Jill: Bill gets ridiculously obsessed with things sometimes, especially money. He will call me at least half a dozen times in a day, asking questions about my spending habits, and goes berserk when he doesn’t get the response he wants. Once he begins his rant about sticking to and starting a budget, I tune him out! He doesn’t have a clue how much things cost, and does not realize the cost of living increases every year! Things do not cost what they did 10 years ago! Not to mention when it comes to his toys, his cars, and electronics, money becomes no object, but apparently necessities like groceries need to be budgeted. He doesn’t seem to realize that groceries/household items includes cleaning products, the kid’s clothes, which they go through so fast and incidentals that can ad up quickly. I do spend some money on other items like make up, but he doesn’t seem to notice cost when he bought that new suit! I usually only spend money on things we need! Bill: Jill and I are spenders, plain and simple. Every once in a while I attempt to create a budget so that we can dig ourselves out of the financial hole we keep finding ourselves in. The difference between Jill and I, is that I am very aware of the impact of my spending and know what effect it will have on our personal finances. It doesn’t matter how many times I ask Jill what the balance on her credit card is, she can never tell me. Does she ever read a statement? Frustrated I asked her can you tell me within $100 dollars what the balance is, and she couldn’t! She couldn’t answer within a $500 range, a $1000 range, a $1500 range, not even a $2000 range!! That is absolutely absurd! When I get an unexpected credit card bill for almost $6000 I can’t help but get a little crazy. Why do groceries suddenly cost $1500 a month? I eat only one meal at home a day and Jill does not eat meat. It’s not like we eat extravagant meals. Often I have grilled cheese sandwiches and baked beans. Jill might prepare a stir fry or casserole 2-3 times a week and we eat out on weekends. I have divorced friend who fills my head with conspiracies that only someone who is divorced would create. “She is slowly socking money away so that she can leave you.” “She has a gambling problem” and several more theories that I will not even put in print. But, I sometimes I actually begin to wonder… |
