Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You can jeopardize your brothers benefits giving him income.
This. Your brother may see his benefits decrease or lose them altogether, which is more expense for you.
Anonymous wrote:You guys need to lay out a budget, with a "personal" line item for each of you. You can blow yours on spa days or buy grocery cards for your family from that line item without him bitching, and he can go golfing or buy whisky or whatever without you bitching.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You can jeopardize your brothers benefits giving him income.
I don't really give him income. I give him gift cards to Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds and Target.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You guys need to lay out a budget, with a "personal" line item for each of you. You can blow yours on spa days or buy grocery cards for your family from that line item without him bitching, and he can go golfing or buy whisky or whatever without you bitching.
DH is actually quite frugal. He is obsessed with saving money. At the same time, he is good to me and lets me go to the spa, nail salon, shopping, travel, whatever I want. He likes to make me happy. What he doesn't realize is that these material items don't really matter much to me. I would be much happier if I skip shopping and spend the money on my family.
We already take my family on a vacation per year. I visit my family without him and I will buy my mom some new clothes. It is probably my own guilt because we live a somewhat lavish lifestyle while my family lives so modestly.
I could not live like this.
Anonymous wrote:You can jeopardize your brothers benefits giving him income.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP - Does your brother qualify for HEAP, Food Stamps, etc.? Do you and DH claim your brother as a dependent for tax purposes?
Yes, he collects food stamps (gets the EBT card filled per month) and a small housing stipend.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No. If I felt like this was what I needed, I would get a job.
I agree. It doesn't sound like SAHM is for you.
DH wants me to stay home. He thinks it is best for our children. He loves our children more than anything.
I want to ask for a certain amount to be placed in a separate account per month that I can spend as I choose. I was thinking $5k. For the record, I spent at least $10k per month.
Do you want to stay home? What do you think is best for your children? Does he love you?
It is probably best that I stay home for my children. That is why we decided together that I would quit my job. DH used to earn high six figures before I quit. The plan was that he could ramp up and work as hard as he could. It has paid off. I don't even know if he could ramp down at this point.
At the same time, I think our overall family life was better when we were both working. He and I would take turns picking up the kids. He was home more. So while our HHI is higher, our lifestyle was better. That extra 500k he earns makes no real different in our lifestyle. At the same time, if he was willing to give an extra 25k or so to my family, it would make me worlds happier.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You guys need to lay out a budget, with a "personal" line item for each of you. You can blow yours on spa days or buy grocery cards for your family from that line item without him bitching, and he can go golfing or buy whisky or whatever without you bitching.
DH is actually quite frugal. He is obsessed with saving money. At the same time, he is good to me and lets me go to the spa, nail salon, shopping, travel, whatever I want. He likes to make me happy. What he doesn't realize is that these material items don't really matter much to me. I would be much happier if I skip shopping and spend the money on my family.
We already take my family on a vacation per year. I visit my family without him and I will buy my mom some new clothes. It is probably my own guilt because we live a somewhat lavish lifestyle while my family lives so modestly.
I could not live like this.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You guys need to lay out a budget, with a "personal" line item for each of you. You can blow yours on spa days or buy grocery cards for your family from that line item without him bitching, and he can go golfing or buy whisky or whatever without you bitching.
DH is actually quite frugal. He is obsessed with saving money. At the same time, he is good to me and lets me go to the spa, nail salon, shopping, travel, whatever I want. He likes to make me happy. What he doesn't realize is that these material items don't really matter much to me. I would be much happier if I skip shopping and spend the money on my family.
We already take my family on a vacation per year. I visit my family without him and I will buy my mom some new clothes. It is probably my own guilt because we live a somewhat lavish lifestyle while my family lives so modestly.