At the very beginning of family life we rarelywe think about such base things as money. Everything is right, with a loved one, as they say, even a hut is paradise, and the genes of the Decembrists rage inside us, giving a feeling of boundless happiness. Oh, if only such an idyllic picture of family life could be preserved forever. Alas! Reality knocks on the doors and windows, and also in the mailbox, in the form of bills for the apartment, telephone and loan payments. And it turns out that it is chilly in the hut, and the loved one does not want to share his stash, and you can’t lure him with a roll to work in Siberia. So we have to learn the basics of family economics. The saddest thing in this situation is that no one will come from the outside and answer the questions that arise. We have to learn everything from our own experience. How to correctly distribute the family budget by income and expenses? What method of forming it should be chosen? How to manage this very budget? But don't give up: everyone has long known that a rich person is not one who has a lot of money, but one who has enough. So you need to make sure that the money you earn is enough, and financial issues do not bring disagreements into your life together. Let's try to figure it out together.
Models of formation of the family budget
As you know, the budget is made up of itemsincome and expenses. And in order to correctly distribute the family budget, you must first choose a model for its formation, which will be the most comfortable, effective and conflict-free for your family. Although it is worth mentioning right away that in its pure form, none of these models work. And this is not an unfounded statement. If you think about it, you are dealing with one of the sections of economic science - family economics. And any scientific models are created for ideal situations. Unfortunately, in real life it is almost impossible to achieve the ideal, but you can strive for it. So, let's consider the first model for forming a budget for a married couple.
- Total family budget
Budgeting model where all revenues arespouses are contributed to a common "pot" and from there, funds are deducted for the needs of the family. It would seem to be an ideal model, but each of us has our own hobbies, weaknesses and habits. So it turns out: in order to have the opportunity to "sit with girlfriends in a cafe", you will have to make "nests". Even with the most competent planning of the general budget, you are unlikely to include this item in the expense items. Add to this the fact that one of the spouses will have to keep track of income and expenses, therefore, the second finds himself in a situation where he needs to ask for money. Agree, not everyone may like this. And keep in mind that you will have to make ends meet every month, and if there is not enough money (and this happens quite often and no one is immune from this), listen to a rebuke about the unreasonableness of spending. Are you satisfied with this situation? If yes, this is your ideal way of forming a family budget.
- Partially total budget
Many call this model a compromise.It is suitable for those who doubt whether to take a common or separate family budget as a basis for further financial prosperity. It should be noted that the model is close to ideal, especially for those who have an average income. But here too there are some pitfalls. Such a budget is formed not from the entire amount of your earnings, but, for example, from 70-80%. The rest remains for personal needs. Not bad. But you forget that no one takes into account your work in this situation - a mother, a cook and a cleaner all in one. This is your responsibility by default, and no one is going to take it off your fragile shoulders. But then what kind of justice can we talk about? And one more detail. If you and your husband have different salaries, your 20-30%, remaining after contributing money to the family budget, will be very different from his personal funds. Somehow unfair. Don't you think? And no one has canceled the possible problem of a lack of money until the end of the month either. But if you can find your truth somewhere in the middle, this model will be a good way to keep your finger on the pulse of your family's finances.
- Separate budget
This model of family budget formation is calledalmost a death sentence for a marriage. But as practice shows, this is not quite true, or rather, not true at all. In Europe, a separate family budget is the norm. And financial disputes become the cause of divorce in very rare cases. By the way, women in Europe have much higher financial security in case of divorce than we do. But let us remind you once again that a separate budget does not mean a separate marriage, let's still separate the wheat from the chaff. A distinctive feature of a separate budget is that the spouses do not put their income into a common piggy bank. But you should not think that only one person takes on the expenses for family needs with such a budget. Not at all. It is necessary to agree on who in your family pays for what. And this must be done as correctly and carefully as possible. With a separate budget, you take on a lot of responsibility. By the way, most financially successful girls prefer this model of forming a family budget. A separate budget is not suitable for your family if the difference in salary levels is too great. For example, if one of the spouses is a student, if you are on maternity leave or undergoing long-term treatment, if you got married and are no longer going to work. It is also possible that your husband does not want you to work. As they say, there is no accounting for taste... Or it may be that your independence is a burden to you. But no matter what model of formation you choose, you will still have to "pay the bills". And if everything is more or less clear with the income items and models of forming the family budget, then the distribution of expenses must be planned in advance.
Expenditure items of the family budget
As a rule, in the average familyExpense items are made up of the conditions and lifestyle. First of all, all expenses are divided into mandatory (inevitable) and optional (on which you can save). Secondly, expenses can be planned and unforeseen. And thirdly, you can spend money on general family or personal needs. For example, utility bills are included in the mandatory category. You also cannot avoid spending on food. But buying clothes (for adults) can often be an excess. In any case, we are guilty of an irrepressible craving for acquiring more and more new wardrobe items, even if there is no urgent need for this. As for planning expenses, for example, the same utilities, food, clothes and shoes, as a rule, make up an item of planned expenses. Here you can also include (that is, plan in advance) expenses for repairs, vacations, the purchase of household appliances, a summer house or a car. Unplanned expenses can be the result of force majeure circumstances or unexpected events. After all, misfortunes that entail financial expenses cannot be planned. And these expenses can result in anything, from fines for illegal parking to paying for funeral services. However, fortunately, unplanned expenses are not always associated with sad events. Unplanned expenses can include buying a wedding gift for friends or relatives, buying an expensive item "on occasion" (at half price) or a last-minute holiday package. Therefore, as paradoxical as it may sound, unplanned expenses also need to be planned.
Budget allocation
Only the correct distribution of funds willthe key to proper family budget planning. In general (according to science), half of the budget money should go to necessary needs (mandatory payments and vital items). Thirty percent of the total family income can be spent on optional, but pleasant expenses. This is where money comes from for a vacation by the sea, for a new fur coat or for replacing an old refrigerator. The remaining twenty percent can become a means for accumulation or turn into an emergency reserve. This is where you can take money for unplanned expenses, and then simply replenish your emergency reserve. But what about personal funds? Everything is very simple. This expense item should be included in the first half of expenses. Because personal funds are simply vital for each family member. And how much this item will be depends on your income and your lifestyle. If you have chosen a separate budget model, then you and your husband will have to accurately and clearly calculate all your income and the total expenses of your family. Then determine (if possible proportionally) which expenses you will take on yourself, and which will go to your spouse. And let us remind you. When taking on certain expenses, remember that, among other things, after a working day you work again, only as a housewife. And if you calculate how much you would pay a visiting housekeeper, then this amount as an expense part should be taken on by your spouse. Of course, no one is saying that he should pay you a salary, just the amount expressed in monetary terms should be deducted from your monthly family expenses. And finally. It does not matter which model of financial behavior you choose, whether you will keep a joint or separate family budget. The main thing is not to make the budget a bone of contention in the family. Any problems and any disagreements can be overcome. We recommend reading:
