Is he tight or do I spend too much

[lunavix]

Dh and I are having a dispute about our income. Due to payrises (and increased workload) our pay has gone up around over half again. But he seems unable to realise that our expenses have too (I'm self employed), that with a new baby on the way new costs with come up (nappies, formula etc) and that working 50 hours some week I don't want to panic that we don't have the spare £2 a week to buy a sodding sandwich! Am I being daft?
We're meant to be paying off debt to his parents, the last 2 months we've cleared our credit cards etc, this month we're starting paying them back. I suggest £500 a month but he wants to save money as well, and wants to save the same again... which means we will have next to nothing to live off....

Theres no point in having nothing to live off. Sit down work it out and leave a bit of cash for you BOTH to spend on sarnies or whatever.

If he knows bills are paid, the money borrowed is being paid back etc..can see it on paper he might relax a bit.

Do you think he's got the 'saving bug'? Some people can get a bit obsessed once they realise they can save!

I don't know...

we haven't really ever saved, but I like the fact we're working off debt. But I don't want to feel like I suffer a long week to have to count pennies. I don't splurge, rarely buy clothes and ds's are bought at sales, but I like the fact that now I can buy him the odd top or shoes and not worry that it's not a sale.

We only gave ourselves £100 a month to spend on luxuries (meaning clothes, going out, peoples birthday presents, christmas, ds, everything!) which I personally think is absurd.

personally I'd stay on a budget till I'd worked off all debt (including debts to parents)

then I'd try to go halfway with spare cash .. ie split the difference between what you can exist on and what you earn .. put half in savings (for next lean period) and spend other half

you never know what's around the corner

Twiglett - we're staying on a budget indefinately. But I think that spending money needs to be realistic. I want to pay off our debt, but I don't see why we need to scrimp to do it. After it's paid (which should take less than a year) I'm happy to do half and half with savings, and I think £500 a month savings is a LOT.