30 August 2023 , 13:08
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A woman is determined to have her partner pay more than her for their groceries because he eats more than she does. Finances can be a tricky topic when it comes to relationships so she has sought an expert's opinion. Currently, the pair split bills 50/50, which she doesn't think is fair. They've been together for a few years now and something that’s become abundantly clear is that they eat dramatically different amounts of food.
"We go through our grocery hauls so quickly because his meal portion sizes are enormous and he burns through snacks much faster than I do. We currently split our grocery costs equally, but given he eats so much more of the food than I do, is it fair for me to ask him to pay more than me?" she asked.
The woman wrote into Money Matters, a weekly Nine Honey column that deals with money etiquette matters that can result in awkward situations. Journalist Jo Abi said this situation could be "a relationship deal breaker" and she's worried why the boyfriend hasn’t clued in on the situation already. If it was his idea to split the grocery bill equally, she believes this is a "major red flag".
Jo recommended nipping the situation in the bud now because problems like this that appear at the beginning of a relationship can lead to disaster later. She suggested either making hints about the situation while he’s in the house chowing down on something or proposing he pays more when they’re at the checkout.
“It will be his reaction to these suggestions that will help you decide if this relationship has any longevity. If he picks up the first or second suggestion seamlessly, good on him and all the best to you both. If he doesn't pick up on your suggestion or worse, doesn't react well, I'd be rethinking things," she said.
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Jo went on to say that while it's awkward to talk about money in relationships, it's worse to not talk about it at all. The consumer expert also advised that the woman shouldn’t become nit-picky about finances, as that can have a negative outcome. She concluded: "How you navigate this issue and how he reacts will be repeated with other issues that arise so pay attention, and make sure you achieve the outcome you are after. It has been on your mind, so it needs to be resolved."