Live in girlfriend and finances

[raphet99]

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Get it in writing, explicitly stating that it is rent. You don't need her coming back after you've broken up (not saying that will happen) and arguing that she was paying a portion of the house payment, so you have to buy out her share. Rental agreements make it straightforward. I would especially do this now that I have read that the heat is coming from her mother.

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You make a good point and I think I might do this. But mostly for other reasons. Overall my girlfriend thinks the situation is fair. One of the situations she _doesn't_ think is fair is that by living with me in my house, she isn't able to increase her credit. I may look into having a rental agreement drafted if by doing so, it will help her credit. I don't know the logistics of that or if it's possible so I'll have to look into that.

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Does she haave a credit card? Or has she bought a car? The easiest way to establish a credit history is to open a credit card (if she's never had one, it'll be easy to get one), run a small balance, and PAY IT OFF, repeat next month.

[ElaineMonster]

If you're both OK with the arrangement, then that's all that matters.

But since you asked for OOT's opinion, here's mine:

If I were in her position, I'd wouldn't do it. I'd rent a room somewhere else on my own or I'd want some equity in the house.

Sounds like she really loves you (moved twice across country with probably nothing to gain except your companionship) or else she's really insecure/young/stupid. Either way, you're taking advantage, albeit only a slight advantage since a)it's not that much money and b)she couldn't rent elsewhere for cheaper.

If you're OK with that, fine.

[ddubois]

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I was taken back.

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FYI,
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/taken.html

[Lottery Larry]

Sounds more than fair to me. If things get more serious, you may have screwed yourself, setting her expectations, however.

[MrMoo]

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If I were in her position, I'd wouldn't do it. I'd rent a room somewhere else on my own or I'd want some equity in the house.

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So Elaine, in your opinion what would be fair to her? Should she be able to live in my house rent free? If so, should her contributions to the bills stay at 20% or should we split the communal bills 50/50? What do you think is fair?

[MrMoo]

Thanks. I actually thought it looked wierd when I typed that out.

[grandgnu]

WE WANT PRENUP, WE WANT PRENUP!

[MrMoo]

Go play mind games with your wife. :-)

[MrMoo]

Thanks for the advice. She is currently working on increasing her credit through various means. I think the small issue is that by her name being on a rental agreement or whatever, it would yet another avenue for her to increase her credit.

[kyleb]

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WE WANT PRENUP, WE WANT PRENUP!



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Amen, brother. It's somethin' that you need to have.