Like others have said, it is OUR money, so I'm "allowed" to spend it as I see fit (if I wasn't "allowed" and it wasn't "ours" considering all I do around here for our baby, I doubt we'd still be together). We are both pretty frugal and don't really have a budget so much as an agreement not to buy too many extras. I don't need to "save" for gifts because we've generally already "saved" enough by being frugal to begin with. I spend what I want, but I'm still so frugal that I could never be accused of going overboard. I usually use cash for his gifts so he doesn't see it on the credit card statement in advance.
We aren't exchanging gifts this year though due to some huge unexpected expenses. Hello totaled car forcing us to get a new car a few years sooner than expected while I'm playing SAHM for 6 months. Boo.
I am a stay at home mom, so my husband is the only one bringing in money. We have a joint bank account that we both have cards for. Each week we discuss together the cost for necessities (diapers, groceries, gas...). If there is something that I want I can just get it so long as it isn't too expensive; he says it is not his money but our money. Larger purchases we discuss together. For buying gifts I will usually start stashing away five or ten dollars here or there that will go unnoticed. That way the gifts are more of a surprise. :-)
I stash away money, too. We've budgeted $80/week for groceries, but I usually spend 60-70. Husband has no clue how much I spend on groceries, so he doens't miss the extra money, and I feel I've "earned" the extra by making smarter choices at the store (less junk, buying in bulk, etc.). And hubby always appreciates it that we've got a little extra at Christmas time.
We're going to be in this situation next semester while I intern. Luckily I'm going to babysit some kids from my old job (daycare) and I should be able to pick up some extra cash that way.
Otherwise, the plan is to simply give me an allowance, lmao. We each have our own accounts in addition to a joint account, so we can't see what we are buying.
My husband works full time, and I am a student. We consider the money he earns to be "ours" and we have one mutual checking and savings account. I am the one who manages our budget and knows how our money gets spent. I almost never buy anything for myself, and when I need to buy clothes or shoes or something I run it by him. Likewise, he never makes any major purchases without getting my input.
As for gifts, it's about the meaning and the sentiment and the love behind them, not about who earned the money to pay for the gift.
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We aren't exchanging gifts this year though due to some huge unexpected expenses. Hello totaled car forcing us to get a new car a few years sooner than expected while I'm playing SAHM for 6 months. Boo.
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Otherwise, the plan is to simply give me an allowance, lmao. We each have our own accounts in addition to a joint account, so we can't see what we are buying.
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As for gifts, it's about the meaning and the sentiment and the love behind them, not about who earned the money to pay for the gift.
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