Three common ways to split
There is no single right answer. Pick the one that feels fair to both of you, and check it again once a year.
- Half each: simple, and works well when you earn about the same.
- By income: each pays the same share of their pay. If one earns twice as much, that person pays twice as much of the shared costs.
- One pot: you both put money into a shared pot for household costs, and keep the rest as your own.
A quick example
Shared costs are €2,000 a month. One of you takes home €3,000 and the other €1,000. Half each means €1,000 each, which is a third of one income and the whole of the other. By income, you pay €1,500 and €500, which is half of each income.
Make it easy to keep up
Decide which costs are shared (rent, groceries, utilities) and which are personal. Then look at the shared costs together each month, so nobody has to keep a tally. Wollie shows both of your banks in one household view, so you see the shared numbers without opening a joint account.
Questions
Is it fair to split bills 50/50 if we earn different amounts?
It can be, but many couples find splitting by income feels fairer. What matters is that both of you agree and that it still feels right as things change.
Do we need a joint account to split costs?
No. You can each pay your share from your own account, or move a set amount into a shared pot each month.
This guide is general information, not financial advice.