5 Tips for Splitting Bills With Your Partner For A Happier Relationship

In any romantic relationship, there will come a time when you have to discuss finances with your partner. This can be a touchy subject for many couples, but it is important to have an honest conversation about money to avoid any future problems.

How To Talk With Your Partner About Splitting Bills

If you’re in a relationship, chances are you’ve had to have the money talk at some point. How do you and your partner split bills? Do you go 50/50? Does one person cover all the bills, and the other person pays them back?

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to splitting bills with your partner. It depends on what works for you and your relationship. However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to make sure that splitting bills don’t cause any arguments or financial stress in your relationship.

Be Transparent

A new study has found that couples who are transparent about their finances are more likely to stay together. The study, which researchers at the University of Missouri conducted, looked at couples who were in the early stages of their relationship.

The researchers found that couples who were transparent about their finances were more likely to trust each other and have a more stable relationship. They also found that couples who were not transparent about their finances were more likely to argue and have less communication with each other.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Amy Rauer, said that transparency is vital in any relationship but especially important when it comes to money. “Couples need to be able to talk openly about money to make financial decisions together,” she said.

Teamwork is Key

It’s no secret that money is a major source of stress for couples. From different spending habits to unequal incomes, many factors can impact how you and your partner handle your finances. If you’re not on the same page when it comes to money, it can be tough to figure out how to split bills and manage your finances as a team.

But don’t worry, there are ways to work through your differences and come up with a system that works for both of you. To start, try sitting down with your partner and openly discussing your financial goals and concerns. Once you know where each of you stands, you can start to figure out a plan for splitting bills and managing your money together.

Have a Regular Money Date

Couples who discuss their finances regularly are more likely to be satisfied with their relationship and less likely to experience financial stress, according to a new study. The study, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, found that couples who have a “money date” once a week are more likely to be on the same page about their finances and feel like they are working as a team.

So how do you have a productive money date? Start by setting aside some time each week to talk about your finances.

Tips For Splitting Bills With Your Partner

There is no correct way to manage finances. It all depends on the couple because everyone is unique so every relationship is unique. These tips can help you find a method that works for you and your partner.

Keep Finances Separate and Equal

For many couples, finances are one of the most stressful aspects of their relationship. Money can be a source of arguments and disagreements, so it’s important to find a way to manage finances that works for both partners.

One option is to keep finances separate but equal. Each partner contributes an equal amount of money to a shared bank account, and each partner is responsible for their expenses. This can work well if both partners are good with money and can stick to a budget.

However, this arrangement can also cause problems if one partner starts spending more than their fair share. It’s important to have open communication about money and spending habits and to be willing to make adjustments if necessary.

Overall, splitting bills evenly can be a good way to keep finances separate but equal.

Budget Together

​​Budgeting together with your partner can help to avoid arguments about money and ensure that both of your financial needs are being met. Here are a few tips for splitting bills with your partner:

1. Communicate openly about your finances. Discuss your income, debts, and spending habits with each other. This will give you a better idea of where each of you stands financially and what areas you need to work on.

2. Make a budget together. Sit down and figure out how much money you need to live comfortably. Then, figure out how much each of you can realistically contribute to the household expenses.

3. Set up a system for paying bills. Once you know how much money you have to work with, decide who will be responsible for paying which bills. This will help to keep track of expenses and make sure that everything is getting paid on time.

Split Bills Based on Income

Some couples may feel comfortable splitting bills evenly down the middle, but for others, it may make more sense to divvy up expenses based on each person’s income. If one partner brings in a significantly higher salary than the other, it’s only fair that they contribute a larger share to shared bills and expenses.

Of course, this isn’t always easy to calculate or agree upon – but there are a few ways to fairly split bills based on income. One method is to start by adding up all of your shared monthly expenses, then each person contributes their percentage of the total based on their income.

For example, if you have $1,000 in monthly shared expenses and one partner earns $5,000 per month (making 60k a year) while the other earns $2,500 per month (making 30k a year), the first person would contribute 66% of the total while the second would contribute 33%.

Talk About the Future

When it comes to splitting bills with a partner, communication is key. Sit down with your partner and talk about your future financial goals. Do you want to purchase a home? Start a family? Save for retirement? Once you understand each other’s financial goals, you can start to create a budget that works for both of you.

Splitting bills with a partner doesn’t have to be complicated. By communicating openly and frequently, you can develop a system that works for both of you and helps you reach your financial goals.

Share Assets and Liabilities

Typically if you are not married, it doesn’t make sense for you to share debts with your partner. If the relationship fails in the future, you are still liable for debts that are shared in your name.

This goes for assets as well. If you buy a house with your partner before you are married, ensure you seek legal counsel and do the unfortunate work of putting a contract in place if the unthinkable happens and your relationship comes to a close. This can protect both partners, so don’t think of it as selfish.

On that note. If you have assets before marriage, consider talking about and getting a prenup. A prenup can protect both partners in case of divorce. A prenup is not planning to fail, but if you don’t have one you are failing to plan.

Tips for Splitting Bills With Your Partner – Final Thoughts

Money is one of the most common relationship killers. It isn’t the money that is the problem, it is a clear lack of communication about money.

If you haven’t had a talk about money with your partner recently or ever, now is the time to put steps into motion and begin talking about money. This will help you build a stronger relationship, and can help your relationship flourish.

Zach Larsen is a small business owner, finance and investment expert, and co-founder of PineappleMoney.com. He has been featured in publications including GOBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, Credit Sesame, and Workast. He enjoys teaching others about personal finance and spending time with his family.