Splitting house running costs fairly

pstones578

I'm on £25000 and my partner is on £15000. Just wondering if anyone is in a similar situation money-wise and how do you split the costs of running a house? Does the higher earner pay a fixed higher percentage on everything or do you just play it by ear?

margaretclare

We do it pro rata - there are 2 of us, both retired, but he gets more money than me so he pays a higher proportion of living expenses. We have a joint account used for household expenses i.e. council tax, gas, electricity, water, phone, Tv licence etc, we both transfer money into this account. He also pays for all food, petrol, car insurance etc from a different account.

Aunty Margaret

Mumstheword

We've never had his and hers money or bank accounts, everything goes into the same pot, everything comes out of that. These days, with me being at home full time, he is income manager, and I'm outgoings manager!

Counting_Pennies_2

We worked out the percentage difference between the two of us and split everything.

I put in 30% to the mortgage account and bills account. After that the remaining money for both of us was up to us to spend as we wanted.

penrith

Mumstheword wrote:

These days, with me being at home full time, he is income manager, and I'm outgoings manager!

Very similar here except he earns it, I spend it

Sorry, not much help to the OP

maggie1976

DH has always earned way more than me (more than double at present) and we're soon to go down to one wage as we're expecting our first baby in December.

We have one 'pot' for our money and everything goes out of that. If I do the shopping online or pop into the supermarket to do it, I pay but if we go together at the weekend then DH pays. Whoever has the money in their account at the time is the one who shells out for whatever we have decided we want.

We have a savings account in my name but that's simply because I had it when I met DH (not much in it then ) and we've kept it that way as I pay the lower rate of tax and he pays the higher rate.

If I am short of money for a car repair (for example) then we transfer cash from DH's account to mine. I tend to pay for birthday presents as DH is useless at remembering to do that!

If we go out for dinner or to the cinema, then DH usually pays but if I have cash and he doesn't and we want to get some lunch while out shopping, then I'll pay. No fixed rules really, just what has worked for us for the last 6.5 years.

When we move house (August), and I go on maternity leave (September), I will obviously be relying 100% on DH's money. We have drawn up a budget and I will be the money manager as I will have more time on my hands. I've been the household administrator/DH's PA for many years, sorting out the best deals on car insurance, internet and phone access etc, and I'm sure that'll continue!

I hope you find a way of sorting this that works for you

jenpoptab

We pay all of our money into 2 joint accounts, 1 for bills the other for food, luxuries etc, then we direct debit £40 pocket money per week to our own accounts from the bill Account, my hubby earns twice what I do but he thought it fair that I got the same as him as my jobs pay rubbish money even though I only work 6 hours less a week than he does & I also stay at home with kids of a day.

mrsdee

hi there
I earn £50K plus, and my husband earns very little and he has to pay some of that to ex-wife for children. So I actually pay for everything related to household stuff mortgage, bills, holidays etc. It is fine though - he works hard on our house and also does all the housework, food shopping, washing etc. If you know you are a couple it doesnt matter who earns what - it is all joint stuff and you support each other. The only problem would be of course if one of you was a spender and the other not.... We talk about what needs doing/buying and then make a decision jointly. We are both reasonably cautious so it works out fine. ]
Just talk about it and be open and trust eachother.