Co-habiting with girl friend - how do you work it regarding bills etc?
25 September 2003, 08:50 AM
#31
we both pay the same set amount of money into our joint account. This means we both pay half the mortgage on the house, and then the extra money left over pays for our joint bills (i.e. telephone, electicity, gas, food etc). Mobile phone bills come out of our own bank accounts, and so does anything we purchase for ourselves.. lunch/drinks/clothes etc.
It works for us
[Edited by ChristianR - 9/25/2003 8:53:40 AM]
It works for us
[Edited by ChristianR - 9/25/2003 8:53:40 AM]
25 September 2003, 10:07 AM
#34
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We sometimes let the spare room in our semi to overseas students through an agency and when I asked my accountant about my tax liability to this income he said I would not need to pay tax unless it was more than £4k a year so above £350/mth sounds about right.
25 September 2003, 10:12 AM
#35
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I pay the rent/bills etc every month, and Cat gives me about £300 toward this. If bills are unusually high, we will split them.
The £300 usually covers rent (267.50 ea.) and food etc but I don't think she understands this?!?! She keeps going shopping!
I do earn more, but we both agreed its 50-50 the whole way as an incentive to earn more!
Dopey bird!!
Damo
The £300 usually covers rent (267.50 ea.) and food etc but I don't think she understands this?!?! She keeps going shopping!
I do earn more, but we both agreed its 50-50 the whole way as an incentive to earn more!
Dopey bird!!
Damo
25 September 2003, 10:18 AM
#36
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rite FYI if the morgage is just yours and she has lived with you for at least 6months it is classed as her home in the governments eyes and if entitled to some of the property... me and the girlfriend bought the house we have now as a joint morgage... reasoning because she'd be entitled to some of it anyways... if shes on the morgage and u split or u have problems and u cant afford to pay the bills etc any bad credit goes against her too so she has a responsibility to earn to help pay the bills...lol
in all seriousness though I earn 21k a year and she earns 7k a year, we have a joint acct we both get paid into, all the bills come out of the acct, the shopping and petrol comes outta that too. what ever is left aint split its just left, if u wanna go for a game of snooker and a few pints I'll just go to the bank and get the money out
1 thing about this thats pi55ing me off now though is that if I wanna spend some dosh on my car she trys to make me feel guilty for spending all what we have.. dont think she has quite grasped the concept that I earn 3 times as much as her stupid cow...lol end of the day whats mine is hers and whats hers is mine... jsut be fair and split the money. saves allt he hassle of u paying for the meal... its all coming out of the joint acct
only other thing that becomes a pain is when I have to buy her a birthday pressie.... where do I find the cahs from .. she'll know how much Ive spent etc...
in all seriousness though I earn 21k a year and she earns 7k a year, we have a joint acct we both get paid into, all the bills come out of the acct, the shopping and petrol comes outta that too. what ever is left aint split its just left, if u wanna go for a game of snooker and a few pints I'll just go to the bank and get the money out
1 thing about this thats pi55ing me off now though is that if I wanna spend some dosh on my car she trys to make me feel guilty for spending all what we have.. dont think she has quite grasped the concept that I earn 3 times as much as her stupid cow...lol end of the day whats mine is hers and whats hers is mine... jsut be fair and split the money. saves allt he hassle of u paying for the meal... its all coming out of the joint acct
only other thing that becomes a pain is when I have to buy her a birthday pressie.... where do I find the cahs from .. she'll know how much Ive spent etc...
25 September 2003, 10:31 AM
#38
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rite FYI if the morgage is just yours and she has lived with you for at least 6months it is classed as her home in the governments eyes and if entitled to some of the property
you're saying if ive had a mortgage for 10 years, a gf moves in for 6 months, then leaves.. she's entitled to some of my house?
since when, in england, is commonlaw now being recognised.. and since when is commonlaw 6 months anyway?!
sure, if she can *prove* she's paying directly towards the mortgage, i could understand it, but otherwise...?!?
id be interested in seeing some legal proof of this, preferably with case references.
you're saying if you help out a friend and let them stay with you for a few months, you're putting your house at risk? mortgage companies wouldn't let this fly, surely?
25 September 2003, 10:35 AM
#39
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Chopper yes its me That was indeed an interesting night Hows things going mate?
Scooby96 yes mate I did reply about the bike meet
W69 you know all about that evening of sharkiness and what it lead to cos I told you all about it so no skeletons in the closet there!
Thanks for the replies, gives good ideas of how other people work it so me and the bird can discuss our situation and not argue over it
That was indeed an interesting night Hows things going mate?Scooby96 yes mate I did reply about the bike meet
W69 you know all about that evening of sharkiness and what it lead to cos I told you all about it so no skeletons in the closet there!
Thanks for the replies, gives good ideas of how other people work it so me and the bird can discuss our situation and not argue over it
25 September 2003, 12:02 PM
#40
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Moving your gf in will not cost you any extra per month in terms of mortgage or bills (well not a huge amount in bills) except perhaps the groceries which you can split down the middle.
Say you're spending £800 month on the mortgage. Why not get her to put the same amount or the same percentage of her salary into a high interest account until such time as you buy a house together.
That way you don't have the claim on ownership issue in 6 months, you are both experiencing the same pain on your income and when you come to buying somewhere in a years time you'll have a handy deposit to reduce your mortgage.
Say you're spending £800 month on the mortgage. Why not get her to put the same amount or the same percentage of her salary into a high interest account until such time as you buy a house together.
That way you don't have the claim on ownership issue in 6 months, you are both experiencing the same pain on your income and when you come to buying somewhere in a years time you'll have a handy deposit to reduce your mortgage.
25 September 2003, 12:07 PM
#41
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Hello
As mentioned be careful of the above, as your girlfriend becomes your common-in-law wife after 6 months and has some rights. Not the same as if you were married, but enough to be a problem.
The safest way is to draw up a tenancy agreement, even if the amount in nominal. Of course your girlfriend will probably not be impressed with that.
Apart from that, just split costs down the middle. Although you should probably add a few percent in her direction for the "grief" that you have to put up with that wasn't there when you were on your own!
Steve.
As mentioned be careful of the above, as your girlfriend becomes your common-in-law wife after 6 months and has some rights. Not the same as if you were married, but enough to be a problem.
The safest way is to draw up a tenancy agreement, even if the amount in nominal. Of course your girlfriend will probably not be impressed with that.
Apart from that, just split costs down the middle. Although you should probably add a few percent in her direction for the "grief" that you have to put up with that wasn't there when you were on your own!
Steve.
25 September 2003, 12:14 PM
#42
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What I would sugest, as a few others have, is what I did with my SO (ha ha), and still do: Set up a joint account in both your names. Don't get a switch card for it. Agree how nuch you can both afford to pay into this account each month, depending on your spare income. Use the money in the account to pay all the bills, and if there is anything left over you can either save it up for a rainy day, or use it for buying groceries, or b2z spend it on champange and hookers
25 September 2003, 12:14 PM
#43
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ChristianR
Do the same as you, a standing order from our own accounts pays into our joint account, all house related bils then come from that account. If she wants to spend £60 on a hairdo thats fine by me, as long as it comes out of her own account, I do the same for my addiction to Ebay.
Have never had an argument about money, I actually pay about £25 per week more than her, thats our agreement by way of the fact that sweetie does ALL the housework. Worth every feckin penny
Do the same as you, a standing order from our own accounts pays into our joint account, all house related bils then come from that account. If she wants to spend £60 on a hairdo thats fine by me, as long as it comes out of her own account, I do the same for my addiction to Ebay.
Have never had an argument about money, I actually pay about £25 per week more than her, thats our agreement by way of the fact that sweetie does ALL the housework. Worth every feckin penny
25 September 2003, 12:42 PM
#46
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ahh the Covent Garden thing, was that 2 years ago? Time flies
Back to the thread, deffo get her to sign a tenancy agreement. As i own properties myself , before i get hitched im going to see a solicitor/lawyer to put my assets into a trust or something, so if the worst came to the worst and she wanted to take me to the cleaners shed get nothing at all apart from raucous laughter from me.
Back to the thread, deffo get her to sign a tenancy agreement. As i own properties myself , before i get hitched im going to see a solicitor/lawyer to put my assets into a trust or something, so if the worst came to the worst and she wanted to take me to the cleaners shed get nothing at all apart from raucous laughter from me.
25 September 2003, 12:51 PM
#47
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correct, you can pay the morgage for 10 years, the girlfriend moves in for 6 months and tadaaaaa, shes entitled to some of your house... IMO its all wrong, thats why for the sake of it all Ive stuck my girlfriend on my morgage, could u imagine the arguments u would have if u said to ya girlfriend of 5 years could u sign this love, basically it says u cant have a penny off me if u leave me or I decided I dont fancy u anymore....lmao that in itself would split u up unles sya girlfriend is a very reasonable woman but Ive yet to find a female apart from mother who is reasonable
seriously though Im fekked if my misses leave, we have a fair bit of cash in loans (all in my name), 1 of them is paying for her car and if she feks off with her car Im left paying all the debts we have had and she walks off with half the equity in the house... wrong IMO but there u go
seriously though Im fekked if my misses leave, we have a fair bit of cash in loans (all in my name), 1 of them is paying for her car and if she feks off with her car Im left paying all the debts we have had and she walks off with half the equity in the house... wrong IMO but there u go
25 September 2003, 01:06 PM
#48
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davegtt
Unless English law has changed, there is no such thing as common law wife. (Scottish law, there is).
And the 10yr 6month example is not true, to my knowledge.
Other half, the person who is NOT on the mortgage (and NOT married), has to prove that they are contributing X to the mortgage costs and it is in retrospect of how long for and against how long the mortgage has been running.
It's a different story though if kids are involved.
Unless English law has changed, there is no such thing as common law wife. (Scottish law, there is).
And the 10yr 6month example is not true, to my knowledge.
Other half, the person who is NOT on the mortgage (and NOT married), has to prove that they are contributing X to the mortgage costs and it is in retrospect of how long for and against how long the mortgage has been running.
It's a different story though if kids are involved.
25 September 2003, 01:47 PM
#49
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did I say common law etc etc no I didnt and the example I give is true... my uncle has had these problems himself and he lives in Oldham which I can assure u he aint in scotland
and the example I give is true... my uncle has had these problems himself and he lives in Oldham which I can assure u he aint in scotland
25 September 2003, 02:20 PM
#50
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http://www.divorce.co.uk/hottopics/articles/cohabitants.htm
http://www.divorce.co.uk/hottopics/a...ohabitants.htm
http://www.divorce.co.uk/hottopics/a...ohabitants.htm
25 September 2003, 02:31 PM
#51
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correct, you can pay the morgage for 10 years, the girlfriend moves in for 6 months and tadaaaaa, shes entitled to some of your house
25 September 2003, 03:08 PM
#52
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I bought a house with my partner in Jan - she sold hers so we had a nice deposit I see this as HER money always - she had it before she met me after all.
We did an agreement in writing saying everything you would get back should we split up, would be pro-rata to actual contribution. Seems only common sense. You cant assume any ongoing FUTURE benefit if you have left someone that gave you a better lifestyle than what you could have achieved on your own (IMHO!). There are women who think so though...
I suggest that until you commit PROPERLY (takes years to 'know' someone & I dont count marriage as a proper commitment either) then whoever had the mortgage keeps the mortgage. If she wants shares in the house so she can also be on the property ladder, then let her buy in at current market rates and ALLOCATE the share legally, with a clear memo on what happens should you split.
This is from a guy who was divorced once, but never got stung cos I had 'coldly' thought of financial issues beforehand - come on, there is almost a 50% chance you WILL get divorced after all...
I see this as HER money always - she had it before she met me after all.We did an agreement in writing saying everything you would get back should we split up, would be pro-rata to actual contribution. Seems only common sense. You cant assume any ongoing FUTURE benefit if you have left someone that gave you a better lifestyle than what you could have achieved on your own (IMHO!). There are women who think so though...
I suggest that until you commit PROPERLY (takes years to 'know' someone & I dont count marriage as a proper commitment either) then whoever had the mortgage keeps the mortgage. If she wants shares in the house so she can also be on the property ladder, then let her buy in at current market rates and ALLOCATE the share legally, with a clear memo on what happens should you split.
This is from a guy who was divorced once, but never got stung cos I had 'coldly' thought of financial issues beforehand - come on, there is almost a 50% chance you WILL get divorced after all...
25 September 2003, 09:24 PM
#55
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Funnily enough someone has got the hump about this now. I am all for the mortgage stays mine and she doesn't pay but the idea of a written agreement to that affect went down faster than the titanic.
I can not comment more otherwise it gets out of hand.
Bloody women!
I can not comment more otherwise it gets out of hand.
Bloody women!
26 September 2003, 09:12 AM
#58
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Dont be a mug mate...better YOU sort it now than a lawyer down the line...
Broke my heart recently when a mate got chucked out of his home by his missus, she then demanded he sell his share in the company (so he loses his livelihood but she gets cash - not that she knows how to light for TV or ever lifted a finger for the company!). He then pops home to pick something up and gets greeted by a bloke in HIS dresing gown some 3 weeks after the split...
Dont EVER get shafted...
Broke my heart recently when a mate got chucked out of his home by his missus, she then demanded he sell his share in the company (so he loses his livelihood but she gets cash - not that she knows how to light for TV or ever lifted a finger for the company!). He then pops home to pick something up and gets greeted by a bloke in HIS dresing gown some 3 weeks after the split...
Dont EVER get shafted...
26 September 2003, 09:36 AM
#60
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weapon - look on the bright side. it's early days for you two yet. When i bought my first flat with my GF, we had known each other less than a year. Seven years on and any agreements about capital etc are out the window, we have a bigger place etc. If put in at the beginning, you may enjoy the benefits later.