Husbands with SAHWs...how much

[Anonymous]

How much do you budget for expenses a month?

Does your wife have monthly allowance or a debit card /credit cards with her name that she can use as much as she wants ?

What is a fair amount to spend if you have one child together but only one income ?

*we are middle class -300k a year plus random bonuses

[Anonymous]

OP I believe the question you mean to ask was, "what's a reasonable budget for a family with one income-earner, $300K HHI + some bonuses, and one child - including all expenses and savings?

Every couple has a number beyond which one spouse wouldn't spend without discussing with the other. The number varies between marriages.

Your income puts you in the upper middle class even for the DMV.

[Anonymous]

DH made 350k last year and I SAH. No budget and don’t have to ask him before I spend anything.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I just wondered what amount was reasonable to spend as a SAHW a month

for everything including some pampering stuff

[Anonymous]

He seems to think 3k is enough a month for spending —the total he wants me to spend. I don’t agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I just wondered what amount was reasonable to spend as a SAHW a month

for everything including some pampering stuff

That depends a lot on your other expenses. Your mortgage, any car loans, student loans, retirement savings, school costs, etc.

The money a sah spends should be part of a larger budget. It’s unlikely to work well if he gives you a set amount to run the house, without actually looking at what the household expenses actually are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He seems to think 3k is enough a month for spending —the total he wants me to spend. I don’t agree.

What does that include? Groceries? Utilities? Kid clothes? Activities? Our family of four spends about $1200 a month on groceries alone. I don’t think $3k would cover that many other categories.

[Anonymous]

He earns the money and I manage it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He earns the money and I manage it.

Same. He has no idea what I spend nor does he care. I do a good job of managing our finances. One less thing for him to have to worry about. I doubt he could tell you who gets paid when. He earns it. I manage it.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, you should be talking to your wife about this. Look at your expenses, what you need to save each month for retirement/college for the kids, how much debt do you have, etc.

If you are going to be living on one income than your debt tolerance will likely be less and you'll want to get that paid down to comfortable levels. Certain expenses like daycare, house cleaning, yard care might be greatly reduced by having your wife at home (assuming she will be doing those chores). Once you get all that hammered out you can plan a ballpark budget for both you and your wife. It's not like you are giving her money to spend like an allowance...this is a family budget for you, too.

[Anonymous]

^Oops just realized that the SAH wife is asking this question..

The advice still stands, Op. Talk to your husband about the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I just wondered what amount was reasonable to spend as a SAHW a month

for everything including some pampering stuff

What kind of pampering stuff? Do you mean a $30 bottle of good hair conditioner or do you mean a $300/weekly massage and spa package?

With our budget, we could fit in a few bottles of conditioner every year but that $300/week spa package would be off the table because that sort of thing is not a priority for me, I'd honestly rather put that money into a family vacation fund. I color my own hair and do my own nails, too. I buy my clothes mostly from discount stores. Again, that's me and my priorities.

A regular gym membership or Weigh Watchers or a Jazzercise class I would try to work into the budget or I would at least want the necessary equipment at home to use.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Sahm with a hhi of 300k and we have $500 a month budgeted for clothes and $400 for personal care (mostly my waxing, nails, hair appointments) for the whole family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much do you budget for expenses a month?

Does your wife have monthly allowance or a debit card /credit cards with her name that she can use as much as she wants ?

What is a fair amount to spend if you have one child together but only one income ?

*we are middle class -300k a year plus random bonuses

1) Just our normal stuff.

2) SAHM - spend what ever I want without question. No allowance. We each have a credit card as a primary for the credit rating but both use both.

3) You have plenty of income and are NOT middle class. How is this even an issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He earns the money and I manage it.

Same. He has no idea what I spend nor does he care. I do a good job of managing our finances. One less thing for him to have to worry about. I doubt he could tell you who gets paid when. He earns it. I manage it.

My husband looks at things, maybe, I really have no idea but I pay the bills from the joint. If something is larger than normal he may ask (i.e. 6K - which is usually college fund stuff) but never questions or cares. I just bought some furniture. He said great. I need a new car... his attitude is pick it, negotiate it and let me know where to sign.