Weekly allowance or not?

**Momto2Boyz** · 07-09-2008, 03:34 PM

Not for the kids...for the adults.

DH and I used to do an allowance system for ourselves, where we each got X amount of money to spend each week. It was no questions asked...I couldn't ask him what he was spending it on and vice versa (which worked well, so neither of us had to feel guilty about spending a little bit on ourselves and then having to explain it to the other, as long as we stayed within our allowance).

Well, we got out of that habit when we got debit cards. Now it varies, sometimes we each spend more than what our allowance would have been and other weeks we don't spend nearly as much, so it is kind of a wash.

But I was just wondering what everyone else does in this type of situation if anything!

**Royal** · 07-09-2008, 03:43 PM

Me and DH each get 50 euro per month. This is a must for us eventhough there are months that we have money leftover at the end of the month. It's just the idea of having me-money, that if DH or I would want to buy something for ourselves, we can.

**Cricketlegs** · 07-09-2008, 03:43 PM

Allowances are a must for us!

$200 each a month--as dh gets 3 paydays I give us $50 a week for 2 weeks and then $100 to last the 2 week span.

Keeps the debit PUT AWAY and I tend to THINK more about spending--do I need this, want this, how bad, can it wait.

I have $170 put up just for whatever since I didn't spend much except to take dds and I to dinner and a movie.

Allowances are the BEST way to keep the budget in INK instead of pencil!

**Greebo** · 07-09-2008, 03:44 PM

We have allowances now. We put $50/wk for each of us in the "blow money" category, and the debit card is only for purchases that are planned and budgeted.

**itsahumanzoo** · 07-09-2008, 03:53 PM

I don't do that, but I am thinking about it. I don't often spend money on myself, and either does DH. But on the weekends we kind of forget about budgeting. I think that if I took out maybe $20 every two weeks for each of us, we could use it or choose to save it. It would also force us to think up more creative ways to entertain ourselves on the weekends. Generally when we do want to buy something, it's more than a couple dollars. DH especially, because he likes to buy new video games once in a while. If he only had $20 every two weeks, he would think twice.

**freebs** · 07-09-2008, 04:13 PM

we dont have allowance here.

**Ceashels** · 07-09-2008, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Greebo

We have allowances now. We put $50/wk for each of us in the "blow money" category, and the debit card is only for purchases that are planned and budgeted.

What we don't spend during that week gets rolled into the following week's $50. So if I have $35 bucks left in my wallet on Saturday I get $15 dollars to bring me back up to my starting point on Sunday.

**blitzen** · 07-09-2008, 04:20 PM

We get $20 a week, each except for the last paycheck of the month. DH has been good with his, he puts it in his sock drawer and has saved up quite a bit! I wish I was so disciplined!

**FrugalWitch** · 07-09-2008, 04:26 PM

We each get $20 on payday (every 2 weeks), DH spends his quicker than I do. I use mine for yardsales.

**Kitchen Mama** · 07-09-2008, 04:45 PM

My DH and I each get $20.00 a week for allowance. We get it out in cash when we make our deposit. It's nice to eat out once in awhile and not feel guilty about it.

**meanestmom** · 07-09-2008, 05:01 PM

I think an allowance is essential to not feeling "poor" even if its only a few bucks a month. We each get $50 a week, dh likes to spend his, I mostly save mine.

**janelane** · 07-09-2008, 05:18 PM

DH takes 20$/week to supplement his lunches, if he wants to go out for lunch instead of take. Plus he's a soda & munchie junkie and even he said it was a better way to keep himself from spending -- and eating -- too much. I just include it as part of the grocery budget.

I work at home so I don't really need anything like that, I just eat what's here.

**itsahumanzoo** · 07-09-2008, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by meanestmom

I think an allowance is essential to not feeling "poor" even if its only a few bucks a month.

I completely agree with you! I think if you budget too much and forget to leave a little something special for yourself, you're more likely to splurge in a bad way.

**Wendy99** · 07-09-2008, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

I completely agree with you! I think if you budget too much and forget to leave a little something special for yourself, you're more likely to splurge in a bad way.

so true!! what a great idea!! think we may try this ourselves