![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/3ohrygAnH3QLVxC3Pq\/giphy.gif\")
<\/p>\nHousehold finances can be a chore at the best of times. While getting housemates is a fantastic way of cutting down costs and bills by sharing the costs, even that carries with its own share of headaches and frustrations.<\/p>\n
For example, what if you have a housemate that\u2019s constantly using electricity? Or, conversely, a housemate who\u2019s hardly in and therefore thinks they shouldn\u2019t have to pay as much towards the bill?<\/p>\n
Do you share amenities such as the internet or phone, or should everyone use their own?<\/p>\n
These questions and more should be addressed if you not only want peace of mind for your household budget, but also peace and harmony between you and your housemates.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re all moving in together at once, or inviting someone new to a pre-existing arrangement, make sure details are hammered out before any final arrangements are made.<\/p>\n
Nobody wants to be in that awkward or frustrating place of wanting to change how the bill payments work after everything is supposed to have been agreed.<\/p>\n
Make sure you\u2019re all clear not only how bills are to be divided, but also what exactly the monthly costs entail. Work out exactly what needs to be paid for \u2013 rent, taxes, utilities, basic groceries.<\/p>\n
Combine all these onto a single list and then use the sum total to work out how the bill should be split. There are several ways you can do this.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/xUNd9DLukkavmhybAs\/giphy.gif\")
<\/p>\n
Each housemate pays an equal amount for the bills, split evenly between however occupants are in the house.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, one housemate volunteers to handle the account from which the bills are paid.<\/p>\n
This is perhaps the most straightforward solution and one that offers the least complications. However, it does have its downsides.<\/p>\n
Mainly, in the event that the housemate responsible for all the house\u2019s finances moves out, then all the bills will need to be transferred to the to a new person, creating a whole sleuth of bureaucratic hiccups that could take weeks or even months to resolve, depending on how smoothly the transition is.<\/p>\n
And let\u2019s be real\u2014when is dealing with a gas or water company\u2019s customer service ever smooth?<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/vwI4mYEHP8k0w\/giphy.gif\")
<\/p>\n
The housemate may also feel most of the financial pressure when things go wrong, making this a very important but very stressful position to be in.<\/p>\n
Likewise, if the account-keeping should go wrong, it\u2019s them who must deal with the worst of it.<\/p>\n
So make sure the housemate has plenty of support, and that money is paid promptly to them. Set up a standing order and get everyone to pay into the account at roughly the same time before the bills are due to be paid.<\/p>\n
One way this can be avoided is by getting a joint account where everyone pays into it and everyone is responsible for it, thus sharing the burden of financial management across the board and removing the need for one person to chase the others up for cash.<\/p>\n
Be aware, however, that this account can spell a lot of trouble for everyone if things go wrong.<\/p>\n
Anything from collective debts to everyone\u2019s credit score being downgraded. This can have severe consequences even long after they\u2019ve moved out. Bye-bye good loans, mortgages and credit cards!<\/p>\n
Make sure you all trust each other before you make this sort of commitment. Preferably, keep it between very close friends or significant others.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/3ohhwhqoGYnNlSmVCo\/giphy.gif\")
<\/p>\n
Rather than equal shares of the bill, you could try equitable shares of the bill instead. Each person pays in accordance to their own use and needs.<\/p>\n
If someone is hardly at home, they pay less than someone who\u2019s nearly always at home and using the utilities.<\/p>\n
This method will take a lot of negotiation and compromise. Otherwise, you may get arguments over exactly what exactly counts as a \u201cfair\u201d share of the bill. Make sure you have a great arbitrator among you!<\/p>\n
Another method for dealing with bills is to have everyone volunteer to take up a particular bill and make themselves solely responsible for it. They handle its accounts, its payment, and all that good stuff. Everyone keeps to their own bill and that\u2019s that.<\/p>\n
Problem is, the bills will never be completely equal. The water may cost more than the electricity, which may cost more than the internet, which may cost more than the gas.<\/p>\n
Further, what if people abuse this system and rank up the bill on someone else\u2019s wallet? Or tries to limit everyone else\u2019s usage of that utility so they don\u2019t have to pay as much?<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/l1J9PlKfqAhqnVfBC\/giphy.gif\")
<\/p>\n
A lot of arguments can be had over this method, simply because it\u2019s very individualistic and narrow in scope. Some households may find it works better, but honestly, most won\u2019t be able to get the balance right. One way to prevent arguments from the beginning would be to use an app. Whether you\u2019re moving into a flatshare or have been in one for some time, an app like acasa<\/a> will split everything fairly. This can be the difference between everyone never speaking again because someone didn\u2019t pay their share – bill splitting apps offer full transparency for everyone and no one needs to front the cash for anything.<\/p>\n Ultimately the most important tool for working out how to share bills with housemates is knowing to communicate.<\/p>\n If someone is struggling to pay their way, make sure they\u2019re encouraged to speak up about it so a new arrangement can be made that better accommodates their current financial situation.<\/p>\n If someone isn\u2019t paying their share, don\u2019t be afraid to chase them up on it. Likewise, if this is a common problem, a quiet but firm word may also be necessary.<\/p>\n Be patient, everyone has money woes from time to time, but don\u2019t let them take you for a chump either\u2026<\/p>\nCommunication is Key<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/l2R07mnARb1PqNtNS\/giphy.gif\")
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/flatmate-HQ\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/blog-flathunter.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"