In article 1095826040.700496@smirk,
wrote:

True. Here's why: Because you are in a basement, you'll need GFCIs.
This means either a GFCI breaker (big $$$), or an outlet GFCI. But
you want two circuits. This either means you get a 2-pole GFCI
breaker (about $100), and then you can run a single neutral, or you
use two outlet GFCIs. But if you use two outlet GFCIs, you can not
merge the neutrals back together again.

OK. But if you have a separate GFCI receptacle for every receptacle,
i.e. you never you the LOAD screws on the GFCI receptacles, then you
could get away with a shared neutral? Of course, all those GFCI
receptacles quickly add up to the cost of a GFCI breaker.

Cheers, Wayne