You Bought What?!

The beauty of having a budget is you have permission to spend money. You don’t have to worry about having enough to pay the bills, buy food or save for retirement because every category is accounted for. That means if there’s money in the category, and it won’t clear the balance, you’re ok to spend the money.

But even with a budget, sometimes your spouse will still question your purchases. Especially if the item isn’t “essential” or costs a decent amount of money.

So how do you gain the permission to spend money without needing permission?

Well every budget should have a “spending money” or “fun money” or “his/hers” category that is exclusively for you and your spouse, separately. This category is for purchases that don’t require prior approval, permission or agreement from your spouse.

NOTE–this does not mean you can spend the money on stuff you don’t really need or just to be rebellious if you’re mad lol.

This category is for items that are not considered essential, your spouse probably won’t benefit from and is for your enjoyment.

I like to hunt, so my fun money category is reserved for hunting equipment, tags and anything I want for that hobby. My wife doesn’t really have a hobby, but she likes to buy clothes at random intervals and typically spends more than the monthly budget allows…only because she buys a lot at a time and they’re on sale.

Having this money preassigned gives us the permission to spend as we please without approval or question from the other.

This category shouldn’t be an excuse to overspend without permission, either. Don’t allocate $1,000 to his/hers discretion each month. Try $100 or less. This category doesn’t give you permission to blow the budget altogether. It gives you freedom to have fun without affecting your financial plan and goal.

The final criteria for this category is that you and your spouse DO have to agree on 2 things: how much money to allocate for each and what is a reasonable purchase. Because like I said earlier, this isn’t just for spending for the sake of spending. Determine what you want the money for and stick to it. Determine how much is appropriate and stick to it. When you step outside those bounds, then your spouse has permission to question and critique.

As you’re piecing your budget together, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s challenging to always agree with each other on money. But it’s important that you always agree on the approach. Compromise is healthy. And it’s essential for a strong marriage. If you hit a stumbling block, or you need an outside perspective, a coach is a phone call away. Let’s schedule a time to visit and I can help you find the best path forward for you and your spouse.