How do I budget as a couple when one earns a lot more than the other?

When incomes differ sharply, splitting shared bills 50/50 can strain the lower earner and breed resentment. Many couples instead split shared expenses proportionally to income, so if one partner earns 70 percent of the household total, they cover 70 percent of joint costs, leaving both with similar discretionary breathing room. A popular structure combines this with a yours-mine-and-ours setup: a joint account funded proportionally for shared bills and savings, plus individual accounts for personal spending with no questions asked. The key is agreeing on the method openly rather than defaulting to an even split that ignores reality. Whatever you choose, both partners should see the full picture and share long-term goals so the budget feels like a team effort, not a scorecard.