Blog · Shared expenses for couples, flatmates and friends

Restaurant table at the end of a group dinner with empty plates and hands over the bill

friends dinners splitting Jun 05, 2026

Splitting group dinners: the endless round

Going fifty-fifty, splitting literally, or reaching for the calculator are three different protocols for the same dinner. Here's when each one is worth using and why there's always someone who loses out.

ControlarGastos · Groups & trips

Shelf of cleaning supplies in a shared flat, partial view with no legible labels

flat cleaning splitting Jun 03, 2026

Shared cleaning supplies: the contested corner

Detergent, kitchen paper, and dishwashing liquid are the grey area where the most friction is generated in a shared flat. Here's a roadmap so that cleaning stops being a passive-aggressive affair.

ControlarGastos · Flat-sharing

A couple going over paper bills at a kitchen table with soft evening light coming through the window.

couple utilities electricity Jun 01, 2026

Splitting electricity and gas as a couple: three ways

Down the middle seems the natural option until one works from home and the other lives at the office. Proportional to usage, to income or fifty-fifty are three models that coexist badly when they aren't chosen explicitly. Three serious ways to split electricity and gas as a couple.

ControlarGastos · Couples & money

A school backpack, books and a folded uniform on a bed in soft morning light in a child's room.

family school education May 29, 2026

Subsidised private school cost: enrolment, lunch, uniforms

The state-subsidised private school is sold as almost-free education and ends up costing between one thousand five hundred and three thousand euros a year per child. We break down fees, lunch, uniforms, books, the parents' association, outings and activities so the real figure stops being a surprise.

ControlarGastos · Family & home

A flatshare living room with a router on a shelf and natural light coming through the window.

flat wifi electricity May 27, 2026

Wi-Fi and electricity in a flatshare: a fair split

Wi-Fi and electricity are the acid test of any flatshare. Split it down the middle seems fair until one flatmate works from home, another lives at night and a third is almost always at their partner's place. Three models to keep the flat group chat from going up in flames every month.

ControlarGastos · Flat-sharing

Envelopes and bills on a wooden table with a cup of coffee and hands taking notes in a notebook.

couple property tax building fees May 25, 2026

Splitting property tax and service charges as a couple

Living as a couple isn't just about splitting the grocery shop. Property tax (IBI) lands once a year and the building service charge every quarter, and most couples pay them as if they were aliens dropping into their monthly finances. There's a way to do it properly without going mad.

ControlarGastos · Couples & money

Hands on a controller in front of a screen, warm light in a shared room.

friends steam gaming May 22, 2026

Splitting Steam bundles and group purchases between friends

Buying a game bundle together seems simple until it's time to divide it up. Four friends, twelve keys, a single payment and official prices that don't add up. Here's how to split it without anyone feeling they've come off worse.

ControlarGastos · Groups & trips

Flatshare fridge with separated shelves, handwritten labels and products from four different tenants

flat groceries splitting May 20, 2026

Groceries in a flat of four: the dilemma of different tastes

In a flat of four there are vegetarians, athletes who cook every day and people who order takeout. How to separate the common from the individual without turning the fridge into a cold-war zone.

ControlarGastos · Flat-sharing

Living-room coffee table with two coffees, an open notebook and two bank cards laid out calmly

couple bank account May 18, 2026

Joint checking account: when it's worth it and when it isn't

Opening a joint account isn't a banking decision, it's an emotional one. Three models (single common, partial, no common), when each one works and when it's a red flag.

ControlarGastos · Couples & money

Family shopping cart full of basic groceries and kids' snacks in a supermarket aisle

family groceries children May 15, 2026

Family groceries with two kids: how the split changes

Going from €400 to €700 or €800 a month on groceries when you have two kids isn't just about portions. It changes the basket, the routines and the way the two parents budget together.

ControlarGastos · Family & home

Shared expenses without arguments.

Topics

Splitting group dinners: the endless round

Shared cleaning supplies: the contested corner

Splitting electricity and gas as a couple: three ways

Subsidised private school cost: enrolment, lunch, uniforms

Wi-Fi and electricity in a flatshare: a fair split

Splitting property tax and service charges as a couple

Splitting Steam bundles and group purchases between friends

Groceries in a flat of four: the dilemma of different tastes

Joint checking account: when it's worth it and when it isn't

Family groceries with two kids: how the split changes