Managing finances together as I [26M] begin working and she [26F] continues her studies.
Hey, I could use some advice. I’ve been in a relationship with my girlfriend for a year and a half. We moved in together last November, and both of us still receive financial support from our relatively well-off parents, while I have a part-time job. Initially, since I had more disposable income from my job, I treated us to dinners out and similar expenses. After I completed my degree in medical school and stopped working, we began splitting our expenses 50/50. Now that I’ve graduated, I’m about to start earning significantly more than before, while she’s still on the lookout for a student job. If I wanted to, I could easily cover all our current expenses and even save some money. However, since we haven’t been together for very long, I’m concerned about feeling resentful about spending my first earnings. I'm uncertain about how to handle this situation in a way that feels fair but not overly generous. I’ve considered the idea of splitting rent while I cover all the grocery costs and occasional dinners out. I believe this could significantly enhance both our qualities of life without creating any imbalance.