@wiredjack, in reading your post it seemed to relay your frustrations. You and your wife seem to be in a financially blessed position with the one income. I am in a position where a recent medical event has unemployed my husband who was also the spender of the house. I am more disciplined and it has put me in a great position to take care of every financial need with MY oldest in Graduate school and MY youngest son in College. Yes mine, because with or without my spouse me and their father are the responsible party. I implore you to “write the vision and make it plain.” I do it every month with a .50 composition book and I cringe when I see how much money is/has been misused...I get back on track and create moments until the vacation is a reality. I wish you all well and you have the discipline to reign it in... 🙏🏽 🙌🏽 👍🏽 ... View more

I am a firm believer of using a common composition book in which I create 4 columns to track my budget. I use the margin to list incoming finances, tithes/offering, savings, auto debited “bills” then leave a few spaces and list the manually debited ones. Within the 1st column are the absolute necessities ie.. mortgage, electric, gas, water, sewage, care note, credit card, savings, household shopping/groceries ... 2nd column miscellaneous items ie. fast food, movies, traveling beyond work (extra gas expense), cleaners, extra grocery store trips), gifts... 3rd column I carry over the total of unnecessary money that was spent for accountability and awareness...know where it went to and why... 4th column for my other account that I use for the kids college/allowance, mother, family, car insurance, credit card... I do have two credit cards but I have my sons in one since they are in Grad school and undergrad school for consolidation of their exspenses then I may deduct it from their college fund in which we still put into each month or make payments on the card which builds their credit as well; but it’s only for their schooling, travel, car repairs if they need it. My other card is for my truck repairs, medical items/bills, and travels so that I don’t deplete my savings but never shopping. Accountability and responsibility is necessary when having credit cards but they aren’t the devil...use wisely and account for your money 🙏🏽 🙌🏽 💞 ... View more