The best way we could think to figure it out was to sit down and make a budget. Very simple for most people: for me, not so much because I have never made a budget { horribly irresponsible, i know }. Luckily for us too, our debt is small but about equal: he has student loans, i have a car payment. So we basically added two paychecks each { one month pay}, and subtracted all the bills, stuff that must be paid every month, etc. and then divided the rest into savings and the rest into fun. I’m sure our plan will evolve in many ways one we join bank accounts and change our spending habits and become more eager to put money into savings for a house. But right now, as silly as it sounds, since we’ve already been living together, I’m looking forward to kissing goodbye the “I bought groceries last night so can you pay for dinner tonight? ” conversations.

Miss Charleston Bride’s most recent blog post: { hush, hush }

Now, I feel like I’m a kid on an allowance. I had to literally beg and plead to buy a new lens for my camera — after not spending any money (outside of groceries, etc.) since December, my husband finally “allowed” me to get the lens as a birthday gift to myself. I mean, seriously? I have a job, and I need permission to spend my income? It blows.

But, his loans are also accumulating 6-7% interest so we want to pay them off. And once he is done with residency and making actual money, we’ll have more to spend as we so need. But it really sucks when all I want is a $6 strainer from Bed, Bath & Beyond and I have to sneak it in the house or pretend like someone else bought it for me because it’s not on the permissible spending list. Delayed gratification is hard when the delay is 10-15 years.

Disgruntled Julie’s most recent blog post: Temporary Delays