When couples share finances, figuring out how to split expenses can be one of the trickiest conversations. Should bills be divided down the middle, or should income levels play a role?
On a recent episode of her “Women & Money” podcast, personal finance expert Suze Orman clarified a long-standing point of confusion: couples should contribute to household expenses in equal percentages, not equal dollar amounts.
The discussion began when a listener named Lisa wrote in, asking whether she should be paying half of the monthly expenses even though she earns only a third of her husband’s salary. Lisa explained that her husband, a longtime follower of Orman’s advice, insists that splitting bills 50/50 is the “fair” way.
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Orman disagreed. “I never said if one of you makes $7,000 a month, the other makes $3,000 take home a month — and your expenses, let’s say are $3,000 a month — that you each put in $1,500,” she said. “Equal percentages, not equal amounts.”
To illustrate, Orman broke down the math: if household expenses total $3,000 and the couple’s combined income is $10,000, then each person should contribute 30% of their own salary.
For the higher earner in her example, that would be $2,100; for the lower earner, $900. She says the bills should get paid in proportion to income, keeping contributions fair without creating financial strain for the partner who earns less.
Lisa’s concern went beyond money, however. She noted that in addition to working, she also manages most household duties — cooking, cleaning, and caring for the children — while her husband contributes little at home. She questioned whether it was truly “fair” for her to cover what amounts to half the household responsibilities on top of her smaller income.
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Orman acknowledged that this dynamic is common. “When somebody is making two-thirds more of the money… somehow people tend to… get this attitude of, ‘Well, I’m bringing in most of the money. I’m obviously, therefore, working harder. And therefore, yeah, I deserve to be able to sit around and relax,'” she explained.
