Money and Marriage - Part II

Budget

 You may want to set a budget to stick as close as possible to expected spending limits. Start by recording current spending in these areas, and then agree on the amounts you want to spend in the future. 

• Rent or mortgage payment

• Utilities, including electric, gas, water, garbage, phone, internet, cable

• Food and supplies, including grocery, kitchen items, liquor, and eating out

• Entertainment, including travel, vacations, local events, holiday decorations, Netflix subscriptions, tech gadgets, books, etc.

• House maintenance including repairs, cleaning, lawn care, appliances, and decorating

• Automobile, including gas, insurance, licenses, and maintenance

• Clothing and accessories, including dry cleaning

• Health care, including pharmacy, doctor’s visit, and HSA contributions

• Personal care, such as haircuts, nail care, etc.

• Tuition and/or education expenses

• Contribution to retirement and savings accounts

• Charitable contributions

• Taxes, including federal, state, local, school, and property

• Paying down credit card or student loan debt

Retirement

What does retirement look like to both of you? Having this conversation will be enlightening. Know that dreams and goals will change over time and as retirement approaches.

You’ll want to have an idea about what you’d like to spend during your final years so that you can make plans to start accumulating that wealth now. The sooner you start, the more years you have to build up your retirement assets. 

Monitoring your progress

Keep an eye on your account balances to make sure everything is as it should be. Review bank and brokerage account statements and/or your budget once a month or at least once a quarter so there are no surprises or trends that sneak up on you.  

When you reach your goals, reward yourself. Managing money is hard work, and you deserve to acknowledge and celebrate your achievement. If there is anything we can do to help make your financial dreams come true, please reach out any time.