Financial set ups

[MyUnicornMadeMeDoIt]

I've been reading a lot of threads lately where people disclose their financial set ups. Whether it is 50% of bills each, bills split up in a way related to income or all income into one account and bills come out of that account. I'm just curious to know which ways work for people and why

I think it depends on whether you're married and whether you have children to be honest. Also on how much you both earn.

When DH and I were not married but living together with rent and then a mortgage we had a joint account from which all joint expenses were paid. We put 50/50 in because we earned nearly identical amounts.

This set up continued until after marriage and stopped when I started maternity leave.

During mat leave we made it so we both had equal surpluses each month (hardly anything during mat leave - maybe £150 each after all bills) and we continue this now I'm back at work part time.

I think that issues arise when unmarried couples have very different salaries. You shouldn't feel taken for a ride as a high earner, but equally, it's ridiculous to split things 50/50 if one of you is earning £25k and the other £80k - if I were in that position I'd be looking for a proportional split.

The arrangements I really don't get are the 'I pay all food and he pays all rent and bills' - just doesn't make sense to me.

Regardless of who earns the most, and it has changed over the years, all surplus money is split 50:50. All moneyand savings are joint.

I think it is very wrong for one party in the marriage/relationship to have more surplus money than the other.