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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this a fair way to split finances?

651 replies

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:02

It’s my Son and his partner so I know it’s realistically none of my business but had an convo with him today and wondering if I am being unfair thinking this is unreasonable?

My Son and his partner are getting married in the summer. The live together. The topic of finances came up today as we were discussing the wedding and we have offered them a few K towards it.

He told me that the way they have always split their finances is that they have a joint account both wages are paid into. All direct debits for bills come out of that account including house, bills, subscriptions etc. Food shop money also comes out of that. Then they both transfer themselves the exact same amount from the joint account on pay day and this is to cover all personal expensive such as their phones, petrol, coffees, clothes etc. He said they don’t take from the joint unless absolutely necesssary and if one of them runs out they might say to the other can I borrow a tenner and then on payday they will give it the other person back out of their personal allowance.

I asked about takeaways or date nights and he said one person will usually cover it out of their “pocket money” but they don’t take it out of the joint unless it was a special treat like an anniversary. All holidays and other joint costs come out of the joint but as they’re getting married all of wedding costs are being paid from the money building up in the joint account. He said if one of them had their car break down then they’d take money out of the joint to fix it too. He also said they both have their own personal savings accounts too but these are currently neglected due to paying for wedding.

FWIW my DIL earns much more than him. DS doesn’t earn much more than minimum wage. I know it’s none of my business so I won’t say anything but AIBU to think this is a bit tight? Personally I think bills should be split proportionately to what they earn. The amount that they take out each for pocket money isn’t a lot and he’d have a lot more left over if they split it differently.

OP posts:
Kahless · 22/01/2025 16:04

Then they both transfer themselves the exact same amount from the joint account on pay day

What's not fair? If anything your ds is better off and dil (to be) is worse off

SweetChilliGirl · 22/01/2025 16:04

This seems really generous of your DIL to me!

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 22/01/2025 16:05

It's not how I do it as I would be worse off as the higher earner, but that's how a lot of people do it, maybe your son could work on increasing his income

Blondeshavemorefun · 22/01/2025 16:07

What’s not fair

he earns less but still gets the same pocket money

Merrow · 22/01/2025 16:07

That's how we do it, and it seems fairest to me (and I'm the higher earner!)

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:07

Kahless · 22/01/2025 16:04

Then they both transfer themselves the exact same amount from the joint account on pay day

What's not fair? If anything your ds is better off and dil (to be) is worse off

I feel like she should be covering more of the bills and leaving him more left over as she earns more though?

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 22/01/2025 16:08

This is how me and my partner do finances. We are a family and a team. It shouldn’t be that one person earns more so therefore gets to “keep” more for themselves it’s about creating a good life for the both of you together.

what’s the point In one person having lots of money to go and do nice things when the other person can’t because they earn less?

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:09

I also feel like it’s degrading to have to ask your partner to borrow money if you run out of your “pocket money”! Don’t even get me started on the fact they call it pocket money?

OP posts:
kellysjowls · 22/01/2025 16:09

They both get the same 'fun' money?
But your DIL earns a lot more?

Then your son is doing really well out of the deal.
I think you must have been gaslit by the patriarchy into thinking that the makes of the family must control the finances and take the lions share for themselves?

MidnightPatrol · 22/01/2025 16:09

How exactly do you think he’s hard done by here, given she puts in more overall, and they get the same amount of ‘pocket money’ each month?

What do you think they should be doing instead?

2025letsmakeitthebest · 22/01/2025 16:09

That is how I used to do it with my exh.
To us it was joint money regardless of who earned the most. There were times when we changed who was earning the most but always kept finances like this to make it easier.
Transferring x amount per month spending money allowed us to keep on top of budgeting better and save money in the main account for bigger purchases.
If they are both happy I don't see any issue with it. They are both living in the house and using the same amount of utilities/food etc.

kellysjowls · 22/01/2025 16:10

kellysjowls · 22/01/2025 16:09

They both get the same 'fun' money?
But your DIL earns a lot more?

Then your son is doing really well out of the deal.
I think you must have been gaslit by the patriarchy into thinking that the makes of the family must control the finances and take the lions share for themselves?

Males obviously

Mrsttcno1 · 22/01/2025 16:10

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:07

I feel like she should be covering more of the bills and leaving him more left over as she earns more though?

They’re left with exactly the same amount of money, you literally said this yourself.

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:10

We give him money for his birthday every year and I asked him what happens with this and they said they keep their own birthday money for themselves which is good.

OP posts:
FOJN · 22/01/2025 16:10

Wow are you really so bad at maths you think your son is getting bad deal?

The lions share of his lifes luxuries are being paid for by his fiancé.

MuggleMe · 22/01/2025 16:11

So what's happening to money in the shared pot that's not spent on bills? DIL is contributing more towards bills? All her salary is going into the pot and she's only getting out the same as him.

The only tweak I would suggest is allocating an amount towards joint entertainment (meals, takeaways, days out) and reducing individual fun money allowance to compensate.

BookGoblin · 22/01/2025 16:11

You haven't understood the maths Op!

She IS covering more, she pays more into the joint account and then has exactly the same spending money as your son despite earning more.

He's heavily subsidized by the sound of it.

She's sounds generous, I hope she's protected her own financial well being

VickyEadieofThigh · 22/01/2025 16:11

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:07

I feel like she should be covering more of the bills and leaving him more left over as she earns more though?

She IS - she's paying more into the joint account than he is!

JustWalkingTheDogs · 22/01/2025 16:11

I think it's right and fair, especially as they are getting married. It might swing in your ds favour at the moment, but things change, especially if dc come along. Sounds like they are both being very sensible

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:12

FOJN · 22/01/2025 16:10

Wow are you really so bad at maths you think your son is getting bad deal?

The lions share of his lifes luxuries are being paid for by his fiancé.

But if it was the other way around and the male was the higher earner then I think his low earning partner would expect him to transfer a lump sum of money to her every pay day?

OP posts:
VickyEadieofThigh · 22/01/2025 16:12

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:10

We give him money for his birthday every year and I asked him what happens with this and they said they keep their own birthday money for themselves which is good.

You don't like her, do you?

FOJN · 22/01/2025 16:12

BittySpider · 22/01/2025 16:07

I feel like she should be covering more of the bills and leaving him more left over as she earns more though?

If they are getting the same amount of personal spending money and she is the higher earner SHE IS covering more of the bills.

festivemouse · 22/01/2025 16:12

Do you dislike your DIL?!

Because on the face of it she's supporting him financially - if she earns way more then it's her leftover cash building up the account and paying for the wedding / cars etc. Yes if it was proportional he might have more spending money, but he might not be able to pay for car repairs / the wedding etc.

She is already covering more by taking the same spending money from the joint account as him btw.

PeppyTealDuck · 22/01/2025 16:13

I think you don’t realize that she ends up paying for a bigger proportion of the bills this way and also leaves him with more spending money than he’d have otherwise (without her larger contribution).

MaroonyBalloony · 22/01/2025 16:13

Sorry I'm confused, why do you think he should be left with more spends than her? I'm not sure you're understanding how this works.