Finances & Marriage

For me i would eat out a lot. I make half of what a teacher makes and live in California, so you can imagine it was not sustainable. I finally was forced to eat my lunches at home and it has helped a lot. Buying groceries has helped as well as living one day at a time and telling myself i'll do my best today at work and not worry about tomorrow. It's not easy but it can get easier just have to do it one step at a time. Also i share food with my wife so if i do get something like a burrito and i'm not feeling that hungry i eat half and she eats the other (not saying she only gets to eat half she can get whatever she wants but she is often so busy she might forget to get herself something and when she comes home and i have half a burrito she just eats that) She also has her own finances. We make about the same so separate finances helps her to have her own money and me my own it prevents arguments. And we split bills in half. So rent is in half.

Agree with much of what's been posted
#2 above make sure contract allows early pay off

Dont use credit cards or pay off monthly

Also, you can search the internet for hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas about money. Goggled using "frugal."

Everyone's situation is different and you have to figure out which ideas to incorporate.

Small ideas add up - Found making pancakes using whole wheat flour for about half of what the recipe listed then using peanut butter instead of syrup can be very filling - used a couple of times a month

Plus you can freeze some to have on hand when there's not time to cook or dont feel like it.

You've gotten some great replies so far. My husband and I have always practiced most of what has been mentioned. We have no debt, have never had money struggles, and we get by just fine.

-- Communication and trust are important. We've shared checking and savings accounts since the day we married (almost 30 years now). We make mutual decisions on all the big stuff. I suppose times have changed, but we have always felt (as mentioned above in a previous post) that we're two people who became one, what belongs to one belongs to the other. Spouses should be able to trust each other when it comes to finances.
-- Buy what you can afford without using credit cards. They can be a money pit.
-- Don't fall into the trap of feeling you have to keep up with "the Joneses". They may have a lot of things you don't, but they also may be deep in debt.
-- If you buy a house, pay as large a down payment as you can, and pay extra on the principal each month as you can find the money to do so. It's a good use of a tax refund if you get one.
-- Save and invest as much as you can. As my parents always said, money doesn't grow on trees.
-- If you have some type of retirement plan at work take advantage of it and add extra money from your paycheck if you can.
-- Don't think you need a new car every year or so. They actually last a long time if you take care of them. And it's nice to drive around in something that you don't owe money on.
-- Look for bargains when you shop for groceries. Check all the adds, use coupons if you can. Stock up on good sale items that you know you'll use. Buy a freezer.
-- Eat at home. There's nothing wrong with a nice meal out on occasion, but it can become an expensive habit. Save it for a special occasion.

Bottom line, think about the future and where you see yourself. Too many people don't think ahead. What may seem important today won't necessarily be important tomorrow. Live within your means. Make sure you have more coming in than goes out and find a way to save the difference.