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My husband and I have been married for 10 years. We have four children (ages range from 8 to 5 months).
We recently relocated, and my husband is not working so he can care for our youngest children. My mother-in-law retired and relocated with us. She is currently living with us and has been for over 10 months. She intends on purchasing her own home, but she’s going to purchase a new build about eight months out from now.
We share a meal twice a week (she purchases and cooks once and we cook once). Things have gotten a bit tense because how we should split bills has become a sticking point. I had been purchasing all the laundry detergent, paper products, cleaning products and other household supplies. She pays for her cell phone, her own groceries (that we don’t use), and a fixed “rent” of $750 per month.
However, as the cost of things has been rising, I’m beginning to wonder what is fair. What should I expect her to contribute to other bills, if anything?
-C.
Dear C.,
No wonder things are tense! You’ve got seven people living in a household, including four young children. It sounds like you’re carrying the household on your income. Even without soaring inflation, nerves are bound to run high.
I don’t know what a fair amount to charge your mother-in-law is. To get a sense of what she’d pay to rent a similar room in your part of the country, you could check Craigslist or one of the many roommate-finder websites out there. Keep in mind, though, that most of those listings won’t include four roommates ages 8 and younger.
I’m guessing that $750 a month is pretty cheap, particularly if it includes utilities and internet. But I’m guessing your goal isn’t to charge her market rent. No matter how much your mother-in-law adds to your stress levels, she’s probably not adding $750 a month to your bills if she’s paying for her own groceries. If she helps out a lot with childcare and household…
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