I’m living in the same room with my roommate, but their income is much higher than mine. Everything is split in half, but their spending puts a bigger burden on me. Should I say something, would they call me stingy? Or should we talk about how much each other’s income is?
8 Answers
8I experienced something like this with my roommate too. He was working full-time while I worked part-time. There was a difference in income, but he never suggested we split things differently. I didn’t speak up out of pride, but I always felt stressed at the end of the month. I wish we had settled this clearly from the beginning.
The issue here isn’t whether you’re stingy or not, but that everyone should fairly meet their share. If someone knows about the income disparity and still demands total equality, it means they see this as solely your responsibility. Of course, speak freely; this is a matter of power balance 
How many months have you been paying like this? Have you ever tried to mention it before? I mean, did you at least say something like, ‘It’s a bit difficult for me’? 
Roommate relationships simply won’t work if you don’t start off with solid calculations. It’s not like family; everyone thinks of their own interests. Normally, if that person earns a lot, they should have offered it themselves. Honestly, I found it a bit strange.
In such expense-sharing situations, fairness is generally determined based on both parties’ income and arrangements. If this wasn’t discussed when signing the lease with your roommate, the most sensible thing would be to bring it up now and establish a reasonable ratio. You can think of it not as a legal right, but rather as a social one.
Thank you all, friends. I just realized that if I speak without blaming him at all, it might be easier. Because I really haven’t expressed it directly, I’m just thinking about it in my mind. I guess I’ll try to open up a little.
Your friend probably doesn’t see the multiplicity of his income as a problem for you. Some people look at it simply as, ‘Did we pay everything equally? Alright then.’ If you were in his place, would you notice the same thing? Think about it
I think this is a very common situation, it happens to everyone trying to share equally while living in the same room. Common conversations are important, but maybe it might be necessary to equalize not just the rent, but other expenses as well. If they are taking more of the food, it might make you feel more comfortable.