should i charge my partner rent?

tammms

hi all ..

i need some help ... I'm in some credit card debt, not very much just sitting around 11,000. My goal this year to have it paid off as my girlfriend and i are recently engaged. i've been doing some lump sum settlements with collection agents, which has worked out on my part, paying off half amounts .. anyhow, my girlfriend (fiance) recently moved in with me. I rent a 3 bedroom house for 1200 a month, i also have two roommates, roommate A pays 550 inclus, roomate B pays 575 inclu. I pay 75 for rent and bills, once my girlfriend (fiance) moved in we are splitting the bills and our portion ($75) for rent. our bills are somewhat lower ... 65 each for gay, and about 60 - 80 for hyrdo every 2 months.

My friends and Mother have asked me why i am not charging her rent? at first thought, i was defensive with them, why would i do such a thing but i've had some time to sit and think about the whole thing.
I'm struggling with my debts and expensive from month to month. She is workiing full-time and not paying like she did when she was living on her own.
Also with being recently engaged, we talk about our future all the time, me returning to school, getting married, kids ... but the deal is, i am out of debt before we get married. My shoulders feel alittle heavy.

Money is such a make or break in many situations.

any help would be appreciated.

euronorris

Why are your roommates paying significantly more than you?

Shouldn't the rent be split equally 3 ways and the other bills split 4 ways so that your gf (and everyone else) is contributing equally?

brian_723

Why are your house mates paying so much more than you, seems unfair ,are you allowed to sublet by the way .I certainly would not be doing what your house mates are doing .It would be right to charge her if you where paying your fair share also .

viktory

tammms wrote: »

i need some help ... I'm in some credit card debt, not very much just sitting around 11,000.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Not very much!!!

tammms wrote: »

65 each for gay, and about 60 - 80 for hyrdo every 2 months.

????????????? Anyone know what this means?

Plans_all_plans

To the posters querying about room-mates, I ask why shouldn't he charge them more? Assuming you're allowed to sublet, then youre not responsible for them and if they weren't happy with the price, they'd go elsewhere. I think that's a red herring myself.

Regarding your fiance: given that she's said you have to be out of debt before you marry, then I think it's only fair she contributes as that will bring your shared goal of marrying closer. Maybe split your portion of the rent with her 50/50 and a 50/50 split of bills. I think that seems fair.

ETA: I certainly wouldn't advocate you charging her in the region of what your roommates are paying and I think if you tried it she'd tell you to clear off, but I'd look for her to pay 50/50 of your portion of rent and bills.

emsywoo123

viktory wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Not very much!!!



????????????? Anyone know what this means?

I am guessing gay is gas and hydro is water?.............

G51shopaholic

If I was one of your flatmates i wouldn't be too happy about you moving in your fiancee.

She should pay her way - and that means splitting the rent between the 4 of you, not just her paying half YOUR share of the rent.
She still gets to use all the facilities of the house but doesn't have to pay for it.

Did you discuss her moving in with your flatemates or did you just do it?

What financlal mess would you be in if they decided to move out cause she'd moved in and isn't paying her way.

All the household bills should be split 4 ways ie water, gas, electricity, council tax.
You need to sit down with your flatmates and discuss a fair split of the rent as you as your fiancee share a bedroom.

You need to ask yourself - what if one of your flatmates moved their boyfriend/girlfriend in and didn't pay any extra - I'm sure you'd not be happy.

Be honest with your fiancee about the situation and the need for her to pay her way.

HappyMJ

emsywoo123 wrote: »

I am guessing gay is gas and hydro is water?.............

Hydro is electricity in Scotland. http://www.hydro.co.uk/

Susan_Frost

What does it matter what arrangement he has with the other people, presumably they are ok with gf moving in or they would have said something before now. My son once shared with 2 others, and paid less than them because he had the "box room" bedroom - people tend to sort themselves out.

I think it would be ok for your gf to help with your share of the rent. But I would not put it to her as "charging her rent" but more like "sharing the rent".

fawd1

Seriously???? SERIOUSLY????? OK, so I completely understand you sharing your bills 50/50, but are you actually saying, that when your living costs are around 150 a month, you want to charge your fiance substantially more? So you really want to use your fiance to pay off your credit card debt. What a great way to start your life together, maybe if she has a car that you get in, she can charge you a fare.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

when I had a wee babe staying with me years ago, (long term, not a floossie) in the flat, before I moved to the estate, I never took a penny from her, not a button.

She would sometimes buy a bit of food and make a nice wee veggie meal of her choice, which I also enjoyed

I was just happy to have her with me, so things were fine.

Money is not everything,.