Now that the dust has settled from the move, it’s time to sit down and get our finances in order.
You should see the look on Leah’s face when I say the word “budget.” It’s like she’s just found out she has 45 seconds to buy everything she ever wanted. I contend there’s nothing wrong with a little fiscal responsibility. I try to convince her it’ll be a character building exercise.
So last night I fired up Excel and started adding up all our credits and debits. I still have to figure out how much to set aside for property taxes each month, and we need to call the gas & electric company to get on their averaging plan at the new house, but things are coming together.
The difficult part is deciding how much to spend on food, clothing, entertainment, and savings. The bulk of my saving each month is done pre-tax via my employer’s generous 401K plan, but Leah doesn’t take advantage of that plan, much to my chagrin. We try to buy as much of our produce as possible from the local food coop to ensure it’s fresh and/or organic, or at least preservative and nitrate free. That tends to be more expensive than hitting the Hy Vee, but I’m confident we can strike a balance in our grocery shopping that’ll put healthy food on the table without breaking the bank.
The elephant in the room, of course, is the clothing budget. Most people don’t know this about me, but I’m a real clothes horse. I have two closets full of designer duds at home, one of which is dedicated almost entirely to shoes. Those readers out there who’ve worked with me can attest to the fact that I always dress to the nines. Even at home, my casual attire is all Ted Baker, Etienne Ozeki, and Lyle & Scott. I don’t play.
Leah, on the other hand, is kind of a schlub. She never puts much effort into her appearance. People are constantly staring at us when we’re out together, pointing and whispering to each other, “What’s he doing with her?” I feel bad for her, but that’s the life she’s chosen. Perhaps I can free up some money in the budget to get her a new pair of Adidas now and then.