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The best method is to determine the total cost for everything and divide it by the number of tenants.

If you have to estimate, then estimate, the point is, you tally up an amount and everyone pays 1/x of that amount, x being the number of tenants.

If the amount is short the first month, then fucking add the difference and divide that by x. Let everyone know you'll do this, after the first two months you'll have an absolutely solid understanding of how much food should be bought and how much everything is, and it'll be easy and you won't create rifts from unfair living arrangements.

I know that this method works because I've been in a condo where it was used.

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thanks for the advice...the reason I had the spit I was giving, is that I have a friend I work with, her friend pays the rent, she pays the utilities, and the other pays for food...and it has worked for the past couple of years...

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Don't ask me, I have no opinion on how stupid you are.
Living with regret isn't living at all
You live only once, live how you want, not how others expect
I'm going to be a father! 06/2009

That's not a very equitable split for the person paying the rent.

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"God does not play dice" - Albert Einstein
"God does play dice" - Stephen Hawking

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I'm the one w/ the highest paying job, so I'd be paying rent...

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That's a terrible mentality.. If your other friends cannot afford to pay an equal share, then you need to find means to lower everyone's monthly expenditures.

This is an excellent way to lose your friends.  When everything is equal, it's fair.  Listen to the other people when they say NOT TO SPLIT any other way.  

My food bill for 2 people is roughly $200/mo.  

Utilities are $300-400 (not including cell phones, and I have to pay for water, sewer, gas, electricity, cable, internet, garbage, yard waste).

Home (rent) $2500.  

There is NO comparison.  Even renting a 3bdrm (or home) will be 1000-1500.  

You will pay 4-5 times a much as your friends, and that is retarded.

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I've got spurs that jingle jangle jingle.
As I go riding merrily along.
And they sing, "Oh, ain't you glad you're single?"
And that song ain't so very far from wrong.