How to slow down wife's spending?

Be honest, Ive had the same problem with my husband, I was spending too much. I didn't fully understand the burden of the bills. We sat down looked at all the bills and all the money coming in and compromised on a budget. We also agreed that before we spend more than a little bit to talk to each other about it. I understand now his intentions with our money are good and just because its there we do not need to spend it,

You've got to institute a weekly 'accounts management session' so she can see the bigger picture that debt is made of.

It's better to do it old-fashioned style on a piece of ledger paper rather than on a computer. Post it on a clipboard in your kitchen, so it's always front-of-mind when you two come home. Have a cookie jar that you each empty your receipts into every day, and once a week, spend an hour together plotting in all into your purchases and expenditures. If you can, buy one of those calculators that has a printout, so it's all added up as you input it. She will quickly see how even small expenses add up quickly to gigantic bills!

Even if she's fibbing about her spending, the budget book will be a constant reminder to her that she can't spend more than she makes. She can input her pay cheque to offset things in the credits column. Make sure you have a SAVINGS column, too, for her to save up for things she wants to buy. It's the carrot portion of the carrot-and-stick home economy. If I were you, I'd sweeten it with incentives, too, like a weekend away if you save such-and-such an amount by such-and-such a date.

You should also pay your bills together as an exercise, so you are both aware and responsible of the ongoing expenses for housing, cars, credit cards, etc. Good luck!

Heck, I don't blame her! All that stuff sounds fun. And, actually, you aren't going broke because of it so she doesn't see the impact.

How about you have a "live life" fund and use it for exactly that. Build an account that takes you to the lodge at Yosemite for a couple of days, or a three-four day cruise, or one of those actually fairly cheap Cabo packages. You know, transfer that "live life" money from being spent on meals no one will ever remember, and the extra pair of slacks that don't really fit well, and the brand name instead of "well" cocktail, and give her a real incentive to turn that "saved" money into a grander experience. Turn the "no" into a really great "yes!".

We did that in our household and it made a great difference. We take quite a lot of the money we used to burn up and we stick it into our "adventure" fund and we have found that, every two years now, we take pretty grand adventures! That is a "live life" approach that beats the socks off upgrading lunch.

Obviously, She knows she has a problem if shes lying to you about it. The only thing you can do is approach her in the most calm way possible and explain to her how you feel. She needs to grow up and get a grasp on spending.

Create a list of the "extras" and how much the total spending is so you can show her how to cut back and save it for other things...

Perhaps each of you should set up separate checking and credit card accounts. As you do that, the two of you will have to agree what household bills will be paid by whom.

Man, do you ever need a budget. You must sit down with her and work on a budget and see that she sticks to it. Otherwise you'll be ready for a divorce.

Yell man, put dat white biatch in her place and show her whos the Baws. Put yo muthafu.kin foot down