SPLITTING THE BILLs?

Question

My wife and I split the bills half and half. Well, I recently got a Promotion so ill be making a bit more $. She believes that because i will be getting a bit more money now I should pay more tword each bill Instead of half and half like we usually do. I feel like im being punished for getting the promotion. why should i pay more? What do you guys think?

As a married person ...my money is my family s money and any extra wouldnt be for me alone.....I'm thinking savings,family vacation,etc....
Its just the principal of the matter....why should i pay more because i got a raise? Im just looking to hear opinions on the subject......no preaching or "DR. Freud-ING" is really necessary

Answer 1

Why are you living like roommates instead of a married couple?

My wife and I have our money go into a joint account and all bills are paid from that. Why bother to split them?

All our money is our money and all the bills are our bills....

Answer 2

I also think that splitting the bills and keeping your money separate like that is for roommates, not a married couple. Even my boyfirend and I, because we're a serious couple, have a joint account and all of our money regardless of source goes into the one account. At the beginning of every month we sit down together and make a budget. First we allot money to all the bills. Then we allot spending money to each of us, typically we each get the same amt, and the rest goes to savings and investments. This works because right now, while he is finishing law school, I am making more money, but down the road he will be so since we are a team it shouldn't matter who makes more money, it should all go to the household.

Does she clean more than you do? If the answer is yes like it typically is, then you should pay a little more or somehow give credit for that since that line of work does not give promotions.

Sounds to me like your relationship has some growing up to do.

Answer 3

If you both work, you should divide the bills so that each person is accountable.

So you would both pay half the rent or mortgage, and split other bills that you both agree on. Then for bills that only one of you wants, say cable or tennis lessons or whatever, then only the primary person should pay it.

If you and your wife are both responsible for your own spending habits, then you can reap the benefits of NO ARGUMENTS ABOUT MONEY. Arguments about money are the leading cause of divorce.

If your wife helped you get the promotion, then she deserves some of the extra money. Otherwise, if you earned it then you are quite correct in deciding how it should be spent.

I recommend either investing the increase or using it to pay down any debt.

Answer 4

I think this is a difficult issue. I know someone who went through this while her hubby was making a lot of $$$ and she was not. She could barely afford her share of the bills when they split 50-50, and he would not offer to help because of the deal. It was very hard for them, and he now pays more of the bills. I think you should stop looking at yourself as a singular unit, and more as a team. You could pool your incomes, and decide together where it should go. With your extra income, it should be placed in mutual funds, invested, or saved for a family vacation/gift, etc... I am assuming you both work full-time, so you should think of each other as equals. Even if she doesn't work full-time, you should think of all of the things she probably does around the home that you don't generally do, and how exhausting it is to be a mom, even when the dad is around.

Answer 5

I think that you have more issues than you know about. If you need to get advise on a family arguement from here...

Personally, I would continue with the way it is. My wife and I have always split the bills, regardless of who made more. The extra money went into savings so that WE could do things together. If all you, or she, wants is extra spending money, then you need to look at your bills again.

Answer 6

No you better not. 1/2 is 1/2. That's what you agreed on right? Just pick up a few more dinner tabs or get the grocery bill. Help only when needed. That's what I do and I make more money. We agreed in the beginning to pay 1/2 of everything and we still do no matter who gets the raise.

Answer 7

Different things work for different people. If splitting the bills in half works for you then keep doing it. My husband and I have a joint account and he puts in enough to cover the rent and I put in enough for everything else(light bill, phone bill, cable, gas and grocery). It isn't half (he still pays more even though it's only one thing) but it works for us. The rest of my check goes into an account I had before we got married and the rest of his goes into one that he had before we got married. And if I run short he gives me what I need and I do the same for him. It doesn't mean we are living like roommates, it just means that's what works for us. So if half works for you then keep doing it, just spoil her more often since you will have a lot more money to do it with.

Answer 8

If you are married doesnt all of the money go to the betterment of your family? I am married and I have allot of payments come directly out of my check or my bank account and my husband has none. That doesnt mean that I never have money and he does. When I need help he helps me and when he needs help I help him.

You could try to make a family budget and setting up a spending limmit for each of you and put the rest aside for invesments or even a vacation to reward you both.

Answer 9

I think you should continue to pay half and half. But both of you should open a savings account together and you put your extra earnings into it. It could be used for emergencies or even a vacation fund.

Answer 10

Things should stay 1/2 an 1/2 . Maybe give her something extra once in a while to help her out !