Does Quicken cause you to fight w/ spouse?

[howmuch]

Hello all,

Me and my wife just had a blow up fight over the budget. This saving stuff is hard! I feel like she get's annoyed everytime I ask her for receipts or if she spent any money today. So the end of the month comes and goes, and I give here our Spending reports for the month of january and she hardly even looks it over! that really annoyed the heck out of me. Sorry for venting..

[terry1156]

I think you both need to sit down and come up with a reason why your are saving the money. my wife and I used to fight a lot about money mainly becasue we had different thoughts of where it should be going. Once we sat down and agreed what we anted to achieve together and where the saved money would go, we started working as a team to reduce debt rather than fighting each other. That may not be the case with you, but I see it a lot with people who fight over money.

[sweeps]

Terry's right that focusing on actual goals makes spending cuts a lot easier. Also by your post I get the impression that you may be using the Spending Reports in a negative way toward your wife. Instead try to use the reports cooperatively and come up with ways both of you can meet your goals.

[PrincessPerky]

Ditto, and try not to make her feel like 'the bad girl'. cause she doesn't want to be alone in her struggle (bet you thought you were the one alone)

[Ima saver]

I don't even know what quicken is. Perhaps you could ask her to carry a small notebook and write down her purchases every day. She could just hand it over to you every week. Get her to read some good books about budgeting. I like financial peace by Dave Ramsey and debt proof living by Mary Hunt.

[Lostsoul33]

Quicken is an online budget program.
Howmuch, what if you have a basket on the desk and you ask her to put her receipts in there each time she spends some money. You'll do the same ofcourse.
Also, have you sat down together and discussed what your goals are for your money? Are you working towards a savings plan? I get the impression that just one of you are working on the budget. Maybe I'm wrong here though.

[Lostsoul33]

Oh yea, the books is a good idea too. Get her interested in the budget.

By the way Ima saver, I've seen you recommend those books a couple of times so I think I"ll call the library and see if I can get them. Thanks!

[Ima saver]

I would have trouble keeping up with receipts. I would think recording everything in a notebook would be easier. Is she not interested in budgeting?

[frugalfarmwife]

I agree on having a long talk about whats wanted in the future, and possibly a bit more for "blow" money, working out finances is one of the hardest things in a relationship.

Take a walk, enjoy, talk calmly about it, works for us here

kj

[Ima saver]

How about if she gets an allowance and does not have to account for it. You can just plan her allowance as part of the budget. I budget $60 for my dh's allowance every week. I don't ask what he does with it!

[howmuch]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Ditto, and try not to make her feel like 'the bad girl'. cause she doesn't want to be alone in her struggle (bet you thought you were the one alone)

I think i do this. thanks for everyone's input. i basically have to be less criticizing.