Question

My spouse is changing jobs and getting a significant pay raise (like 5x more) and I just promised him he could get a new truck of his choice if he can save a significant down payment. Has anyone ever struggled with budgeting after their spouse got a new job? I feel like he’s gonna want a bigger “spending allowance” on top of the new truck

Answer 1

Tell him the truck is his spending money. That he's the one who wanted it. Sit down and have a very in depth conversation about the budget and bills and all of it.  

Answer 2

Trust me, live below your means until you get to baby step 3 at least, .  

Answer 3

Be careful of the lifestyle creep

Answer 4

Before my husband and I got together he started making tons of money and didn’t know what to do with it. He figured more money, more stuff. And that’s how he got himself so far into debt and after making $2k every Friday he’d have $0 by Monday. A lot of people have the mindset, “if I could just make more money I could do X, Y & Z”. and that’s where it gets ya! Don’t fall for it. Keep budgeting like you have been. Live well under your means if possible. Don’t acquire new debt just because you can make that monthly payment.  

Answer 5

Let him have a reasonable allowance and save for a truck too. It’s okay to enjoy the money you make if you are responsible

Answer 6

This isn't a Dave page but I would still not just leave it at his choice. I would say he can pick a vehicle, but you 2 need to come up with a reasonable budget for what car payment you can handle while still paying off debt/or getting savings. If he uses his entire raise to buy a 1000/month truck where you two never see that raise, that can cause problems later down the line. I agreed to letting my husband get a new car last year but the deal was he could not go over $450 a month.  

Comments

@ursi36 also more expensive insurance

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@tiliaceous16044 Gas too. That was one thing I wouldn't budge on with my husband. He needed to get something good on gas so trucks will forever not be an option.  

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@ursi36 same thing, I set a monthly payment, if you can find a SUV that meets that, you can have it. He is in charge of cars payment and I'm in charge of the house payment and still we sit down to agree in the price.  

Answer 7

I would wait until you have money saved in case the worst happens and he loses that job.  

Comments

Yes! With that big of a raise he could save a ton in 6 months or so. I'd try to put down AT LEAST half, if not save to pay in full.  

Answer 8

Maybe let’s not treat our husbands like children? If it’s my husband I would let him! Reward him for it. Having money doesn’t mean you can’t spend it. Just spend it wisely. We just bought a truck too my husband really wanted it and he never wants much. So he got a truck.  

Comments

@linkage I don’t think it’s treating him like a child but he is really bad with money which is why he comes to me first. I do want him to get the truck of his dreams because he’s worked really hard.  

Answer 9

It is hard to not let lifestyle creep happen but you have to stick to your budget and your “why”.  

Comments

@clearwing this is so true. I’ve always budgeted bills but have not been so great budgeting the left over. I had an opportunity to go from my 2 days a week to full time temporarily to cover maternity leave. I ended up working full time for a year. That money was supposed to pay for our bathroom remodel, carpet and give us a great start on a kitchen fund. Because I justified a lot of spending to make up for not being with the kids and working so much, I’m still paying for the bathroom and carpet and the kitchen is a pipe dream. Emily, Learn from my mistakes. It’s super easy to let that money slip through your fingers.  

Answer 10

Miko addressed this same issue today in her IG story/post. Don’t lost sight of your “why”