Oh, hive of wisdom and judgement that is Reddit, you’ve churned out another domestic conundrum that’s as juicy as it is economically puzzling. Picture this: four adults, one roof, and the eternal question – how do we split the bills? Yes, darlings, this isn’t your average sitcom scenario; it’s a real-life drama unfolded on the grand stage of Reddit. And believe me, this one has layers that would make an onion weep. So tighten your seatbelts, because you’re riding shotgun with me, Roger of HotTakes, as we dissect this household hullabaloo.
In the blue corner, we have our benevolent bill master, person A, who’s been juggling the finances like a circus performer. Person A’s philosophy? Simple – four working adults equals bills sliced neatly into quarters. But here’s where the plot thickens: enter Persons C and D, lovebirds who’ve been nesting under the guise of a single economic entity. Poor person B is seemingly stashed away in the background, the drama’s unsung hero.
Person D, previous to their gainful employment, was a non-contributing tenant courtesy of life’s tumultuous tides, yet managed to coast along with a reduced financial burden thanks to the graciousness of person A (and, begrudgingly, person B). But, alas! The winds of change have blown, and person D is earning their keep. Person A, optimistic and ever so logically, suggests a shift to a four-way split.
Cue the record scratch. Persons C and D unleash a logic so baffling, it could potentially induce a migraine in a mathematician. Their argument, wrapped in the warm embrace of coupledom, posits that they should continue enjoying a discounted living arrangement because they share more than just toothpaste – they share a bed. Oh, and did I mention there are kids involved? Yes, the layers just keep coming.
This delicious slice of life raises the eternal question: What constitutes a fair share in a shared living arrangement? Is it the number of heartbeats per square foot, or is there a mystical, couples-only discount I’m not aware of? And before you start crafting your think pieces, remember – this is a real Reddit story from a real person.
Now, for Roger’s Hot Take: where there’s shared space, there should be shared responsibility. While love may make you blind, it certainly shouldn’t make you financially invisible. Couples do not form an impenetrable economic unit impervious to the realities of shared living. Sharing a room doesn’t give you a metaphysical pass to contribute less to the pot that keeps the lights on, the water running, and the internet streaming.
So, WIBTA? In the grand court of Roger’s reason, absolutely not. A fair split is as essential to cohabitation as mutual respect. To the lovebirds of this tale, consider this a crash course in the economics of adulthood. And to our bill-burdened friend, stand your ground. After all, fairness in finance fosters harmony at home.
Stay savvy, dear readers, and remember – when in doubt, split it out.
Original story
The situation is exactly as the title says.
The house bills consist of rent, electric, water, gas, and internet.
There are four people living in one house: me (person A who dictates how much is paid), person B, person C, and person D.
Persons C and D are a couple.
Before person D moved in everything was split three ways as it was fair. When they did move in they only had a job for a little bit and due to circumstances lost it.
Because of person C being bad with money (different topic completely) and after discussing it over with person B to see if they were okay with it, I opted to still keep everything split three ways even though I approached person C about them paying for their part plus person D’s part and they said they’d be okay with doing it.
I was trying to help given the circumstances.
Fast forward, person D now has a job. I made mention that since they have a job we could now split everything four ways.
This is where the WIBTA comes in.
Persons C and D do not see it that way. They think that because they are a couple, one unit/entity, that the only things to be split four ways are the electric and water as those are the only things to fluctuate. Everything else is to continue to be split three ways.
Truth be told I think they’d rather keep it split three ways in general but l digress.
To a very small extent I can kind of see what they are saying but I disagreed and said that I don’t see it that way, that four people are working so four people should split everything.
They tried to say that if I, hypothetically, moved a couple in and it’s just me and the couple that I should split things 50/50 because the couple are one and not two. I said if they both had jobs then things would get split three way.
We had a small argument and things ended with everything being split four ways with person C paying both their parts.
So WIBTA in this situation?
Edit: To add a bit of context because I did not think about it beforehand, this is a four bedroom house.
Persons C and D do share a room but kids of person D have a room as well. I hope this helps give a little more insight.