How to split bills fairly when you earn different amounts

Splitting everything down the middle feels fair until one of you earns twice as much as the other. Here are three ways couples handle it, with sample numbers.

Split it evenly

Each of you pays half of every shared cost. Simple to track, and it works well when your incomes are close.

Split by income

If one of you earns $60,000 and the other $40,000, the first pays 60% of shared costs and the second 40%. Each of you keeps the same share of your own pay for yourself.

Pool it all

1. Both paychecks go into one joint account.
2. Shared bills come out first.
3. You each get the same amount of fun money, no questions asked.

There is no right answer. The best split is the one you both agreed to out loud.