Caitlin and Tahlia say their unusual financial setup keeps them motivated, stable – and closer than ever.
Most flatmates argue over bills or whose turn it is to buy milk.
But for best friends Caitlin Emiko and Tahlia Edwards, money isn’t a sore point – it’s shared.
READ MORE: Maths Teacher Raises £1 Million for Charity Through Extreme Endurance Feats
The pair, both from Australia and now living together in New York, have been splitting their finances down the middle for three years. Every dollar they earn goes into a joint account, then divided 50/50, regardless of who brought in more.
It’s an arrangement that’s baffled the internet after going viral on TikTok, with some calling it “unhinged” and others hailing it genius. But the duo insists it works perfectly for them.
“People are usually shocked, especially because we’re not a couple,” said Caitlin, 26. “We get a lot of, ‘I could never do that with my friends’ – but it’s what works for us.”
The idea started when the pair realised just how inseparable they were. “We were doing everything together – coffee, lunch, dinner – we were practically attached at the hip,” Caitlin explained. “Once we decided to move to New York together, I put it forward and said it makes sense for us to combine our money.”
With Tahlia, 27, on a fixed salary and Caitlin freelancing in marketing, the set-up means they balance out each other’s highs and lows.
“I wouldn’t be able to do my creative job without her stable job, and she wouldn’t be able to do certain holidays and things without my creative income. So we honestly just optimise each other’s lives, and it’s really beautiful,” Caitlin said.
There are no hard rules about what they spend on, though Caitlin admits she once joked about a $300 manicure purchase on TikTok.
In reality, she says there are “no surprises” because they’re upfront and communicate constantly.
The friends describe each other as “platonic soulmates” and treat the system like a business partnership, with spreadsheets, transparency and mutual respect.
“It only works because we have so much respect for each other,” Caitlin said.
“And it pushes us to work harder for each other. When we’re down, we’re down together – and when we’re up, we’re up together.”
For them, shared finances aren’t a source of conflict, but a tool for freedom.
“It’s allowed us to move faster, take bigger risks, and back each other when it matters,” Caitlin added.
Unconventional? Definitely. But for Caitlin and Tahlia, money really is no object.
READ MORE: From Train Station Chance Meeting to Tech Co-Founders: The Story Behind Fyio
