How to Keep Track of Your Child's Finances

Don't Count Every Krona and Öre

Money talk easily turns into conflict, so always put your child's best interests before everything else. A basic rule: don't count every krona and öre. What matters is setting ground rules and a division of costs that feels fair to both of you. Stay flexible, and check in with each other if something changes along the way — for example, if one of you gets a raise.

How Can We Split the Costs Between Us?

Several things come into play here: income, how much time the child lives with each of you, and any new family constellations. If I earn much more than my co-parent, for example, I think it's reasonable that I cover a larger share of our child's costs. Also make it clear how you reimburse each other for expenses — right away, or once a month?

Should We Compensate Each Other for Vab Days?

If one parent has taken most of the month's vab days (Sweden's paid leave to care for a sick child), it can hit their salary hard. One suggestion is that the other parent reimburses some of those days at a per-day amount you agree on in advance.

What if the Child Lives With One Parent More Than Agreed?

My advice, again, is to step back and look at the bigger picture. If the number of days will even out over six months or a year, it's better not to demand compensation in the short term. If it hasn't evened out after some time has passed, you need a fresh conversation about where the child should live going forward, and whether the financial split needs adjusting.

Should We Have a Joint Account for Expenses?

An account both parents can access often simplifies everyday life and necessary purchases. The child benefit can go in, and the weekly or monthly allowance can come out. But whether you choose a joint account or pay separately, agree on expenses in advance — both parents need to know where the money goes. You also need to agree on what counts as an acceptable cost. Does the child need a pair of rain boots in each home, or can one pair travel with them? What's the ceiling for winter boots? Here you simply have to find common ground; there are no shortcuts.

Tip! The Finance Assistant in the Co-parenting app keeps the children's costs in one place: log a purchase, split it the way you've agreed, and see who owes what. When it's time to settle up, it connects to services like Swish, Venmo, and Cash App.

If We Can't Agree on Money, Where Can We Get Help?

You can seek help through familjerätten (Family Law Services) in your kommun (municipality). Försäkringskassan (the Swedish Social Insurance Agency) has more information about dividing children's costs on its website.

Summary — How to Keep Track of Your Child's Finances

• A basic rule: don't count every krona and öre.
• Reimburse the parent who has "vabbed" a lot during the month.
• If the child lives more with one parent for a while, wait and see if it evens out over time. If not, agree on a new division.
• Agree on the child's costs and expenses in advance: "How will we spend the money? What costs can we accept?"
• Ask for help if you get stuck! Contact familjerätten in your kommun.