We’re consistently spending more than we’re making.
I can see that the problem areas are dining and drinks, and groceries. My husband keeps buying food at work and getting fast food on the way home, so that’s what that is.
As for the groceries, I’m buying things we need and getting the cheapest options. But even so, this doesn’t seem to be working. We need help.
It sounds like what you need to do first is sit down as a family and discuss how these decisions are impacting your finances and, in turn, could begin hurting your marriage if you’re not careful. Budgeting, or even just mutually understanding your finances, can be a great bonding experience for couples. Your husband may need to understand how his snacking, while it might seem small, is impacting your financial stability.
@Mai
Thank you, I’ll definitely try to bring this up gently with him. I want him to see the impact but without it feeling like I’m pointing fingers.
Leave the cards in the drawer at home. Cash in the pocket. No cash, no buy. Takes time. I suck at it too. That’s why they tell you to ditch credit cards. Too easy to spend what you don’t have.
Lake said:
Leave the cards in the drawer at home. Cash in the pocket. No cash, no buy. Takes time. I suck at it too. That’s why they tell you to ditch credit cards. Too easy to spend what you don’t have.
See that would work for me, but my husband sees cash as ‘free money’ since it ‘doesn’t come out of the account’ and spends it on unnecessary things. I’ve tried to get him to see it differently, but he’ll always spend cash if he has it.
You need to do some intervention and set up a budget at the start of the month for snacking. If you just track without any intervention, this won’t stop.
Hollis said:
You need to do some intervention and set up a budget at the start of the month for snacking. If you just track without any intervention, this won’t stop.
I set budgets, but they often get blown. For my husband’s snacking, I think the only thing I can do is maybe pack more food.
Hollis said:
You need to do some intervention and set up a budget at the start of the month for snacking. If you just track without any intervention, this won’t stop.
If you do some projection on how much this costs on a yearly basis, maybe it would help? Instead of cutting it out entirely, maybe try reducing it. I think if it’s costing too much over time, it could make him want to change.
My advice, which I know is easier said than done, is to pack lunches. Also, what’s in the tech category?
Ezra said:
My advice, which I know is easier said than done, is to pack lunches. Also, what’s in the tech category?
I do pack his lunches, but he eats everything at lunch, so there’s nothing left for the ride home. Tech was when my PC broke and I had to fix it, which hopefully won’t happen again.
Probably need to break out the Bills and Utilities section since it’s 45%. Is that housing, debt, bills, power/water, etc.? $889 seems high for groceries; how many people is that for?
Jules said:
Probably need to break out the Bills and Utilities section since it’s 45%. Is that housing, debt, bills, power/water, etc.? $889 seems high for groceries; how many people is that for?
Bills and utilities cover anything recurring like car insurance, health insurance, house note, phone bill, electricity, etc. I shop at Walmart and get the cheapest stuff. Groceries include all items at Walmart (air filters, cat food, cleaning products, etc.). We’re two adults and a cat, and we eat mostly pasta, rice, ground meat, and chicken.
If I understand your photo right, you’re overspending by $1200? You need to eliminate some categories:
This would have saved you $1288, avoiding the negative balance. You might also sit down with your spouse and show them how this hurts your budget.
@Payton
Cash and Checks is our lot rent. Groceries isn’t just food; it’s things like air filters, hairspray, deodorant, cat food, cleaning products, etc. Entertainment includes subscriptions (Crunchyroll, Spotify, Hulu) and some games. Gifts are birthday gifts, and dining out is mostly my husband buying $5-$10 meals at work frequently.
You need to get your husband on board, or any efforts you make will be undermined. Could he bring snacks with him in the morning or leave jerky or granola bars in his car? If he’s not diabetic, he can eat when he gets home instead of snacking.
@cindy
He says he doesn’t want snacks, but I think I might start packing some for him anyway, so he has the option.