How much wife's allowance should be?

Question

Hello there, I am a housewife. I don't have full time job yet. My husband and I share the household job together. How much do you think the allowance for full time housewife should be given by the husband. He give me 3% of his salary for my allowance every month. Do you think fair enough?

I have take care w/ inside house, e.g. cooking, laundry, etc. He take care w/ outside house. Tx guys, I appreciate your answer. I am new in U.S. Now I know about allowance.

Answer 1

The term "allowance" is usually used, in the US, to describe money parents give their kids for pocket money -- to spend on video games, save up for toys, or buy soft drinks and snacks when they're out with friends.

This may explain some of the shocked reactions you've received to your question -- it's not common for adults to give each other allowances.

Now, having said that, it's a VERY good practice for married couples to have three accounts -- his, hers and ours. (This can be easily set up with the payroll department at your husband's work, to have the money automatically deposited in whatever amount you guys work out.)

Here's how it can work with a single-paycheck family (that's been us, for most of the last 20 years). The majority of the money goes into the "ours" account, and that's used to pay for common expenses -- housing, utilities, food, school supplies for the kids, gas for the car, etc.

The rest of the money is split -- according to a scheme that works with your budget and income -- between "his" and "hers." Once money is in one of those accounts, it's yours to do with as you see fit. If he wants to donate the money in "his" account to a political cause you disagree with, you can't stop him; if you want to save up for months and buy a wildly impractical and ridiculously expensive pair of shoes with the money in your "hers" account, he has to accept it.

The good thing about such a scheme is that it gives each of you the freedom to have a certain amount of money that's ALL YOURS -- there is nothing like having money that nobody can tell you how to spend.

Now, how much should that be? That varies with your income, expenses, and goals. If you're just starting out, and especially if the "ours" account covers housing, food, utilities and the rest, then 3% may be all you guys can afford at the moment, especially if you're trying to save for a house or some other major expense. I encourage you to save as much money as possible, putting it away either for major purchases (like a house or business), as an emergency fund, or of course for retirement. (No, it's not too soon to start saving for retirement, no matter how old you are.) If you have a little more flexibility, you might consider working up to putting 10% into each of your "his" and "hers" accounts, and putting the remaining 80% into the "ours" account.

The key, though, is as several other people have said: communicate about your goals, your needs, and the reality of your situation. If all your financial needs are being taken care of out of the main account, or if you are aggressively saving for the future, a 3% "allowance" might be just fine. But don't be surprised if your American friends give you a funny look when you talk about your husband giving you an allowance.

Answer 2

This is a more complex question than the answers I see people have given.
To find a fair answer you need to take is total income per month and subtract monthly bills (like gas, electric, rent ...) and then subtract what you both have allocated for house spending (clothes, food, mics) now from what is left find out how much is being saved for future retirement and then split what is left by 50% and that is your portion.
I myself after doing all that have only 10% of my paycheck to spend on whatever I want and then my wife gets half leaving me 5%. So 3% isn't great, but it isn't bad either.

OR
You can do what a lot of Americans do and spend all the money now and not have any saving to reitre with and have to work until you die. Remember American's aren't the best people to ask about delayed gratification. They want it all now regardless of the cost.

Answer 3

I am a full time home maker. My husband and I figured out after bills etc. how much we could each get as an allowance. That is money for each of us that does not have to be accounted for, it is discretionary money! We both get the same amount. It is a little more now than it was at first. The amount isn't as important as it being the same for both. 3% sounds very low. Is that all he gets? I just did the math and my husband and I each get about 4.5% so it isn't much more than you, but it is what we can afford.
I did work before kids and he went to grad school. Now I stay home and he works. We both agree on how our money is spent.

Answer 4

how much of his salary is left after he covers all of your joint bills? I do not believe in a hard and fast percentage rate. I think if he only has 200 bucks after he covers the household, he has a right to keep it all, but could give you some or all of it. What do you do for the money? you say you split household responsibilities, so you cook he does dishes, you wash the clothes he folds kind of thing? I have a situation like this . . .she and I split the household chores and bills. If she needs a bit more I cover, likewise if I need a bit more. However if you aren't paying any bills, and he is still doing his share of housework, be happy he gives anything.

Answer 5

How much does he make and how much do you work? U guys share the household work together!? U´re the housewife, so why aren´t u doing it? 3% allowance sounds good enough to me figuring that you´re practically munching off of him-_-...and, besides, as others have said, allowance is for child parent relations...not husband and wife-_-

Answer 6

I don't get an allowance from mine. I get access to the whole thing. The only thing he says is to make sure there is enough money for him to get his nessesaties (shampoo, soap, etc) Since he is in the military, i'm not putting up with an allowance nonsense.

Before he would give me 150-200 everyother week depending on his paycheck to buy whatever our son needs, food, phone bill, and what ever was leftover I could use for something formyself or to save.

Answer 7

I would never insult my wife by "giving" her an allowance. I may make more money, but we're equals in the household. I believe she is an adult and I treat her as such. I keep her informed of where we are at financially and how much we have as "mad money" and I trust her not to go over that. It's that simple.

In my opinion "giving an allowance" is a control technique by a spouse.

Answer 8

My wife doesn't get an allowance. She stays home, takes care of the kids and household while I work. It was OUR choice, we both contribute to the family therefore "my" paycheck is OUR paycheck, to be used on the family as a whole and our individual needs as people. As long as we have a good budget, there is no problem.

Answer 9

She sounds spoiled. it somewhat is a splash weird and wonderful that she gets extra suitable than you interior the value variety. (in spite of the undeniable fact that i like that there is a funds) each lady does no longer would desire to get waxed professionally. i'm undecided what getting her hair completed or the etc involves, yet no longer each little thing she's insisting on is of intense magnitude. it somewhat is substantial to maintain for the destiny- you in no way comprehend what ought to ensue. what's going to you retire on? trip on? deliver your baby to schoool on? From her modern-day maintance calls for- she would % plastic surgury sometime, the place will that money come from? as long as you're making cuts too, i don't get why she's disillusioned. perchance you will desire to initiate small and p.c.. out between the main frivolous issues she spends money on each month and recommend that she supply it up. you will would desire to point that it somewhat is done on a tribulation foundation. Ask her to offer up one factor on her checklist for a month or 2. Rotate by them if she insists on it. perchance, in case you could no longer communicate her into waxing at residing house, you could communicate her into basically going another month, or going longer between getting her hair completed, etc. Or, she ought to get a job and make her own money. stable success. i'm hoping you get by to her. Is getting waxed somewhat extra substantial than your destiny?

Answer 10

You'll likely get a string of bad answers saying "your husband stinks!" and so, but every household is different, and people that respond that way don't respect that not everybody is like them.

It's good for any married couple to have a budget, and if that's what your husband feels, and if you feel you need more, talk to him. Communication is always the key in marriage.