"I've been with my girlfriend for three years. I make three times what she does. I also have zero debts because of a lucky break with getting a sports scholarship. My girlfriend, on the other hand, went to a private school with high student loans. She is lucky to be in a loan forgiveness program if she teaches in a low-income school district for a period of several years, but she still has high monthly payments. She also has maxed-out credit cards."
"When we first got together, we decided on a 80-20 split in bills. She drives my older, paid-off car so she can put more money towards her debts. I pay for nearly everything, max out my 401(k), and am saving for a down payment on a house. I also pay for nearly all our outings and activities, because I budget for them."
The couple has been together three years and faces a large income disparity: one partner earns three times as much and has no debt, while the other carries substantial student loans and maxed-out credit cards. They agreed to an 80-20 bill split and the lower-earning partner drives the paid-off car to prioritize debt payments. The higher earner covers most expenses, maximizes retirement contributions, and saves for a house down payment. Spontaneous dining and trips by the indebted partner strain the budget. A fight over a planned bachelorette trip and a demand to quit work to become a stay-at-home partner escalated tensions and threatened the relationship.
Read at Slate Magazine
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