How to split Rent costs with Partner

ska_lover

rdchick wrote: »

I earn just over £1000 pcm and my boyfriend earns just over £3000 there is not a cats chance in hell we could 'split it 50/50' as I would be skint! It's definitely got to be in proportion otherwise it's unfair... I pay about a third of my wage and he pays around a third of his and we're pretty happy with that xxx

Who is paying the other third of your rent then?

See i am for the 50/50 camp - I think your boyfriend is paying for your life choices, which I think is unfair. It is not his fault that you earn significantly less and he has worked hard for a decent career but all that gets him, is being seen as a meal ticket by you, so you can have extra personal spending money. I think any other way than 50/50 would build up resentment and is not a good foundation for a relationship. I wouldn't stand for it, being the lower earner or the higher earner. Its a matter of principle and I wouldnt want my OH to see me as an expense, a ball and chain and an advantage taker.

mumonashoestring

When I first moved in with DH he earned half as much as me. We worked out what we earned between us, how much we needed per month to cover rent, bills and food, and agreed on the amounts that we would both need to contribute to our 'household' account to pay our way. It worked out as me paying in more but we both had roughly the same amount of 'play' money left to us so neither of us was skint and miserable, and we had what we wanted: our life together.

7 years on our wages had come to more of a level, and after the birth of our first child we have again worked out how much money we have, and decided we can just about afford for me to not return to work at thr end of my maternity leave. He's earning, I'm looking after the little'un (including all night feeds and early starts!) and doing all I can to keep our outgoings to a minimum by shopping smart etc.

choccybuttons

I would rent my own place if I were the higher earner on solely my name. I would then let my bf/gf (lower earner) live with me for a fix rate, leaving that person enough to live on. If you want to help the lower earner out you could use some of his bill money to pay off his debts each month - I did that with my bf.

This way the flat is yours until a time when you are willing to pool finances.

Riversong

We split the bills equally now i am back at work after maternity leave.

Although when i was on mat leave i paid less to him, he now holds it against me, claiming i contributed nothing and he supported us on his own, so i am a firm believer in 50/50 all the way.

psychopathbabble

I pay £400 and my OH pays the rest.... totalling about 1100. He earns more than me too.

katie1812

Me and my fianc! have bought our first house together. He brings home about £2000 a month and me aout £800-£900. We class the koney we earn as each others, so as a couple we bring home just under £3000 a month and things get paid from that. Looking at it, we pay for things proportionately. Which yes I hate, I wish I earned more and in years to come I will but starting at the bottom, gaining experience before I go into the career I want. Also though, he works more hours than I do so I spend more time 'looking after' the house, that's satisfaction not payment lol.
But it works for us and as mentioned by others later on in life, things will become 50/50.

Mojisola

Riversong wrote: »

We split the bills equally now i am back at work after maternity leave.

Although when i was on mat leave i paid less to him, he now holds it against me, claiming i contributed nothing and he supported us on his own, so i am a firm believer in 50/50 all the way.

Bill him for the hours of child care you provided! If you'd been working, someone would have had to care for your child.

Taadaa

I currently split the bills 50/50 with DH. We have separate accounts, he transfers his half into my account, which is where all the bills come from. Until recently I earned marginally more than him, but med/long term I expect to be earning far more than him. At which point, I will probably pay most of the bills - the essentials, like mortgage and utilities, and he can make a nominal contribution to Sky etc - the things I would get shot off tbh!

In the scenario given by the OP, I would suggest splitting the essentials, or both paying a %age of their wages into a joint account, so it remains proportionate. Its fine to say that the lower earner should pay their way, but the higher earner is going to get fed up with the other half never having the money to do anything fun.

Taadaa

Riversong wrote: »

We split the bills equally now i am back at work after maternity leave.

Although when i was on mat leave i paid less to him, he now holds it against me, claiming i contributed nothing and he supported us on his own, so i am a firm believer in 50/50 all the way.

What a bloomin' cheek - being pregnant, giving birth and looking after a child is nothing? He wouldn't be saying that if he had to do it! I think that if men had to get pregnant and give birth, we wouldn't have had the population explosion we have seen :rotfl:

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

If you're squabbling about it, the rent goes this way:

100% to one person.

And the other pays 100% somewhere else.