Splitting bills when you're in a relationship can be tricky. Whether you're out for dinner, out with friends or managing household costs, the majority of us would prefer to not spoil quality time together by talking about money. To avoid having an awkward conversation or being out of pocket, Paym, the UK's mobile payment service has provided its five top tips for relationship-friendly finances.
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When out at dinner -Women are twice as likely as men to want to split the bill on a date (66% vs 29%) according to our research, but the most important thing is to be clear about how you to play things. Paying the bill after dinner can be an etiquette minefield; however there are simple steps you can take to make it a pain-free process - if you want to treat the other person on the date, make it clear in the invitation.
If it's just the two of you out for dinner, then either take it in turns to pay, split the bill 50/50 or if you're being treated - sit back and enjoy yourself!
When out for a drink - The pitfalls of splitting the drinks bill is an age-old scenario, do you each by a round, pay for what you drink, or split it evenly? If you can, before you get to the venue, decide with your partner if you're paying as a couple or individually. This means you already know if you're paying for one or two people when it comes to the final bill. Buying in rounds is usually a safe way of ensuring no one is left putting the tab on their card at the end of the night.
When on holiday - Before you get on the plane make sure you've both agreed the amount of cash you'll be spending and how you'll pay for things while you're away. If it's a new relationship, this can seem a kill-joy, but you need to be honest about what you can afford to avoid stress and financial difficulties when you should be relaxing.
When out with friends - Again, before you arrive it's best to understand if as a group you're paying individually or as couples. If one person is organising and paying for tickets or entry fees upfront, then make sure you've told them how you're paying them back. Are you transferring the money before or paying them back by buying things such as food and drinks at the event? Using a mobile to mobile payment service such as Paym is a simple, secure way to send and receive payments straight to a current account using just a mobile number - either by selecting it from the mobile phone contacts book or typing it in directly.
When sorting household bills - Paying back for bills petrol or shopping is part and parcel of sharing a home, whether you're living with your mates or your partner. Work out if you're splitting these evenly each time by paying for yourselves, or if you're taking it in turns make sure you're keeping track of whose turn it is.
For more information, including how to register, visit www.paym.co.uk
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