Dear Economist,

I cohabit: dual career, equal partnership. My partner has a child from a previous marriage who lives with us. We co-own our home, and we contribute equally to a joint account for paying the bills. We have had to hire a housekeeper, since he does not want to clean the house and I do not want to do all the housework. Should I be paying for the food and utilities consumed by his child? Should I have to pay the same amount towards the housekeeper that he does?