Husband won't stick to budget?

That's a tough one...money disagreements cause a lot of issues in marriages. I'm sure being so far away from each other doesn't make it any easier! Praying the two of you can work it out. If not, when he gets back, you might consider finding a financial counselor to help you get on the same page.

Also, I work for an organization called Focus on the Family. There is a Q&A on their website that you might find helpful as you try to come to an agreement with your husband on spending. Here is the link: http://bit.ly/1dQHnm8

Blessings to you!

Here's a problem that probably hasn't been addressed. I went through this when I was in the military, and when I become a civilian, I completely changed my whole approach to money.

When you're active duty and the government (rather the taxpayers) is paying your paycheck every two weeks like clockwork, there's a tendency to think that money will be there forever.

Military and government employees are one of the worst people at saving money. You have a few who are savvy, but the majority just aren't.

Why?

They look at it this way. They're getting paid whether they're sick, working, or not working. Plus, they get benefits like free healthcare/TRICARE, basic allowance for housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Subsistance (BAS) in addition to their base pay.

When they PCS, the government pays for the entire move. Even with a DITY move. The average civilian would have to U-Haul it because MayFlower would cost them a fortune.

When you retire after 20 years, you get 40% of your paycheck for the rest of your life.

Ask yourself, where is the incentive to save money?

Except today -- our government is flat broke and that "forever paycheck" will officially stop at some point.

Good on you for being diligent and resourceful with your money. That will help you survive, but it will be a fight to try and convince your husband of the same thing unless HE perceives that his paycheck will be lost, he gets furloughed, or he may be cut by manpower.

The best you can probably do is when you get to your next assignment, you and your husband opt to take a budget course together at the Family Support Center or ask his First Sergeant for assistance.

Or...

Convince him that you will handle the money matter and the budgeting. Once you move to your next assignment, you'll be his dependent, and extra money should be coming his way on your behalf. Give him some leeway in spending, but you oversee the bills and the purse strings.

Understand what all military benefits you are entitled as soon as you both in-process at your new assignment.

This is a big indication of who he is financially, and nothing you can say or do will change that. You have the following options:

1) You suck it up, accept that this is who he is, and accept that you two will always have financial problems because of it.

2) You suck it up and protect yourself by making sure to keep your savings locked up tight, never fend for him, leave him to be sucked into the wormhole and protect yourself financially, never cosign loans together, don't share bank accounts, etc.

3) You give him a choice; either he changes or you walk. And you stick to your decision, because even if he chooses walking, he clearly would rather have trivial things as opposed to a secure future with you, and in the long run, you don't really want someone who would make that kind of decision.

Depend on the relationship you have with him and the type of life you want to have, but you can't force him to change by arguing with him non-stop, you can't nag him like his mom, and you can't sit there praying he'll one day wake up, because that day will probably never come. He either doesn't realize how serious you are, and/or he needs a serious wake-up call; you walking might just do it, and if it doesn't, then you know you can't be with him.

He's probably out spending it on other women. Good luck there