Couples who live together, how do you split expenses like groceries and household supplies?

[Anonymous]

I'm having an issue with my live in boyfriend when it comes to equally splitting grocery expenses and items like laundry detergent , toilet paper etc. I do most of the shopping and he gives me money at the beginning of the month. But now we are arguing about how much I spend a month on food and household supplies like paper towels, laundry detergent and toilet paper of which the prices of everything has gone up. It all comes to between $400-$450 a month. I have tried showing him the receipts and he'll pick out several items that he claims he never eats and says he shouldn't have to pay for those. Things like apples, suddenly he claims he doesn't eat fruit. or I don't like those chips you got and I don't eat cookies or salad. Then he'll accuse me of buying treats for my dog and claims I'm trying to get him to pay for that. He proposed an outrageous idea which was when he was single he could get by on $50 a month for groceries so he thinks if he pitches in $50 that should be enough. He says he only eats one meal a day at home (dinner) and basically I'm eating everything else on my own. My question is to couples who live together what do you spend a month and how do you work it out financially between the two of you? I'm at the point where I'm going to tell him to buy his own food, and I'll buy my own and we'll eat separate meals.

[MzAsh]

You could do two separate transactions, one with the money he gave you and only the items he wants. That way he has no room to argue because every dollar he gives you will be itemized on the receipt. However, I really think your relationship is in trouble if he’s being that petty.

[Chris758]

I think when my ex wasn't pregnant or on maternity leave we split everything financially.
We usually shopped for groceries together and it was actually a fun thing to do together. it was more expensive when we went shopping together, otherwise I went by myself or with my son. Eventually she accused me of making her fat because I worked a lot and I had a high metabolism, but she gained weight.

[slatyb]

I would be at the point where I would tell him to go find somewhere else to live. This is so petty. Is money really tight?

[Jessica405]

He is nit picking! Tell him to cough up or ship out and buy his own stuff. In our household, we have a 5 way split. Me, my boyfriend, my bruv, mum and her partner. Works well. No one quibbles about the wrong cheese.