Should I pay for half of the bills?

Question

My wife and I have been married for two years now. She also has an eleven year old son.
We both have good jobs but the issue is that she makes 35k more per year than I do and expects me to still pay half the bills. I consider myself to be exceptionally mechanically inclined and complete all of our projects around the house. She cooks, cleans, and does day-to-day things which I also help with.

Answer 1

You should pay half the bills of your partnership. The other part of the question is do you pay half the bills of the stepson.

Seems like you need a money chat. When the family is spending $100.00 a month to support the 11 yr old in sports or music are you expected to pay half?

The only reason I can see for her to want to have a half & half arrangement is so that she can isolate the extra costs of the 11 yr old and pay them all herself.

If the 11 year old is included in the houshold costs, ie, music, sports, trave clothing etc etc. then you should pool your income and pay out of the pool.

If income pooling and resource sharing is not possible... why are you married?

T

Answer 2

The 2 of you are married and you knew she had a son before you married her. When you married a woman with a child you took on some of the responsibility for her child, since you are now his step father. IMO you are responsible for half the bills. It does not matter how much more she makes than you. I can not understand if you are married why this is even that big of an issue.

Answer 3

Well sorry bud, well wait I mean i've never been in this situation but as a women I expect the man to hold down the fort or atleast most of it. But thats mainly because I have never made that much money and was raised around different women. But I mean you do live together and all your needs sound like there met, so maybe you could just try it and see if that satisfies her and maybe later she'll say its silly. But for now she needs to evaluate things the way she has them in her head. Its so hard to ask for advice in these situations because a lot of it depends on the relationship and the indaviduality of each person together. Good Luck Kim

Answer 4

I make more than my guy, but he makes up for that in other ways. He helps with everything, and I understand that he can't afford to pay half the bills. Honestly, you should help with half of the house chores at least. Mechanically inclined or not, seems like she's still doing more than half her share.

Answer 5

I'm assuming your one of the couples that keep your money separate. I know like 3 couples that do this and none of them get along. I would say that is the problem. Anyway if you have to have it that way then yes your half is your half. If she was a room mate you wouldn't expect to have to pay less would you? And don't go trying to add the kid in.

Answer 6

because we males, respect our wives, we obviously thinking in a feministic way.
so...you should pay less than a half for the bills, because of the 3 reasons listed here:
1. she makes more money than u
2. she has a son from the time before u met
3. u r a feminist, and let her feel this way

Answer 7

Yes you need to pay your fair share of the bills. Stop being a free loader, and a wus. in other words Just grow up and be a man instead of a mama's boy.

Answer 8

Call me crazy but I thought when you got married everything is shared. So what if she makes more than you do. You guys have a completly wrong mind set about money. I suggest you two sit down and figure out a budget.

Answer 9

have one account that u both put money in2 for the household bills. That way ur both paying equally 4 them and everyone is on the same page. Ur married, quit halving the bills.

Answer 10

If she wants your finances to be that way then she should be paying a third since she has a child that is not yours. That's only fair since her and her child use more of the bills, etc than you alone do.