Dosh dilemma: should Sarah pay more because she earns more?

When Sarah and her partner Tom moved in together three years ago, splitting everything 50/50 seemed the fairest option.

At the time, they earned similar salaries, so dividing the rent, bills and food shop equally made perfect sense. They each paid £950 a month into a joint account to cover household costs, while keeping the rest of their income separate.

Fast forward to today, and things are different.

Sarah recently landed a new job with a much higher salary and a lot more than what Tom earns.

Although they still split everything down the middle, with the cost of everything going up, Tom admits he's struggling. After paying his share of the bills, petrol, commuting costs and student loan repayments, he has very little left at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Sarah has noticed she's able to save hundreds of pounds every month without changing her lifestyle.

Tom has suggested they contribute towards household costs based on what they earn, rather than splitting everything equally.

Sarah isn't convinced.

Neither wants money to become a source of resentment, but neither is sure what ‘fair’ actually looks like anymore.

Should Sarah continue splitting the bills equally, or should higher earners contribute more?

Well Sarah, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, and only you and Tom can really work out what’s best for you both.

But here are some suggestions you might want to mull over.

Split bills according to income

Many couples choose to contribute to shared expenses in proportion to what they earn.

For example, if Sarah brings home around 65% of the household income and Tom 35%, they could split their household costs using the same ratio.

This means they both contribute fairly based on their financial circumstances, rather than paying identical amounts.

Why it works:

• both partners retain more similar disposable income
• it recognises differences in earning power
• it can reduce financial stress for the lower earner

Keep the 50/50 split, but review it regularly

Some couples prefer equal contributions because it feels simple and maintains financial independence.

If both partners are genuinely comfortable with the arrangement, there's no reason it has to change.

But it's worth agreeing to revisit the conversation whenever circumstances change, such as a promotion, redundancy, maternity leave or rising household costs.

Money arrangements needn't be set in stone.

Pay equal percentages instead of equal pounds

Rather than focusing on the bills themselves, another option is for both partners to contribute the same percentage of their income to a joint account.

For example, each could pay 45% of their monthly take-home pay towards shared costs.

This means both people make an equal financial commitment while still reflecting differences in income.

Think beyond the monthly bills

Money isn't the only contribution people make to a household.

If one partner earns less but takes on more childcare, cooking, cleaning or caring responsibilities, those contributions have value too.

Looking at the whole picture, not just salaries, can help couples avoid keeping score and instead focus on working as a team.

When it comes to household finances, ‘equal’ and ‘fair’ aren't always the same thing.

The most successful approach is usually the one that both partners agree feels reasonable, rather than following a rule based purely on numbers.

The key is having honest conversations before resentment builds. Reviewing your finances together every few months can help ensure your money arrangement continues to work as incomes, goals and circumstances change.