should expenses be split in the middle even if one spouse makes more money than the other?

Question

I make a lot more money than my husband does and he feels that we shouldn't split expenses in the middle but rather break it up based on our income. I've worked really hard to get where I am today and I don't feel is fair. Thoughts?

I failed to mention that I've been financially supporting the family for the last few years so now that he finally has a job I feel he should pitch in 50% even if I make more money than him...

Answer 1

Everything should be split down the middle, income, expenses, the lot.
The theory is that you are a team and not supposed to be in competition with each other. Collectively you derive income and collectively you spend it. In y family I am the main money earner but I earn our money not mine.

Answer 2

My thinking is that for some things that a 50/50 split is fair but not for all items. If a person is making more money then I think it is not unreasonable for a person on a much higher income to put in more.

For example if a person makes $10 and another makes $100 if they buy a $5 item then for one person it is 50% of their money but for the other it is only 5%

The other thing is how important is the item to an individual. If one person wants a new DVD but the other person does not then why should both contribute.

Finances- never easy

Answer 3

I agree with Common S... you should have a common bank account. This way when bills are due, you just pay them. You should also invest your monies. One good thing to do is to come up with common goals, that is if you don't agree with the above. For example, you can make the house, rent, or large one payment. BUT he's in charge of, say, TV, cable, phone, cell, groceries... or split them in a way that seems fair. You shouldn't feel guilty about making more money and he shouldn't guilt you into anything because he's insecure or whatever. You are a marriage and you should be able to come up with a solution that works for both of you. If you have your finances in check, then you can both enjoy your life and earnings like you were meant to... TOGETHER!!! Good luck!!!

Answer 4

You are married, and if you have these type of issues already, then your relationship won't go too far. As long as the bills are being paid and you two have a good life style that you agree on upholding together, it shouldn't matter who makes what. Depending upon the state, everything made within the marriage will be split if anything were to go wrong anyway. It's OK to have your own separate spending account as long as it don't interfere with your obligations in your marriage.

Answer 5

You shouldn't have to split expenses anyway.

Makes no sense. Your married and marriage is a joint venture.

My wife makes more than me but everything is ours regardless of income. We have each other, we have our house, we have everything we want and we done it together.

A job is a job...to succeed in that job you work hard. So what if you make more than him...do you love him? If not, then you are looking more at greed more than anything else.

My wife is a paralegal, I'm an optician. She chose a field that she wanted and I chose mine. We are both happy with our chosen fields and we love each other because we are together for a common cause...to be happy and make what we can possibly make out of our marriage.

We do it because we love each other.

Not to sound mean but the human emotion of greed is over coming you.

Answer 6

I've never had a girlfriend or been married, but if I had a wife, what's mine is her's and bills are undertakings, and we face everything together.

My parents separate earnings and bills, much to my shock, but I guess this is normal in society.

If I were married, all the money goes into one place, and all bills are family bills.

Don't listen to me. Most of my perspectives are almost alien, due to the fact that I haven't been allowed a normal life by the governments and society.

Answer 7

My husband makes more money then I do but we put all the money in one bank account and we pay our bills. Love should not be based on how much a person is going to contribute in the relationship.

Answer 8

I always thought that a marriage was two people make a union based on one love, one home, one trust, one commitment, and one bank account. You say I do and everything you have belongs to you both. If you become disabled does that mean that you need to pawn something to come up with your half of the electric bill? A marriage isn't supposed to be a division of assets. It is supposed to be a union of everything materially, physically, and emotionally. Otherwise wouldn't that make you just roommates?

Answer 9

why do you guys split anything? splitting is usually saved for divorce. I make about 12% more a year than my husband, both our paychecks go into the same account, i pay all our bills from that account. Marriage is a team effort, not a competition.

Answer 10

If he wants to remain the man of the house then he should BE A MAN. Tell him to get a night job. Other wise I'd say you have the pants on in the house. I hope he's washing dishes and doing the majority of the housework as well.

Split the bills in half, he's lucky you work, my guess is he wouldn't be able to cope with raising a family... Split it in half leave it at that and you SAVE YOUR OWN MONEY! if he wants to work hard to get where you are NO ONE IS STOPPING HIM!