What goes in each bucket
| Bucket | Typical costs | Who sees it |
|---|---|---|
| Ours | Rent, utilities, groceries, shared trips, pets, children | Both of you |
| Mine / Yours | Hobbies, clothes, personal subscriptions, gifts, personal debt | Only its owner |
How much each of you puts into “ours”
Pick one rule. 50/50 is simplest when incomes are similar. By income is fairer when they are not: with incomes of 3,000 and 7,000, contributions are 30% and 70%. Use the calculator to try your numbers.
Separate accounts or not
You do not need a joint account. What you need is a shared record of what is “ours”, who paid and what each owes. A joint account can make paying bills easier, but it is optional.
Privacy without secrets
Personal spending is private, not secret: shared obligations are always visible, and big personal decisions that affect the household are still worth a conversation. In Couplesplit, Ours and Mine live in the same app and never mix: your partner sees Ours, and Mine is only yours.
Review once a month
Look at the “ours” total, the balance and anything unusual. Adjust the rule after a salary change, a move or a new child.
Questions
Is yours, mine and ours good for couples with different incomes?
Yes, especially if contributions to “ours” are proportional to income, so the lower earner keeps a fair amount of personal money.
Do we need three bank accounts?
No. Some couples open a joint account for “ours”, but tracking it in an app works too.
Should personal spending be visible to my partner?
It does not need to be. What matters is that shared costs are visible and fairly split. Keep personal spending personal.