Creating a shared budget is an important step for those who plan to live with a partner or with roommates in an apartment. A joint budget allows you to control the expenses and income of each person in the house, and thereby reduces the risk of conflicts and misunderstandings.

Below are some steps to help you get started creating a joint budget and discuss important issues.

Define common goals. Before starting a discussion, you should agree on the overall goals you want to achieve, such as savings for large purchases, loan repayments, etc.

Gather information about each person's income and expenses. Consolidate all your income and expenses, and then discuss how much you are willing to contribute to the total budget.

Determine your total expenses. Make a list of common expenses like rent, utilities, food, etc. After that, determine how much each person will pay for these expenses.

Break down personal expenses. Some expenses, such as clothing and personal expenses, cannot be shared. In this case, you can arrange for each person to allocate a certain amount for these expenses.

Create a budget. Use this information to create an overall budget that will take into account all expenses and income.

Set the rules. Establish rules that will govern the use of the shared budget. For example, you can agree that all expenses that exceed a certain amount must be discussed and approved by all members of the joint budget.

Keep an account. Start keeping track of income and expenses. This will allow you to keep track of how the money is being spent and make adjustments if necessary.