Is it just me or is everybody else having discussions with their significant others about income, expenses, savings etc ...

I'm the man in the household ... Until a few months ago I couldn't be bothered
with what happened on our accounts. I thought everything was going great.
I started paying attention and it seems we are spending exactly (or more)
of what comes in ... It's not that we don't have enough, there's plenty !!!
but why does it have to be spent in the same month ?

And why do women (ok, let's not generalize ... my woman) do not want to discuss
this topic at all

.....that's why there should ALWAYS be separate accounts.

Graycap23 said:

we got seperate accounts

let's put it this way ... I bring in 3 potatoes, she brings in 1 (working part-time). 1 potatoe is eaten by our house, that leaves 3 potatoes. 1 is eaten by fixed costs. 2 potatoes left. about 0,75 potatoes should be accounted for by general expenses. That leaves 1,25 potatoes eaten but not accounted for.

Fuck that !

(Today someone was visiting to discuss saving plans ... She was amazed that we got 4 potatoes, saying that we had a lot of space to save money ... until I told
her all 4 potatoes are eaten hot ... we got no potato salad for the summer

Graycap23 said:

Or separate lives...
[Edited 2/4/08 15:04pm]

violator said:

AHEm....Hubby and I have seperate accounts because when they were joint he was using both my money and his and not leaving me any to pay my credit card bill and have spare cash to buy things the kids needed
As for seperate lives I WISH

It's usually the 'off budget' items that get ya. Not the monthly bills ie. car payments, and utilities. It's Starbucks, little trips to the mall, not sticking to you shopping list at the supermarket, or not planning for upcoming expenses.

littlemissG said:

Exactly what I'm saying ... especially not planning ... oh sorry ... we do plan with upcoming income but that's not what you mean right

violator said:

that's a whole different story ...

One4All4Ever said:

I don't know what you're saying but I sure am hungry now.

I've never been in a relationship where I've shared expenses. I can only imagine I would want to keep things very, very separate. I imagine having a frank discussion about who's responsible for what and then ensuring we both stick to it.

JuliePurplehead said:

I tried to work around the numbers I can't possibly put our real-life income here ... even though I already photowhored my briefs a few months ago

One4All4Ever said:

I thought this was about money.

teaspoon said:

it is multiply the potatoes by 800

I've never been in a relationship where there was one account. my parents both had separate accounts and one general account for both which they closed after a time. Everyone I know have separate accounts, not because it's his money or her money but because it was easier for them to manage their monthly bills and other cost. Come to think of it I don't know couples that have just the one bank account. I know this because we’re always talking about the cost of living, debt issues, mortgages, gas prices and the just the state of the economy now.

One4All4Ever said:

I never thought of it like that!

me and the master got one debt together we both throw all our money into that hole. Both of us are tight with money though - I got $50 cash for my birthday and I won't spend it

ZombieKitten said:

i got $50.00 cash 4 xmas- hubby didnt know what to buy me
he refuses to buy me books

im hopeless at saving
we have started putting extra into our car loan- that (with notice and a small fee) can be withdrawn at a later date. we are reducing the term of the loan- and saving at the same time- win/win. and, i cant touch it

it never ceases to amaze me- no matter how many "potatoes" we earn- we always eat them
and its not as if we are frivilous, the cost of living just seems to be getting higher and higher

its called living within your means, it is very important, unfortunately not many of us can adhere to it..

eraclito said:

so true

potatoes

One4All4Ever said:

Time 4 a financial consultant. U must control your $ or it will control U.

One4All4Ever said:

eww - that would feel icky

I could NOT not talk to my partner about our $ and where it goes and what is saved and daily / weekly / monthly expenses ... we also at the proper times involve the kids to show and teach them how to deal with $ matters in a positive way



$ and $ isses between partners is the #1 stress factor and or it is used as a focus point when other partner issues come up as well

I'm not attached to $ - it is what it is and I am not willing to let it have power over me or my marraige

anyway

jami0mckay said:

potatos

EWWW I live with someone that just likes to spend it and not talk about it.
I think he has learned that is not going to happen as long as I am around.
I have been told that I am tighter than a lobster butt.

Graycap23 said:

I agree 100% - and it is important to update your budget(s) at LEAST once a yr I have freinds that have been married yrs and yrs and have never sat down and worked out a living budget with their partners - they are drowning now

RodeoSchro said:

inspired by Dan Quayle