Chixe

Well I've never had to share bills with my gf, but it only makes sense that if you too are making the same amount of money, that you should split everything 50-50.

Out of curiosity, why do you think he should pay for groceries?

Well, just a thought, cause groceries usually don't cost much. I just see no need for us to split everything like that. I don't know, I think I still have a lot to learn about how to share life with another person.

Check out ErinR's note Should Living Expenses Be Split Down the Middle?, it's very similar to your question.

It doesn't seem fair to split the rent 50-50 then have him buy all the groceries.

Have you ever bought groceries before? Just for the two of us we usually spend $130-150 per trip. Granted we eat actual food and not ramen, but still. I don't consider that pocket change.

Also consider the fact that you'll have utilities, cable, cellular, and other bills to take care of too.

I suggest you really evaluate the expenses involved before you even embark on this.

I think all bills and expenses should be split 50-50, equally.

Groceries can end up costing more than you will ever realize. And, there will be other bills, such as utilities, etc., to consider.

I asked this question just a little while ago... you might want to check it out and see what people had to say there, too. Good luck with working it all out!

We're married but the way Simon and me have worked from the start is by pooling all money and then paying for things out of that - this happened even before married. I've earnt more than him mainly but personally I find this not an issue - we're in it together. There are non money ways of contributing - Simon cooks and I don't for instance.

I would suggest splitting everything 50/50. It'll put things on an equal playing field and your relationship might be all the better for it! :)

Whoops, didn't see jensized! Sorry

I would say generally 50-50. Take turns with the groceries. But don't get hung up on little things, cause it'll even out in the end.

As everyone else is saying, groceries can cost quite a bit. I usually spend about $200 everytime I go and that's not even for a whole months worth.

Straight down the middle. It will save arguments, and it's just plain fair. Good luck :)

Harry

Well, if you are making him pay for the groceries, you should pay something that costs an equal amount.

We split expenses 50/50, and because of this, we never argue about money. It makes things so much more peaceful around the house.

split down the middle, definitely.

How are you going to value the "other" stuff?

If you do the washing up is that worth one or two rounds with the vacuum cleaner?

Personally I think you have to look at it holistically and decide on how you are going to exist together. I guess it comes down to the kind of relationship you have with each other and what you value.

My wife would happily drive around in a real rust bucket, I would prefer not to. I could survive on beans on toast, my wife will not.

I earn nearly three times what my wife earns and yet I consider that she works a hell of a lot harder than me. In fact I seriously need to start doing more to help out!

As far as the money goes we lump it all together and do what we do.

If we ever split up I guess we'd just unravel things at that point. There's very little in material terms that I'd be bothered about and I wouldn't let the future possibility of losing that change the way I live my life today. Stuff is just stuff.

I'd be more bothered about sharing the respect and trust equally than the groceries or the utility bills. They should just fall into place.

Be happy.

Splitting your expenses 50-50 is the fairest way. Groceries can be a tough one. Taking turns in paying is a good idea, or doing a big shop once a week/fortnight and splitting it. Obviously there will be plenty of times when you both just have to pick up a few things on the way home, but providing you're both doing it, it all equals out in the end.

A few couples I know have set up a joint bank account which acts as a household kitty you both have access too. Just figure out a rough amount for all your your joint expenses including food and household stuff. Each month you both put in the amount and as the bills come in and the food runs out you can both happily pay for things knowing you're paying from your joint fund. Although, I'd suggest you wait atleast 6 months after you move in together to set something like that up :)

My girlfriend and I have a joint account which we use to pay for any shared expenses, and we always transfer equal amounts from our personal accounts into the joint account once a month (or as needed). The only shared things we don't split are things which one of us wants in particular, but the other one uses also (so, for example, I end up paying for most of our computer games, but we both play them).

In this modern world of equality and so on, if you don't pay your share of the ordinary expenses, then you might have to pay him back some other way!

Edit: What I'm getting at is, why should you pay less? Is this to suggest that men need to pay more because they are somehow superior/inferior? Or perhaps you're going to do more housework than him?

I can't even begin to describe how much of a strain it can become on the relationship when one feels the other isn't contributing equally monetarily, if the other has the ability to do so.

Maybe you could take turns buying groceries. Sometimes splitting 50-50 is not always convenient so I would just split all the bills.