Topic hub
Couples & Shared Money
Proportional splits, joint accounts and keeping money conversations short between two people who share most things.
The short answer
Couples with similar incomes usually do best with a 50/50 split of shared costs and separate personal spending. Once incomes differ by more than roughly 30%, an income-proportional split keeps each person contributing the same share of their pay rather than the same number of dollars.
5 guides in this topic
Newest first
CouplesHow to split wedding costs between a couple and their families
Maya T. · · 6 min read
CouplesSplitting money when one partner doesn’t earn
Priya R. · · 6 min read
CouplesMoving in together: the shared money checklist
Priya R. · · 6 min read
CouplesJoint account, separate accounts, or both?
Priya R. · · 5 min read
CouplesProportional vs 50/50: how couples split money
Priya R. · · 2 min read
Couples FAQ
Should couples split expenses 50/50 or by income?
50/50 while incomes are close, income-proportional once they are not. Proportional splitting equalises the strain rather than the amount, which is why it holds up over years rather than months.
Do couples still need an expense tracker?
If all shared money runs through one joint account, no. If either person pays for shared things from a personal account, a tracker is what stops the mental tally that neither of you agrees on.
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