Comments on: How to Trick Your Spouse into Sticking with a Budget http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/ A personal finance blog where we share insights on carefully saving money, investing, early retirement, mortgages, stocks because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:01:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Sue | Air Conditioning http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-16036 Sue | Air Conditioning Wed, 20 May 2009 07:54:09 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-16036 Debbie, I really have to agree with you here, I am in the same boat but its my other half that seems to have burning hole in his pockets, he spends far more than I do. We have now set up gaols and we both have to stick to them, and communication is one of the most important things to have in a relationship, when it comes to ones financial goals. Debbie, I really have to agree with you here, I am in the same boat but its my other half that seems to have burning hole in his pockets, he spends far more than I do. We have now set up gaols and we both have to stick to them, and communication is one of the most important things to have in a relationship, when it comes to ones financial goals.

]]> By: Ari Weinberg http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-16033 Ari Weinberg Wed, 20 May 2009 03:55:04 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-16033 Great post. You should check out a research paper from Feb. - Fatal Fiscal attraction on SSRN. Great post. You should check out a research paper from Feb. – Fatal Fiscal attraction on SSRN.

]]> By: Debbie Lacy, MoneyMindful http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-15973 Debbie Lacy, MoneyMindful Fri, 15 May 2009 14:30:03 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-15973 You're right -- in most all couples, one is a spender and the other is a saver. It's the ying/yang thing that is so attractive... and frustrating. By not "fighting against every pair of shoes that she buys," you very wisely disarmed the money dance that can create a lot of conflict for couples. Typically, when the spender in a couple spends more, the saver gets more set in his/her ways and the two end up on opposite sides of the scale, further entrenched in their habits. Balance is always desired, so anything that can be done to move toward one another, such as identifying common goals like you mentioned, will help strengthen communication and create long-term financial success. Thanks for the thoughtful post, Bob! You’re right — in most all couples, one is a spender and the other is a saver. It’s the ying/yang thing that is so attractive… and frustrating. By not “fighting against every pair of shoes that she buys,” you very wisely disarmed the money dance that can create a lot of conflict for couples.

Typically, when the spender in a couple spends more, the saver gets more set in his/her ways and the two end up on opposite sides of the scale, further entrenched in their habits. Balance is always desired, so anything that can be done to move toward one another, such as identifying common goals like you mentioned, will help strengthen communication and create long-term financial success. Thanks for the thoughtful post, Bob!

]]> By: Jerremy Morrison http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-15971 Jerremy Morrison Fri, 15 May 2009 06:25:17 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-15971 First of all, I want to say that the post is very realistic as well as unique. In most of the cases, we can observe that two different person with different habit of spending lives together. It does not matter a lot if any one of them is having the nature of saving. The saver can control the spender to some extent and as a result they can successfully reach their financial goal. But the disaster comes when both are of the same habit. At last, I want to suggest everybody that we should maintain a budget to live a healthy financial life. First of all, I want to say that the post is very realistic as well as unique. In most of the cases, we can observe that two different person with different habit of spending lives together. It does not matter a lot if any one of them is having the nature of saving. The saver can control the spender to some extent and as a result they can successfully reach their financial goal. But the disaster comes when both are of the same habit. At last, I want to suggest everybody that we should maintain a budget to live a healthy financial life.

]]> By: Bob http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-15970 Bob Fri, 15 May 2009 04:25:23 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-15970 Agreed, thinking back on the title, maybe it wasn't the best one I could have come up with - it was supposed to be a little tongue-in-cheek, but maybe it didn't come across that way... Agreed, thinking back on the title, maybe it wasn’t the best one I could have come up with – it was supposed to be a little tongue-in-cheek, but maybe it didn’t come across that way…

]]> By: MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-15962 MoneyNing Thu, 14 May 2009 23:45:26 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-15962 I'll relate it to Bob (the author of this guest post). I think it's just a catchy title but I understand your reason of concern. I agree that marriage should be about trust and commitment. I’ll relate it to Bob (the author of this guest post). I think it’s just a catchy title but I understand your reason of concern. I agree that marriage should be about trust and commitment.

]]> By: Money Beagle http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-15959 Money Beagle Thu, 14 May 2009 14:32:39 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-15959 I don't think you want to 'trick' them. My wife was always fairly responsible with money before we got married and combined our finances, but a budget wasn't something that she was used to. It did take some time and work, but she now understands the value and is excited by it. Those two things are I believe key points. Work to make sure that they understand the value and what benefits can come from sticking with a budget. In our case, it allowed us to address debt very forcefully which then led us to be able to convert to a single-income household with the any-day-now birth of our first child. Second, is to get them excited about it. I was able to work with my wife and set goals together that we both agreed on, and when they were reached, we were both happy because we knew we'd achieved a milestone together. I don’t think you want to ‘trick’ them. My wife was always fairly responsible with money before we got married and combined our finances, but a budget wasn’t something that she was used to. It did take some time and work, but she now understands the value and is excited by it. Those two things are I believe key points. Work to make sure that they understand the value and what benefits can come from sticking with a budget. In our case, it allowed us to address debt very forcefully which then led us to be able to convert to a single-income household with the any-day-now birth of our first child. Second, is to get them excited about it. I was able to work with my wife and set goals together that we both agreed on, and when they were reached, we were both happy because we knew we’d achieved a milestone together.

]]> By: Imani http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-15958 Imani Thu, 14 May 2009 14:25:19 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-15958 Personally, I don't have a spouse to consider but I have read on other PF blogs that couples allow each other $X per week/month of "mad money". This allows either to spend some money as he/she pleases without guilt. I think this is important because it keeps a balance between becoming a slave to goals or blowing them completely for the week/month. Just a thought.... Personally, I don’t have a spouse to consider but I have read on other PF blogs that couples allow each other $X per week/month of “mad money”. This allows either to spend some money as he/she pleases without guilt.

I think this is important because it keeps a balance between becoming a slave to goals or blowing them completely for the week/month.

Just a thought….

]]> By: meinmillions http://moneyning.com/money-stories/how-to-trick-your-spouse-into-sticking-with-a-budget/comment-page-1/#comment-15957 meinmillions Thu, 14 May 2009 14:15:15 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=2920#comment-15957 I know it's just the title and you probably were trying to be clever, but I don't like how you use the word "trick." To me the word trick implies deceit and I don't think that's something you want in a marriage. Just my two cents. I know it’s just the title and you probably were trying to be clever, but I don’t like how you use the word “trick.” To me the word trick implies deceit and I don’t think that’s something you want in a marriage. Just my two cents.

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