Should groceries be shared 50/50?

Groceries sit in an awkward middle: they’re essential, but they’re also personal. Some couples find 50/50 groceries simplest. Others prefer proportional (so leftovers stay balanced), or a hybrid rule (shared staples, personal extras). The “best” choice is the one that feels fair and stays low-friction.

Last updated: 2025-12-17

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Methodology

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Three common grocery-splitting systems

50/50: simplest. Works well when incomes are similar and spending habits are similar.
Proportional: treats groceries like other shared costs, keeping leftovers more balanced when incomes differ.
Hybrid: shared staples (milk, pasta, cleaning supplies) and personal extras (snacks, supplements, alcohol) paid separately.

You can also choose to keep groceries out of “shared costs” entirely and handle them informally — but that makes the maths less explicit, and surprises are more likely.

Worked examples: groceries shared vs separate

Example 1: groceries shared (included in shared costs)

Total shared cost: £3,032 / month (includes groceries)

Leftovers (proportional): A £1,604 / B £1,264

Open this scenario in the calculator What counts as shared costs?

Example 2: groceries separate (shared costs are “housing only”)

Total shared cost: £2,432 / month (excludes groceries)

Leftovers (proportional): A £1,940 / B £1,528

Open this scenario in the calculator What counts as shared costs?

A simple way to choose

If groceries are a small part of your shared cost and 50/50 feels emotionally easiest, keep it simple. If groceries are large or money is tight, make the choice explicit and check what happens to leftovers. If you find you’re arguing about “who bought what”, a hybrid rule usually reduces friction quickly.

This is budgeting guidance only. The goal is a sustainable system you can live with, not a perfect theoretical definition of fairness.

FAQ

Is 50/50 the simplest option?

Yes — and it often works. But it can feel unfair if incomes are very different, or if one person is home more and naturally uses more groceries/household supplies.

What’s the best compromise?

A common compromise is: groceries shared, but split proportional — or groceries mostly shared, but each person pays for their own “extras”.

What if we eat very differently?

If the difference is big, consider keeping groceries separate or using a hybrid rule (shared staples, personal extras). The goal is low friction and low resentment.

Do groceries matter much compared to the mortgage?

The mortgage is usually the largest line item, but groceries can still change leftovers materially — especially at tight affordability levels. It’s worth making the choice explicit.