Romance and Real Estate: Navigating Shared Rent and Housing Expenses

How can couples split housing expenses without splitting up? Learn how to keep your finances — and relationship — healthy.

01:30This Week in Your Money: What part of your life can have an unexpected impact on your finances? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss how personal experiences with ADHD and side hustles have had financial implications for them beyond what you might expect. Learn how unexpected opportunities and even scrolling social media can impact your buying decisions and affect your bottom line.

12:31Today’s Money Question: What’s the best method for splitting housing costs with your significant other? How can you figure out what’s “fair” when one partner is making a lot more money than the other? NerdWallet writer Kate Wood joins Sean and Sara to help answer a listener’s question about how to split living expenses like mortgage and utility bills when cohabitating with a loved one.

They explore various options for splitting rent or mortgage payments, including informal agreements, formal rental contracts and tenancy in common. They also weigh the pros and cons of a classic 50/50 split versus splitting housing costs proportionally based on income, and explain why having an emergency fund is especially important when living with a romantic partner. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how you can ensure fairness and transparency through practical tips that can keep both your relationship and your finances healthy.

We also wanted to let you know about an upcoming webinar from our tax Nerds on Wednesday, January 17th at 9:00 AM Pacific Time, noon Eastern Time. You will get the rundown on all things taxes, like tax credits, deductions, tax advantaged accounts, and how to prepare for a filing season. Space is limited, so click the link in the episode description to register.

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: finances, housing costs, cohabitation, sharing expenses, couples, money in relationships, mortgage, income-based strategies, impulse buys, written contracts, roommate tax implications, cohabitation agreements, managing money, sensitive financial discussions, transparency, cost-splitting methods, financial partnerships, housing budgeting, formalizing financial arrangements, rental agreements, tenancy in common, financial responsibilities, life goals, and emergency funds.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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