Comments on: How Do Independent Couples Divide Up Expenses? http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/ Saving, Earning, and Investing Money Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:58:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alex http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-351780 Alex Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:49:38 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-351780 I'm a believer that the one who earns the most has to pay the most. I find this to be fair mostly when the incomes are really different. let me give you an example: in a couple, A makes 300 and B makes 700. Let's say the total expenses are $500. In a 50-50 situation. A and B would have to pay $250 each. So A would end up with $50 and B would end up with $450. This is not fair if you consider that it's not their fault that their salaries are that low, and still they contribute the same as it takes the same effort for both of them the earn the money. I’m a believer that the one who earns the most has to pay the most. I find this to be fair mostly when the incomes are really different. let me give you an example: in a couple, A makes 300 and B makes 700. Let’s say the total expenses are $500. In a 50-50 situation. A and B would have to pay $250 each. So A would end up with $50 and B would end up with $450. This is not fair if you consider that it’s not their fault that their salaries are that low, and still they contribute the same as it takes the same effort for both of them the earn the money.

]]> By: Lynnie http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-176424 Lynnie Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:19:44 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-176424 Love how you make sweeping generalizations about women, J. Martineau. LOL! I am the *only* breadwinner in this household. My partner makes zero money, but is at the second interview stage of getting one. Even if he gets the job, he'll be bringing in about 16% of the household income. So yeah. I'd like to figure out a good, fair way to divide expenses. That's why I'm reading this thread. I think having him contribute 16% of the expenses is a fair way to go. Love how you make sweeping generalizations about women, J. Martineau. LOL!

I am the *only* breadwinner in this household. My partner makes zero money, but is at the second interview stage of getting one. Even if he gets the job, he’ll be bringing in about 16% of the household income.

So yeah. I’d like to figure out a good, fair way to divide expenses. That’s why I’m reading this thread.

I think having him contribute 16% of the expenses is a fair way to go.

]]> By: J. Martineau http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-175338 J. Martineau Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:12:33 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-175338 It is funny to see the women's thoughts: they always go for their men's income: he should pay more. They should earn more, and yes I'll just do without these supposedly women who think that guys are all stupid and will pay all the time. A prostitute is cheaper. It is funny to see the women’s thoughts: they always go for their men’s income: he should pay more. They should earn more, and yes I’ll just do without these supposedly women who think that guys are all stupid and will pay all the time. A prostitute is cheaper.

]]> By: a tour through my blogroll: G to L : plonkee money http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-19255 a tour through my blogroll: G to L : plonkee money Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:50:44 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-19255 [...] how do independent couples divide up expenses - I’d probably do what lazy posted here, although I’ve always wondered whether I’d feel the same way if the other party earned significantly more or less [...] [...] how do independent couples divide up expenses – I’d probably do what lazy posted here, although I’ve always wondered whether I’d feel the same way if the other party earned significantly more or less [...]

]]> By: Jean Chatzky Recommends Lazy Man and Money http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6938 Jean Chatzky Recommends Lazy Man and Money Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:58:04 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-6938 [...] that to the method outlined here last October, How Do Independent Couples Divide Up Expenses?. Specifically, “I came up the idea using each of contributions of our total net income to [...] [...] that to the method outlined here last October, How Do Independent Couples Divide Up Expenses?. Specifically, “I came up the idea using each of contributions of our total net income to [...]

]]> By: moneymonk http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-237 moneymonk Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:31:43 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-237 I agree with Frugal Frugalson , I pay the mortgage and my spouse pays for all other expenses ie water, cable, gas etc By me being the breadwinner I just took on the highest bill which was the mortgage. I agree with Frugal Frugalson , I pay the mortgage and my spouse pays for all other expenses ie water, cable, gas etc

By me being the breadwinner I just took on the highest bill which was the mortgage.

]]> By: Carnival of Personal Finance #71 - Fat Pitch Financials http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Carnival of Personal Finance #71 - Fat Pitch Financials Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:32:05 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-125 [...] How Do Independent Couples Divide Up Expenses? at Lazy Man and Money A look at how couples split their expenses. Surprisingly, I’ve never spent much time on this issue. It seems to come naturally for me and my wife even before we married. [...] [...] How Do Independent Couples Divide Up Expenses? at Lazy Man and Money A look at how couples split their expenses. Surprisingly, I’ve never spent much time on this issue. It seems to come naturally for me and my wife even before we married. [...]

]]> By: lazymanandmoney http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-94 lazymanandmoney Fri, 20 Oct 2006 01:17:15 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-94 I think that's the plan. It's good to know that it's working out for you. And while I'm here, Who says <a xhref="http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/19/random-thoughts-on-wealthy-pf-bloggers/" rel="nofollow">there aren't any wealthy PF Bloggers</a>? Miserly Bastard seems be doing okay. I think that’s the plan. It’s good to know that it’s working out for you.

And while I’m here, Who says there aren’t any wealthy PF Bloggers? Miserly Bastard seems be doing okay.

]]> By: Jen http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Jen Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:12:32 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-93 He makes slightly more than I do - maybe 30% more - and we split it in proportion to how much we bring in. So, he covers 30% more of the bills. It works for us. We both still get spending money - he just gets 30% more than I do. He makes slightly more than I do – maybe 30% more – and we split it in proportion to how much we bring in. So, he covers 30% more of the bills. It works for us. We both still get spending money – he just gets 30% more than I do.

]]> By: MiserlyBastard http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-78 MiserlyBastard Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:52:08 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-78 Im an attorney, and my wife works at a hedge fund. Im an attorney, and my wife works at a hedge fund.

]]> By: MiserlyBastard http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-75 MiserlyBastard Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:11:37 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-75 Im in the same boat as you, except that we're married. The bottom line is that marriage is a financial partnership, and accordingly Im a strong believer in a 50-50 split on all things financial. If you want the jet ski or she wants the purses, discuss it and work toward mutually shared financial goals. I dont think that spending should be pro-rated based on earning power (and I dont say that just because my wife makes 10x what I do; we had this arrangement back before she hit the bigtime.) Im in the same boat as you, except that we’re married. The bottom line is that marriage is a financial partnership, and accordingly Im a strong believer in a 50-50 split on all things financial. If you want the jet ski or she wants the purses, discuss it and work toward mutually shared financial goals. I dont think that spending should be pro-rated based on earning power (and I dont say that just because my wife makes 10x what I do; we had this arrangement back before she hit the bigtime.)

]]> By: lazymanandmoney http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-77 lazymanandmoney Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:34:20 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-77 I think once we are married we will go 50-50 as well. The thing is that I moved across the country for her job and acquired extra expenses in the process. Because we haven't completed the merger (as they might say on Survivor), we haven't yet put our financial goals on paper as I would like. She's also not the type to really plan things out long term. She makes all the good short term moves, but she doesn't have a plan of where she wanted to be in 5 years, 10 years, etc. as I do. And, of course, now I'm curious as to what you and your wife do :-). I think once we are married we will go 50-50 as well. The thing is that I moved across the country for her job and acquired extra expenses in the process. Because we haven’t completed the merger (as they might say on Survivor), we haven’t yet put our financial goals on paper as I would like.

She’s also not the type to really plan things out long term. She makes all the good short term moves, but she doesn’t have a plan of where she wanted to be in 5 years, 10 years, etc. as I do.

And, of course, now I’m curious as to what you and your wife do :-).

]]> By: lazymanandmoney http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-63 lazymanandmoney Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:20:28 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-63 Good point GeckoGirl. It's actually something like 10 decimal points, I just saved you the details :-) We do our expenses via a spreadsheet and have done so since we moved in. The split was 50-50 at the time and it was built into the system. It took me less than two minutes to integrate the exact math. I think the decimal point is just force of habit. We might very well just do the split of someone pays the mortgage and someone pays everything else. The really odd thing is that I have never balanced my checkbook and I can't find my way around Quicken, but for some reason the spreadsheet works for me. Good point GeckoGirl. It’s actually something like 10 decimal points, I just saved you the details :-)

We do our expenses via a spreadsheet and have done so since we moved in. The split was 50-50 at the time and it was built into the system. It took me less than two minutes to integrate the exact math. I think the decimal point is just force of habit. We might very well just do the split of someone pays the mortgage and someone pays everything else.

The really odd thing is that I have never balanced my checkbook and I can’t find my way around Quicken, but for some reason the spreadsheet works for me.

]]> By: GeckoGirl http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-62 GeckoGirl Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:51:40 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-62 While the concept is fair, I think calculating it out to one decimal point is a bit nitpicky for people who presumably love each other, intend to marry and see their relationship as a partnership. My hubby makes more money than me and I have student loans to pay off whereas he doesn't. Based on those two things, we agreed he would shoulder more of the financial load. That said, we didn't calculate anything. We just agreed that he will pay the mortgage and I will pay any other bills. While the concept is fair, I think calculating it out to one decimal point is a bit nitpicky for people who presumably love each other, intend to marry and see their relationship as a partnership. My hubby makes more money than me and I have student loans to pay off whereas he doesn’t. Based on those two things, we agreed he would shoulder more of the financial load. That said, we didn’t calculate anything. We just agreed that he will pay the mortgage and I will pay any other bills.

]]> By: Frugal Frugalson http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Frugal Frugalson Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:24:44 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/2006/10/16/how-do-independent-couples-divide-up-expenses-2/#comment-61 My wife and I also ended up splitting expenses based on our income, since it seemed like the fair way to do it. To make things easier, I paid the mortgage and she paid the other monthly bills. Of course, none of that matters now since we are a one income family these days. :) My wife and I also ended up splitting expenses based on our income, since it seemed like the fair way to do it. To make things easier, I paid the mortgage and she paid the other monthly bills. Of course, none of that matters now since we are a one income family these days. :)

]]>