DEAR RHONA: My partner and I share our home expenses 50/50. He has two preteen boys who live with us 65 per cent of the time. I like to cook and share food with my co-workers and my family, so I have willingly paid half the groceries. But the boys are starting to eat more. He has recently agreed to pay two-thirds of the water bill (more showers and laundry), but there's other expenses, too. His income is almost double mine, but he has more childcare expenses. I don't want to be unfair but he's not overly generous in the way of gifts and he thinks his current contributions are already fair. -- Just Wondering
Dear JW: Your boyfriend probably feels financially stretched, so he counts on your understanding. If you want to be absolutely left-brained mathematical and count the two boys as one extra addition in the house, then 65 per cent of their one-third share equals a 20 per cent share of expenses -- leaving 40 per cent for each of the two adults. If your rent would be the same whether they are there or not, take that out of the equation. The real place extra bodies show up is in the food department. Teenagers consume like a swarm of locusts in their growing years. Your guy is a package deal; to have a smiley-face relationship you'll have to be OK with a certain amount of generosity on your part. I'd say discuss the food bill and leave the rest. Maybe he could make regular bulk meat purchases to take the edge off. Tell him that on your smaller salary that would leave you some extra cash to be generous with the kids on your own terms.
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