If you and your partner work together and split expenses based on income, you might be wondering how to divide your bills and income evenly. While dividing bills based on income would make sense in a general sense, this solution is rarely fair and may lead to arguments over who pays more. Instead, divide bills according to percentages of income. This way, each partner pays a set amount for utilities. In a marriage, you may want to split expenses based on income – but not for solely personal bills or bonuses.

When splitting expenses, some couples decide to split the expenses 50/50. This may not be fair if the incomes are not equal, but it is still the fairest way to split bills. You can calculate how much each partner should pay by adding both their incomes and then dividing the income by the total household income. Once you know the percentages, multiply the percentages by the total shared expenses to get the actual amount each partner will pay.

Another way to divide your budget is to track what you spend. This will allow you to identify where you spend more than you earn. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers a useful worksheet to help simplify budgeting. It also helps you decide how much wiggle room you have in your budget and whether you have variable expenses. You should also keep in mind that fixed expenses typically represent a larger proportion of your income than variable expenses.