HOW TO SPLIT THE BILLS WITHOUT SPLITTING UP

Money is a common cause of arguments among couples that live together . . . Here are a few tips on sharing costs with your significant other without going crazy.

#1.) IF YOU CAN'T CHIP IN EQUALLY FOR THE RENT, DO SOMETHING ELSE. If you're not paying exactly half of the rent, try to take up simple household chores like laundry and grocery shopping to make up for it.

#2.) PAY FRIVOLOUS EXPENSES OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET. If she's not going to drink half the 12-pack or he's not going to use the fancy $10 shampoo, don't buy it with the groceries that you two split the cost on.

#3.) EXPERIMENT. If you two are both certain that your brand of choice is cheaper or better, try both and decide together.

#4.) PLAN AHEAD. If you talk ahead of time about how expenses will be split, it will clear things up immediately and open the door for future conversations about money. - (Tango)