I budget $250 a month for the four of us (that's including angel food order). I spent about $350! I added up receipts for our local grocery store (way spendy) and they came to about $90 for just stuff dh got last minute (snacks, drinks for work, etc). How am I supposed to stay on budget and stick to my list if he doesn't even care. I brought it up and he's like "quit nagging". He's always whining about how we don't have a lot left over after bills for extras and he wonders why?! I don't know how to stick to a budget and not babysit him if he wants to buy something. Sorry for the rant, just thought I was keeping my budget in line, guess not.

Mine does the same thing. I just try to budget more and more to make up for his extras.

I know it may be difficult sometimes. Have you considered adding the stuff he normally goes out to get for himself on your approved spending list? For instance, if you get the drinks and snacks for him, then you can get a variety and hopefully on sale, with the hopes that he doesn't go out and purchase them on his own.

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That stinks. I would be a little annoyed as well. I think he needs to either stick with the bugdet or quit whinning! LOL

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Mom of one kangaroo!

Tell him that $90 a month X 12 months= $1080!

Maybe give him an incentive...if he quits doing non-budgeted shopping at the end of the year you guys can go on a short vacation or buy something really fun/cool to use (whatever he likes, XBOX, a larger TV, pool table...something that he would enjoy but the rest of the family would have use for too).

I would also add onto your grocery list the things he likes to buy last minute so you can stock up on them when they are on sale to save you money.

Or if he is like my hubby, all I had to do was show him how much money I saved off of each shopping trip. Then I told him if we put that money saved into an account for our kids, in 18 years time with interest...he actually figured out how much would be in the kids accounts and was all for it.

Good Luck!

Sandra

Mine use to be like this until I give him $40 allowance every two weeks (we get paid twice a month) and he can do whatever he wants to that $40 and if spend more and use our checking I take it out from his allowance next time. So if he spends his $40 and another $20 from our checking he would only get $20 next time to reimburse the $20 that he use in our checking. He finally got my point and he use his $40 more wisely now. I make sure that he doesn't forget his lunch so that it doesn't give him an excuse to go to Subway because he "forgot his lunch" I also took his debit card away from him. He only carry his $40 . NO credit card,debit card. If its emergency he can call me. I doubt it its going to happen since he drive a military vehicle anyway. The only emergency I got from him is "I forgot my lunch can I go to subway?" and I'll be like "what money?" so he starve until he gets home. That's why I nag him to always bring his lunch. NO snack for him though except pretzels but I make that at home.

I talked to him last night again about this. I told him to let me know what he wants for snacks or whatever before I go on my weekly shopping trip. He's like, but you don't get enough or I forget. AARRGGHH! He just bought a big bag of those snack bags of chips so that should last him through next week for work snacks. As for his drinks, he takes gv crystal light in a container every day and the days he buys something is because "I" didn't make his drink that day. Do I have to do everything?! Anyway, I told him we're not going to our grocery store at all (unless its a food emergency) and if we do its gonna affect how soon we can pay off debt to start saving towards a down pmt. on a bike. He's more agreeable now.

This is just me but I put a stop to this because little things do add up.Believe me. Do the "extreme" one day take his wallet. Get everything out except his ID card and liscense and put maybe like $20 (cash). Pull out in the ATM every paycheck. If he calls you because he only have $20 doesn't have any debit, credit card etc... tell him plain straight you guys are in a tight budget maybe he will take you seriously if you do this. Nagging him won't help and I've done it before with my DH I put my nagging into action and guess what? it works. He will only take you seriously if you do something "extreme" until he wakes up and realize that you aren't kidding around. Every penny counts and in our household that's how it is. Don't be afraid to tell him. Men can't listen I mean they do but the it goes out the other ear. HOw old is your DH by the way if you don't mind me asking? If he is older than my DH (25) then he definetly need to grow up. He can't be selfish. I'm sorry but he needs to work with you on this. I know its hard believe me. We were there last year until I started doing the FTJ project and I wrote it down on the paper and I showed it to my DH. Good luck.

Take note on what he is buying for himself, either writting it down or mentally. Next tiime you go shopping, see if you can suprise him, and tell him, "see, i didn't forget about you!"

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I agree with what everyone said -
And I Have been there Yrs. ago with an Immature Dh , who thought 5.00 here , 10.00 There was " no big deal"
Well I Did the extreme too...
Took his Debit and Gave Him A set amount of money each week.

He also Has learned the Hard Way that if We go Over budget in one Area It gets Cut out of Another.

Thank God we don't Deal with this Crap anymore.
I Agree it is So Frustrating .... But if you are home and doing the Budget , and paying the Bills ,
For the sake of Everyone ... You Need to Get him on track.

Sometimes I Think it is Easier for a Man to Figure out What he can spend with Only having Cash.