The Spendthrift's Progress

Money stuff.

The budget is doing better this week than last. In theory, I have a whopping ten dollars for the rest of the week, where last week, I had pocket change.

In theory.

I haven't actually been given the money, so I'm still at zero when it comes to cash on hand, the parking for our Kindercare tour having eaten up most of the aforementioned pocket change. It's not like I had plans for that ten, beyond sticking it in my wallet and just knowing it was there like a small, green, stinky security blanket, but the lack of it is making me cranky.

I suspect I'm going to have to speak to the boy about how we handle the weekly cash divide, explain how having to ask for my share makes me feel inadequate and more like a dependent than a partner, and do it without somehow making him feel like I'm accusing him of something.

That's going to be fun.

We've developed a bad habit, even when I'm working, of sliding into expected gender roles when it comes to bill paying. We didn't used to be that way. I think it started after the tech crash, during my long and miserable period of unemployment. It's something I keep meaning to address (and I've tried in a half-assed fashion once or twice) because it drives me bananas.

When we both have income, I'd rather we just divide things up and write separate checks, like we did when we were still renting. When it's just him working, I'd still like to sit down and go over the bills as a family, even if the only check in the envelope has his name on it.

In other, totally unrelated news, we're taking a break from solids. The girl's still not very into them, and it's not worth the time, mess, and general upset to keep pushing them. She gets a week break, then we'll try again. She'll be ready when she's ready, no sense in forcing the issue.

posted by mohmlet @ 2:56 PM