From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!ihnss!warren
Newsgroups: net.singles
Title: Marriage & Money
Article-I.D.: ihnss.764
Posted: Mon Nov 22 16:04:05 1982
Received: Tue Nov 23 02:31:06 1982

In response to 3 requests for more information on sharing expenses,
I am posting this to the net.  My appologies to others.

I was asked to elaborate on sharing expenses in proportion to
income.  OK, here is what we have been doing:

1)	We maintain a joint checking account from which all
	household expenses are paid  (Actually almost everything).

2)	We each figure our net pay (gross less taxes, social
	security, health insurance, etc.) each month.  Each of us
	currently is with-held at the single rate to come somewhere
	paying enough taxes in advance.

3)	The ratio of the net pay becomes the ratio in which we
	contribute to replenish the joint account.
	
4)	Because we have seasonal fluxuations in income, major
	expenses (home repairs, cars, vacations, etc.) are done on
	the average income for the year, so that they are fairly
	shared even if they arrive in an unusual month.
	
I should point out that this is probably most effective if the
incomes are the same order of magnitude, but certainly survives a
wide range.  We don't include investment income, but then it isn't a
major factor.  We also consistently have a net surplus except during
months with highly unusual expenses, so that budgeting is not too
painful.

		Sorry to bore everyone with this
		
			Warren Montgomery
			(ihnss!warren)