Reply to $14k net HHI - Budget Input

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, I am in a similar income bracket and have similar mortgage and childcare expenses. One thing that helps my marriage and my budget is that my husband and I both get a portion of each paycheck as personal spending money, and we combine the rest. This (around $500 per month) is what we use for lunches at work (if we eat out), plans with friends, haircuts, clothes, personal hobbies, etc...

Usually we use our combined funds for family gifts, wedding gifts, etc.. but if i want to send a friend flowers or contribute to someone's charity bike ride on a whim I do it with my personal money.

For me, it's easier to skip eating out or go a little longer between highlight appointments when i know I'm saving my personal money for a pair of shoes or something. Also if it's something frivolous for the house that's a want rather than a need, I'll often use personal money. Similarly, my husband buys lottery tickets and sometimes buys expensive sports tickets and I don't worry about it b/c it doesn't hit the family budget at all. This might help you guys cut down on the shopping and personal care budgets- because you are owning your choices within a certain budget...and you can choose expensive haircuts, or shoes, or lunches at work, but maybe not all three. [/quote]

Yes!  We do this too - we call it our allowances.  I buy my clothes, most kids clothes, lunches, personal care, etc etc from my allowance money.  Just bought two new pillows from TJ Maxx, so house stuff comes from it too.  After picking up DS from practice, we decided to get inexpensive take out rather than drive home and eat leftovers - I bought it from my allowance (and after consideration, saved half because I decided I wasn't as hungry and could wait 30 minutes until we got home).

It's $300 per pay period for each of us.  [/quote]

Kids clothes and house stuff comes from _your_ allowance?  Including takeout with your child?  Whoa.[/quote]

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