Reply to Stepparents, how much money have you spent on/do you spend on your spouse's children?

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Reply to "Stepparents, how much money have you spent on/do you spend on your spouse's children?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We merged fInances and had custody of my stepchild, so I paid for essentially 50% of my stepchild’s expenses.  Mom spent almost nothing, expecting us to send money to cover everything from groceries to incidentals when stepchild visited during the summer. [/quote]

I am in the same boat. Bio-mom is not in the picture except for a few visits a year and we cover everything (my DH never filed for child support). I cover my step-DD health insurance/co-pays and we count groceries as general family expense. She tells me what she prefers to eat and I buy within reason. I used to cover my step-DD activities and tutors, but stopped a few months back since it is really my DH's responsibility. I cover our two bio children daycare expenses out my own paycheck (my DH does not contribute at all) as well their other expenses--clothes, doctor co-pays, and activities. My DH does not contribute a dime from his income towards our bio-kids. He pretty much provides the roof over our head (4k mortgage), pays car insurance, electricity/gas, and trash removal. I also make car payments on all three cars, my step-DD drives one of them. I have been handed a really crappy deal and can't wait until step--DD is off to college![/quote]

Why are your finances separate?[/quote]

The finances were joint for a while and it was not working; my income was being consumed by step-DD expenses for activities/tutors.[/quote]

You should split the finances. If he is paying the mortgage and other stuff, then split that instead of diving up what you pay for.  You make it sound like he pays nothing.  He pays the overall things and you pay all the other stuff.  You don't need three cars and you can cut back activities if its too much.  If Dad doesn't want child in activities, its his kid and stop them.  Your health insurance is probably the same amount if you have two other kids on it.[/quote]

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