When you move in with someone, organising your finances and getting everyone on the same page about payments is crucial - especially if you're planning to split the bills evenly between you.
But one woman has slammed her boyfriend's financial proposal after he asked her to move in with him, as he is demanding that she start paying him half of his mortgage, even though she has no claim over the property.
The woman said she and her partner have happily agreed to split household bills evenly between them, but the mortgage is causing tension - as the woman believes her boyfriend should pay the whole thing, as he bought the house before the two of them started dating and has been comfortably paying it by himself ever since.
In a post on Reddit, she said: "My boyfriend and I have been together for two years. He bought a house before we met, and he's just asked me to move in with him. I want to do it, that's for sure, but I'm trying to figure out the terms because I don't want to make the same mistakes I made in my previous relationship - investing energy, money, and time in a house that was his and, when we broke up, I had to go back to my parents' place emotionally and financially broke.
"So I've been thinking splitting the expenses on supplies, food or new furniture is 100% the right thing, but not the mortgage. I don't feel comfortable paying for a house that is his, because that establishes a landlord-tenant relationship between us (i.e., an uneven relationship where one of us is in an advantageous position).
"I don't want to feel that he's got all the control over the roof over my head and, if we split or something bad happens to him, I'm left with nothing again.
"If we ever get married or he includes me in his will (something that will be put on the table in 2/3 years if everything goes well), then I'll for sure pay my part of the mortgage because then we'll be on the same page towards the house."
However, commenters are split on the matter, with some saying that although she's right not to want to pay for exactly half of the mortgage, she should be paying something to her boyfriend instead of getting a place to stay for free.
One person said: "It's actually in your best interest to pay him rent. Look up what renting a room in your area goes for and pay him that. Do not pay for any home improvements or repairs - as you're right then you're investing in his house and you will get nothing if everything goes south.
"You do need to pay rent. It's not paying his mortgage, it's being fair that you will be causing wear and tear to his house - and you won't be financially responsible for repairs."
While another added: "You gotta pay something though."
But others said that if she's expected to pay her partner some rent, then she should have all the protections a tenant would be expected to have, such as a private space in the house that her boyfriend can't enter without notice, and a proper lease that means she can stay in the property even if they split up.
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