married by the way. Back in the days it was very much expected that you wouldn't live together unless you were