Budgeting- expensive purchases

[lizzybizzy]

We've never discussed a limit but I think we tend to check in if it's over a hundred.

[lingeringwithcoffee]

We have a joint account, so we pretty much discuss every purchase other than eating out and groceries together. However, we each get $150 a month to do as we like, so if I purchase anything fun like a bag or clothes, I don't discuss it with him because it is "my money."

[sctiger]

Jan 26, 2015 10:35:21 GMT -5 lingeringwithcoffee said:

We have a joint account, so we pretty much discuss every purchase other than eating out and groceries together. However, we each get $150 a month to do as we like, so if I purchase anything fun like a bag or clothes, I don't discuss it with him because it is "my money."

This is what we do. We each get an allowance that we get to spend no questions asked. It's nice because I don't have to wonder if it's in our budget.

[sympkin]

Technically we discuss all the (big) purchases. More often or not though we have issues with gifts because we don't really budget them for each other and higher ticket items tend to be brought in that way.

We don't do fun money accounts or "allowances" though.

[dmlk413]

I usually check in over $75 but it kind of depends on what it is.

[daffy2k]

Some of you may have seen my rant about SH being stupid about spending stupid money. So after our talk on Saturday I no longer justify any purchases to him (unless it was maybe a new appliance or a car or something more than a couple grand). He thinks he can do whatever he likes so long as "we can afford it" so I explicitly said that I deserve the same curtosy.  We'll see how that works out for us, you know, "trusting" the other to use their better judgement. I think it will be ok because generally speaking he really isn't too bad, and I'm always conscious of my spending.

Prior to this weekend, I would have probably mentioned the handbag to him (assuming it's upwards of $150-200) more or less as a curtosy, but if I was using "my" money to buy it I wouldn't let him sway me from actually purchasing the item if he didn't agree.

[lioness13]

We have a joint account and separate accounts. I only check with him if something is over $100 coming out of our joint account. Anything else that I pay for with my money out of my account is my business.

I don't see paying for something with your fun money as something you should have to run by him. Isn't that the point of fun money?

[colieann31]

We have a joint account and always let the other know what we plan on buying that way there aren't any surprises when one of us check the bank statement. This has been working for us so far. But we also don't get an "allowance"

[musicalsilver]

Jan 26, 2015 11:24:53 GMT -5 lioness13 said:

We have a joint account and separate accounts. I only check with him if something is over $100 coming out of our joint account. Anything else that I pay for with my money out of my account is my business.

I don't see paying for something with your fun money as something you should have to run by him. Isn't that the point of fun money?

This exactly.

[skk]

Jan 26, 2015 11:10:38 GMT -5 dmlk413 said:

I usually check in over $75 but it kind of depends on what it is.

We do this too.  We have joint and separate accounts, but still check in since we don't do the allowances thing.

[phishgirl]

I usually run it by him as a courtesy and say something like "i really want this bag. Can it be my Christmas/Valentines day/Birthday/Thanksgiving/Mother's Day gift? He wouldn't be mad at me for spending the money and since we don't exchange gifts really, I just tell him it't for a certain occasion.

BTW, i'm in the market for a new bag. Can we see the one your eying?

[doodletwins]

I always talk with DH before buying practically anything. Not because I have to but because I have a hard time spending money on myself. He always tells me to just buy it

[momofcatan]

We don't check with each other much but we are both very very conscious of our spending. He will probably mention if he's planing on buying something for himself that's over $50, but it's more of an FYI than asking permission, and I do the same. I just bought new winter boots (actually ordered 6 pairs on-line and hoping at least one them will fit right...) and I might let him know I spent X on them, but they are a necessity and he knows I will spend the least amount possible. I try to keep DH in line with his aquarium and comic book spending, still its more of an "FYI I'm planning on spending $50 this week on comic books".

I try to budget for EVERYTHING, so I've been putting extra money into our clothing budget knowing that I'll need new boots. I put DH's holiday bonus into the hobbies budget knowing he spent that much on his new aquarium.

[momofcatan]

If you split your finances so that you each have fun money then I feel like you should be able spend it however you want without discussing it with him. But we do everything joint (I don't think one method is better than the other, its a personal preference IMO) so I don't have a good grasp on how having separate accounts work.

[hellooldfriend]

In my house, we pretty much discuss every purchase. Not for permission, but just bc neither of us are one to run out and buy something without the other knowing. I can't see him caring about the number, but I am the one keeping him in check 99% of the time.

[amiet79]

We always check with each other even if it's only a $20 purchase. We will be really tight for money until next April when we pay off our consolidation loan. So, until then, we are trying to be a little stricter with money. And since I'm a SAHM, I don't bring in any money so, I have to ask for money if I want to buy anything. I like staying at home, but I do miss when I had a job and my own money.

[bcandlm]

We don't really have a joint account. We used to keep one for groceries, but even then it was in my name and he gave me money to put in it out of his regular checking account. It is what works for us personally.

So before we had LO, I didn't really check with my husband if I wanted a new phone or to buy clothes or whatever. Now that we have LO, I do run bigger purchases by him, but more to get his opinion on whether I am being too extravagant than to get permission. And I don't have a set number for that--just basically anything I consider a luxury. So I asked his opinion on getting a new phone, but I didn't ask when I needed new work clothes because they were more of a necessity.

[peachey]

Jan 26, 2015 11:24:53 GMT -5 lioness13 said:

We have a joint account and separate accounts. I only check with him if something is over $100 coming out of our joint account. Anything else that I pay for with my money out of my account is my business.

I don't see paying for something with your fun money as something you should have to run by him. Isn't that the point of fun money?

all of this....

For the most part the only time I run big purchases by him that I am spending my money on, is when I need advice (ie computers/technology) or when I think he will internet slueth me a better deal.

[subliminalrabbit]

Jan 26, 2015 13:51:16 GMT -5 hellooldfriend said:

In my house, we pretty much discuss every purchase. Not for permission, but just bc neither of us are one to run out and buy something without the other knowing. I can't see him caring about the number, but I am the one keeping him in check 99% of the time.

Right now, pretty much this. When I was working, we'd check in around the $100 range. But DH is having a difficult time cutting back on discretionary spending, so we discuss most purchases other than groceries these days...

[graceinca]

There's no discussion. Unless the purchase is big, like a house, neither of us cares. When I went out to lease my car, DH's job was to hang at home with the kids. I think if we were on a tighter budget, we'd discuss more stuff. But as it stands, for the most part we can both be trusted to not do anything too stupid.

[melohdy]

Jan 26, 2015 11:40:51 GMT -5 colieann31 said:

We have a joint account and always let the other know what we plan on buying that way there aren't any surprises when one of us check the bank statement. This has been working for us so far. But we also don't get an "allowance"

This.

[vasc]

We have our separate allowance accounts that we spend from no-questions-asked. For joint expenses there is always discussion.

[lioness13]

Jan 26, 2015 14:08:07 GMT -5 thelorax said:

Jan 26, 2015 13:04:36 GMT -5 phishgirl said:

I usually run it by him as a courtesy and say something like "i really want this bag. Can it be my Christmas/Valentines day/Birthday/Thanksgiving/Mother's Day gift? He wouldn't be mad at me for spending the money and since we don't exchange gifts really, I just tell him it't for a certain occasion.

BTW, i'm in the market for a new bag. Can we see the one your eying?

This is what I'm eyeing. I want something that looks nice for meetings with clients, can hold my work computer, and is usable for travel.  They just had a 30% off sale so I will be waiting for that much of a discount again. 

www.loandsons.com/the-omg

my current bag was like 19 bucks so this is a big step up.

[callmeKD]

joint account - we check with each other over $25 excluding gas & groceries. unless it's a gift (ie birthdays or Christmas for each other).

[daffy2k]

thelorax I never came back to look, but I love the bag! I don't know the brand, but if they are known for their quality then I'd say the price is worth it.

[amv]

I don't check in, he does.
I do the budget and take care of all finances so I just move money around in the budget if needed.
He texts me anything over $100 before spending it.

[amv]

I kind of want that bag now, it looks like something I'm sure I need.

[cl8badb]

When we were both working we never really asked eachother. It was more like "hey i think i may get this". Now that im not working i feel like i need to bring it up if im going to spend over $100 on something. He tells me that i dont have to but i almost always do.
If im spending money on J or food/necessities then i just tell him which store im going to.
ETA I like that bag! If i was still working id probably tell him "im thinking of getting this bag because xyz". Especially if you have fun money. All bets are off!