Budgetting - money left over at end of month?

buildersdaughter

I do a very similar accounting system to GreyQueen.
However, it seems biggest thing of all is to get OH on board. We find we can sort out expenditure better if we are quite honest about what isn't working, but especially listen to each other.
We have 'flexible meal planning' that allows space for reduced / special items. I also wonder if he would like to meal plan. I can see that him turning up out of the blue with something that needs using within 24 hours is annoying, but if he's 'in charge' he can make those decisions.
My mother used to have 3 savings accounts - my OH didn't like that, so we just had one, but the idea was this:
10% into savings for a rainy day
10% into a treat fund - holidays, Xmas, and occasional days out
Whatever she worked out was needed for the annual expenses of insurance etc.
That all came out before the day-to-day budgeting.

Everyone budgets differently, but beginning with the meticulous accounting of every penny for about 3 months is worthwhile.

buildersdaughter

I should have added that we set aside a monthly amount for things like clothes and shoes (in the same account as annual expenditure). We can dip into it for 'bargains'.