My boyfriend requested to maneuver in collectively after eight months of courting. I used to be honored. Then after I didn’t renew my lease, we talked funds. I’m conscious the timing was poor.
He’s anticipating we cut up every little thing 50/50, which might imply me paying $500 monthly greater than I do now. He makes twice as a lot, so his way of life is extra extravagant.
I had no expectations of contributing to his mortgage once I agreed. I’d not obtain a lease and am not an proprietor of the house he bought earlier than me. If we dated long run, I’d be paying down his mortgage with no fairness to point out.
I requested if we may cut up in accordance with our life and revenue. He strongly objected and felt taken benefit of, as a partnership is 50/50 in his phrases. I’m not comfy contributing to his mortgage and would gladly pay a cut up towards maintaining on groceries, payments, dates, and many others. I ought to add that my automotive can be our solely car, which I pay for in full month-to-month along with upkeep and repairs.
I’ve additionally reduce his grocery invoice in half by doing the buying and couponing whereas we’ve been courting. I assume that can proceed. I really feel we should always every pay for what we personal and cut up bills in accordance with revenue.
-A.
Expensive A.,
A 50/50 partnership isn’t about going Dutch for each expense. Not often do you discover a companion whose funds are equivalent to yours, until you’re each equally broke. That’s why compromise is so essential. It’s about investing equally in constructing a life collectively, not going tit-for-tat on each expense.
The issue with the 50/50 partnership your boyfriend proposes is that it requires zero compromises on his half. Your prices go up. His prices go down. He will get to reside the approach to life he needs with no regard as to whether you’ll be able to afford it.

That stated, I don’t suppose it’s unreasonable on your boyfriend to need you to pay one thing towards the mortgage. The truth that your fee helps him construct fairness doesn’t absolve you of any duty for a housing fee. Paying down another person’s mortgage with no fairness to point out is precisely what we renters do each month.
That doesn’t imply you must make 50% of the fee, given the revenue discrepancy. And because you don’t have a stake on this residence, he ought to pay 100% of possession prices, like residence insurance coverage, property taxes and repairs.
Sadly, I don’t have any neat system for what the right cut up needs to be. Issues get messy once you transfer in collectively and just one particular person owns the house. A great place to begin can be your present bills. On the very least, be agency that you may’t afford to fork over an additional $500 a month. Ideally, although, you’d divide the payments so that every of you is left with more money.
Do you have to go forward with this transfer, settle for that your boyfriend can even be your landlord. Unromantic, sure. Nevertheless it’s essential to be real looking, significantly within the occasion that this relationship ends.
Earlier than you progress in, insist on a cohabitation settlement, which is sort of a prenuptial settlement for single {couples} shifting in collectively. You’ll be able to spell out your monetary duties, in addition to the way you’d divide property that both of you buys for the house whereas dwelling collectively.
In an ideal world, you’d every have your individual lawyer overview the settlement. However yow will discover free templates on-line which are higher than nothing.
Till you’ve reached a compromise that’s acceptable to you, DO NOT transfer in together with your boyfriend. If it’s nonetheless potential to resume your lease, do it. In any other case, look right into a short-term rental or ask household and mates whether or not they have a spare room you’ll be able to keep in briefly. As soon as you progress in collectively, it turns into a lot tougher to disentangle your lives.
Refusing to maneuver in could nicely set off the tip of the connection. But when it doesn’t, set limits on the trouble you place in till your boyfriend is prepared to discover a center floor. Stop doing his grocery buying and another chores. Possibly when issues don’t magically get carried out, he’ll see {that a} 50/50 partnership isn’t nearly paying payments.
You say the timing of your dialogue about funds was poor. That could be true. However I usually discipline questions from individuals enmeshed in nasty disputes about cash after a few years of marriage and a few youngsters. In case your boyfriend refuses to budge, your priorities could also be incompatible. In case you determine that out after eight months of courting, I’d say you timed issues fairly nicely.
Robin Hartill is a licensed monetary planner and a senior author at The Penny Hoarder. Ship your tough cash inquiries to [email protected].