The “Who Paid for Toilet Paper?” Dilemma

Living with roommates can be the best time of your life—or a passive-aggressive nightmare fueled by unpaid bills and empty milk cartons.

Money is the #1 cause of conflict in shared households. Whether it’s the electric bill, the internet subscription, or that impromptu pizza night, keepings track of who owes what is exhausting if you don’t have a system.

In 2026, you shouldn’t be taping receipts to the fridge or fighting over a complex Excel spreadsheet. Here is your ultimate guide to splitting bills fairly and keeping the peace.

1. Decide HOW to Split (It’s Not Always 50/50)

Before you sign the lease, have “The Talk.” How will you divide costs?

The Equal Split (50/50): Best for utilities (Internet, Water, Electricity) and shared household supplies. Simple and effective.
The Bedroom Split: If one room is significantly larger or has a private bathroom, splitting rent equally isn’t fair. Use a “square footage” calculator or agree on a percentage adjustment.
The Income-Based Split: Rare for roommates, but common for couples. Each person pays a percentage of bills relative to their income.

Clear boundaries save friendships. Decide early on what is “ours” and what is “yours.”

✅ Definitely Split:

Rent & Utilities: Non-negotiable fixed costs.
Internet: Unless someone needs a dedicated business line.
Household Consumables: Toilet paper, dish soap, cleaning sprays, trash bags. (These are the most common cause of arguments!)

⚠️ Maybe Split (Discuss First):

Groceries: Sharing basic staples (milk, eggs, butter) works for some, but full grocery sharing often fails if diets or eating habits differ.
Streaming Services: Netflix, Disney+, Spotify Family. Only split if everyone uses them.

❌ Don’t Split:

Personal Toiletries: Shampoo, toothpaste, fancy skincare.
Alcohol: Unless bought for a specific party.

3. Why Spreadsheets and Group Chats Fail

You might think, “We’ll just Venmo each other as we go.”

The problem: It creates “transaction fatigue.” Sending $4.50 for toilet paper, then requesting $12 for pizza, then paying $50 for electricity… it’s a constant stream of tiny payments.

The Spreadsheet method: One person ends up being the “Accountant” (and hating it). They have to chase everyone for money at the end of the month.

4. The Solution: Use a Dedicated Expense App

You need a central place to dump all expenses and let an algorithm figure out the math.

Why not Splitwise?

In recent years, many users have moved away from legacy apps like Splitwise because of:

Daily Transaction Limits: You can only add a few expenses per day before hitting a paywall.
Ads & Clutter: Pop-ups and “Pro” upsells.

Enter AloeSplit: The Roommate-Friendly Choice

AloeSplit was built to solve exactly this problem for households.

Unlimited Expenses: Add every single roll of paper towels, every Uber, and every utility bill. No limits.
Recurring Expenses: Set up your Rent and Internet to repeat monthly automatically.
“Settle Up” Simplification: Instead of 50 small transfers, AloeSplit calculates one final number. User A pays User B $42.50. Done.
100% Free: No “Pro” tier required for basic household needs.

5. Best Practices for Roommate Harmoney

Set a “Settle Up” Day: Pick the 1st or the last day of the month to clear balances.
Don’t Let Balances Piles Up: If someone owes more than $100, ask for a partial payment to avoid stress.
Be Transparent: Always upload a photo of the bill or receipt to the app. Transparency builds trust.

Ready for a stress-free home?

Stop fighting over expenses and start enjoying your shared home.

👉 Download AloeSplit for Free