A worked example
One income brings home $6,000. Shared costs are $3,600 and $1,200 goes to savings. That leaves $1,200: each partner gets $600 of personal money to spend, no questions asked.
When it happens
- Studying or a career change.
- Job hunting.
- Parental leave or unpaid leave.
- Caring for a child or a relative.
- Illness.
Put it in writing
- What the earning partner covers.
- How much personal money each of you gets.
- Whether this counts as a loan (most couples agree it does not).
- What happens with personal debt from before.
- A review date, for example in three months.
When income comes back
Return to your usual rule (50/50 or by income) from the first full paycheck. If you agreed on a loan, track the repayments so you can settle without surprises.
With Couplesplit
Set the split to 100/0 for this phase and switch back when things change, without touching past months. Each partner’s personal money stays in Mine, private.
Questions
Should the non-earning partner pay it back later?
Only if you agreed to that. Most couples treat it as a household phase, not a loan.
How much personal money is reasonable?
The same for both of you, from what is left after shared costs and savings.
What if the phase lasts longer?
Review the agreement on the set date and adjust shared costs or savings if needed.