Sorting food budget- seperate for you/OH? how?

nickyhutch

All our money goes in one pot and we buy what we need. That's surely what living together/being married is about, whether one spends more on something or not?

For example, I spend far, far more on "grooming" stuff than my OH - special shampoos/conditioners/treatments, make up, hairdos, manicures etc. He needs shaving foam, razors, moisturiser and shower gels. Not much else. We're a partnership, though. If he suddenly decided he wanted to spend on something, a hobby, for example, then the money for it would come out of the pot. Actually, he's just taken up kayaking and the money spent on lessons, training and equipment just comes out of the pot.

Tiddlywinks

Lagoon wrote: »

In our house, OH calculates the cost of his breakfasts and lunches, plus what he's willing to spend on evening meals, at the start of the month. He transfers that money to me, and I do the shopping which includes purchasing his food.

I have my own budget for my breakfasts and lunches. I then match what OH has put in for evening meals. I usually want more expensive evening meals, so if it goes over I pay the extra.

I am a bit surprised that couples do this sort of calculation... I'm not criticising as it seems to work for you but I just don't understand why you need something so complicated.

cutestkids

I really do not get this at all, perhaps if a new relationship or if you do not actually live together fair enough but to commit to living with somebody and having children and each buying their own food seems really strange.

In our house all the money goes in a joint account bills, mortgage, food shopping, petrol etc all get paid out of this account, we each have personal spending money but it is for if I want a magazine, coffee with friends, a new nail polish type of thing.

Sorry don't want to offend and if it works for you great but I just can't get my head around it.

marisco_2

When I was with my ex both our incomes went into a joint account. There was no 'his' and 'my' money, it was 'ours' to fund the life we shared together. From this account all of our bills were paid out by direct debit. We set a budget to cover food, petrol and all the other general monthly expenses that come up. A certain amount each month was transferred to a joint savings account to save up for big things like holidays etc. We also each had our own individual accounts where x amount was transferred to do what we liked with. I liked this system and it never caused us any problems.

Lagoon

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I am a bit surprised that couples do this sort of calculation... I'm not criticising as it seems to work for you but I just don't understand why you need something so complicated.

All of our money is separate. When it comes to food, I spend more on mine because I eat a lot more high quality fresh meat, fruit and vegetables. His shop can be about a quarter of the cost of mine, because he's happy with processed foods and stuff I wouldn't touch.

The only foods we share are those evening meals, and because he would be happy with cheap rubbish and it's me that wants the healthy food, I'm the one that covers the extra costs. It's not fair for him to have to pay a considerable amount more, when I'm the only one that has the issue with cheap food.

So, as an example, he'll give me £5-10 to cover his weekly breakfasts and lunches, plus another £15 for evening meals. I'll set aside £15 for evening meals to match him, and will budget £20 for my breakfasts and lunches. That gives us a total budget of £30 for evening meals.

The rest of the money I don't need to think about. It's the right amount for what's on the shopping list, so it's irrelevant. If evening meals end up at £40 it's inevitably because I spent more on better meat, or more vegetables, so I'd pay the additional £10.

mllgnc

Have to be honest, as other posters have said I find this arrangement if your a couple, odd and very complicated. Hubby and I usually go food shopping together, the money comes from an account that both our wages are paid into. I really can't imagine having to figure out our "share", maybe we are just old fashioned

msb5262

Lagoon wrote: »

All of our money is separate. When it comes to food, I spend more on mine because I eat a lot more high quality fresh meat, fruit and vegetables. His shop can be about a quarter of the cost of mine, because he's happy with processed foods and stuff I wouldn't touch.

The only foods we share are those evening meals, and because he would be happy with cheap rubbish and it's me that wants the healthy food, I'm the one that covers the extra costs. It's not fair for him to have to pay a considerable amount more, when I'm the only one that has the issue with cheap food.

So, as an example, he'll give me £5-10 to cover his weekly breakfasts and lunches, plus another £15 for evening meals. I'll set aside £15 for evening meals to match him, and will budget £20 for my breakfasts and lunches. That gives us a total budget of £30 for evening meals.

The rest of the money I don't need to think about. It's the right amount for what's on the shopping list, so it's irrelevant. If evening meals end up at £40 it's inevitably because I spent more on better meat, or more vegetables, so I'd pay the additional £10.

Do you mean you actually do a separate shop for evening meals? I'm gobsmacked, frankly - not least because your OH is getting better food than he's paying for, and because you appear to do both the shopping and the cooking! Obviously that's entirely up to you but it wouldn't make me feel very happy in your position. However, each to his/her own...

daisiegg

*max* wrote: »

I have never even heard of a couple having separate food budgets and buying their own. It just seems very odd to me (not to mention very complicated!).

Ditto! Seems so strange to me but each to their own! Do you never eat meals together?

rebekahR_2

We dont have children together, our money is not joint. My income is mine and his is his... paying for my own food thus seems to make sense

Then any special occasions or treats we pay for combined

Rather than one person being left short..whilst one has plenty?? ...hmm

the 40/60 thing sounds like maybe an idea.

.going to trial it this month.... £50 budget for me..in a purse..I always end up treating/getting extra bits because I am soft..going to try my best to just only use whats in my purse and on my bits this month for my own sake!!

Thanks for all the input guys, food for thought

paulineb_2

Tbh, if your husband is on some kind of special diet linked to his training and you dont eat as much expensive foods, I see nothing wrong with you paying for yours and he for his. Some couples dont have joint bank accounts, each to their own.