The other day, I noticed a friend of mine had shared a survey question via facebook.
“When did you first create a budget for your family – before, during, or after your first pregnancy?”
To which I wrote: ”I realized we needed a budget when right after we were engaged, I found out my husband-to-be’s checking account bank ledger was completely blank!
I think his exact words were – I just check the balance at the ATM when I want to buy something.”
I remember it was a few weeks before our first wedding (at the courthouse) and we were talking about how we were going to handle our money. I was leaving a really good job in Pennsylvania, and since Seth was going to have the sole income, we decided it would be best for us to combine our bank accounts. The conversation went something like this..
Me – “Okay so after you add my name to your checking account and order me a debit card, I can close my account here in PA and just deposit a check. So, what about your savings account?”
My darling beloved intended – “Savings account?”
Me – “Yes, your savings account. How much money do you have in savings?”
My handsome knight in shining armor – “I don’t have a savings account. But don’t worry, I get paid in two weeks.”
*crickets chirping*
And so, began our financial adventure into life as a married couple.
You know.
Where we discover that although I’m the saver, I’m also the clutterbug?
That I have a thrift store junky soul?
A yard sale craving spirit?
A distinctively frugal disposition?
And being stationed in Germany would create a ‘Junkin’ addiction?
Good thing my husband loves me so much.
How do you handle the finances in your family?
Did you have a memorable “first conversation” about money?
Also – is this a topic ya’ll would like me to write more about?
(We’ve been married almost 8 years and until we bought our house this year, have been debt free for 6 of them!)
August 14, 2012 at 8:50 am
My husband & I use a software called YNAB. It is incredible! It is a one time $60 charge, but it paid for itself in the first month of using the software. Highly recommend it!
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August 14, 2012 at 9:22 am
I created a budget for us while we were still engaged too. Hubby was a spender and I was a pay it off-er. (Ummm.. yah, that’s a real word too.) Now we are both TRYING really, REALLY hard to be savers. It’s getting better!
14 years of marriage and I still use the same budget sheet/idea for us but the numbers have changed an awful lot over the years.
Take care!
Dee
August 14, 2012 at 9:50 am
We’ve always saved, we both came into the marriage with a savings and now that we are better off financially- he’s gained some rank and I’m an RN, we save 10% of our pay every month. Even back then, when things weren’t as pretty financially we saved only $50 a month. You just have to work it in, but it was that little by little savings that allowed us to buy our home about five years into our marriage at this duty station. We aren’t as good about buying only things we need now, but in the beginning we didn’t go out to eat much, and we didn’t buy frivolous things that we didn’t need; we used to only have one TV. IMAGINE!? Now we have a TV in every room. However, it was the fact that we were frugal at first and patient for things to get better, for incomes to grow and didn’t rack up a ton of debt that has allowed us to grow into a better financial situation here into our 30s.
Sarah @ Charting New Territory recently posted..Why My Employer is Glad to Have Hired a Military Spouse And Why Yours Should Be Too.
August 14, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Our finances got an overhaul while my husband was in Iraq. We were never in trouble, but we weren’t great, and we had big plans. We started the Dave Ramsey program and haven’t looked back. We have saved so much and are completely debt free!
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August 14, 2012 at 8:05 pm
HAhahaha I love it! We slowly worked on finances while dating, and so when we got engaged all we had to do was merge accounts. luckily he has been on his own for 10 years and already had his finances figured out before we first met. I don’t really have much money to manage as I’ve been in college for most of the last 4 years, so it was a simple merger.
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August 18, 2012 at 2:41 am
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