Hey ladies! New here - DH still in driving school, but need advice?

[JudeandLucy]

Hi Mommas! DH leaves for company orientation March 5, will be there for 12 days, then possibly straight out to training for 6 weeks.

As of right now, my main concern is budgeting. How do you ladies budget between yourself and your DH? DH is notoriously bad with a debit card and spending...and that's when I'm there to attempt to keep him in check with it.  Can't keep track to save his life, and has on more than one occassion overdrafted us by the hundreds from trips to the gas station for a fountain soda, lol. (I can laugh at how ridiculous it sounds, but sadly I'm dead serious!)

Pay during orientation is $300/week, and training pay is $350/week. We've made it on less - but he'll have added expenses we didn't otherwise have. 

I can't very well tell him "you can only spend $XX/day" because I have absolutely no idea what kind of things he'll need and have to pay for in a days time.

So, help? Please!  Thank you in advance :-)   

[tropicalmama]

My best advice would be to set up an acct for him to use while he is on the road. Put an amount in it, and that's what he can use. Obviously, if he needs more, you adjust to meet that need, but to start with, my boyfriend says $150-200 would probably about cover him. He says there may be some extra costs in the beginning to get the truck set up, but in terms of spending on things like food, drinks, showers, etc., the amount above *should* cover it. Of course, every person is different, but that's just an idea to help you guys get started. Hope that helps.

[peanut081981]

Definitely a good idea. Luckily, I'm very creative in "teaching" my husband that when he goes over, he screws us both, and so he doesn't. But definitely I'd open an account for him. The other thing is making sure he doesn't eat out a lot. It's not healthy, and it's expensive. Aaron spends around 100 a week on food in the truck. Stuff he can heat up, etc. Also, make sure he has cash for tolls etc, once he is on his own. Pm me if you have any questions babe.

[JudeandLucy]

Ahhh, very good idea!  He has a re-loadable pre-paid debit card (which I can get one attached to the "account" and put money on it as needed while he's gone). That may work better - you can't overdraft those bad boys. Even if we had a seperate account with an allotted amount in it, it's pretty well guranteed he'd just overdraft that account and we'd still be stuck with outrageous fees.

Good thinking! It never even crossed my mind! lol  

[JaelynS]

My husband has a prepaid debit card with http://www.facecard.com/ I put $100 on a week. If I have more money to give, he gets more. If not, he dont. If he calls me and says Hey do you have money for me to get tolls? I tell him he can get money out of the atm with our checking out card. The best tip tip to have toll money is always keep $100 in your acct that is "extra" what i like about the prepaid card,.. he doesn't over draw it.. it will only let you use whats in it.. I also send my husband away with a 30 2 liters.. that lasts him 3-4 weeks. i send him with 8 bag of chips, and then various other snacks. also this week.. we bought him a fridge at walmart for $100, it plugs into the cigarette lighter.. so now he also take yogurt, pudding, sandwich meat and bread.   but most companies have some kidn of pass to get thru most tolls.. it's rare he needs toll money

 

[JaelynS]

my rule with my husband is. My son and I make it on $100 week, you can too.. there is two of us, one of us is in diapers, and has expensive lactose free whole milk ($8/gallon) at 4 gallons per week.. If he runs out, he runs out.. but I'm not always that mean, if I have money to spare, I spare it. He does the same, if I'm falling short one week, he spares some money to me.

[JudeandLucy]

Oy. He's not even out of orientation and the money problems have begun.  This is day 7 for him. He was sent with $90, which considering I sent him with way more than enough food for those 12 days, should have lasted just fine. Yesterday he tells me he's out of money. I go and put $50 on his prepaid card and when I check his balance this morning.....he spent $49 at WalMart last night. The problem with this is when he calls me asking to send more money I don't have it! I have less than $20 to get me and my 3 kids through til his first pay check on the 22nd...hell, possibly the 29th since they haven't made it exactly clear when he's getting paid.  I'm not asking to borrow it from anyone (considering I had to borrow the $50 I sent him).

The major problem here is this - it's pretty likely he's assuming I have extra money just laying around. Did he ask me? Did I say I did? No and no.  He'll of course freak out when I tell him there's nothing to spare. Even when he was home this was an on going issue.

Welp, I hope whatever he bought at WalMart is enough to get him through the week.    

[mommyof3boys403]

well my husband has been driving for 9 yrs..He is home 1 and 1/2 days a week..On sunday when he leaves out,he takes sandwiches and a case of water and moutain dew(of course).And he takes a 100 dollars,then about on thurs,he will take out a little bit to make it tell he gets home..Once your guy gets into a routine he will know what works best for him,Communication is the key..My hubby will call and say can i have some money,when i say there isnt any in the account he will get a advance from work.well good luck..

[peanut081981]

You need to put your foot down babe. Be honest about not having money at home, and don't let him keep pulling advances, if he starts. That way leads to trouble. Good luck. Tell him to man up.