Originally Posted by Gandalf97:
In my case my wife and I have agreed on a monthly "allowance" since we were married. Since that has always been my limit, the budget idea has pretty firm boundaries. Once the envelope is empty, there just isn't any more. That makes it a lot easier to follow. Also, the trust that has been generated between me and my wife is impossible to put a price on. It sounds like a paradox but having the budget and sticking to it is really more liberating than restricting.
Same thing with my wife and myself, although our allowance is every two weeks when I get paid. My allowance often (but not always) goes towards the train fund and my wife to one of her various craft hobbies. Either way, no one ever second guesses what the other purchases.
I have also become very selective in my new purchases and have no qualms about selling items that I have but do not use. I have very few pieces stored in the box under the train table. I have even taken a chuck of money from selling trains to put into another hobby.
Jim
