Husband spends too much money on take out lunch, coffee, et al...?

Question

I've tried to tell my husband that his constant take out lunches during the day, his buying Dunkin' Donuts coffee three times a day, and his always buying drinks (like PowerAid) from the gas station adds up to a lot of money at the end of the week - but he doesn't see it as a problem. He says he doesn't like to bring his own lunch (he's an HVAC installer) because it's "not enough," and he'd have to buy a big cooler to bring all the water and juice he drinks during the day. How can I convince him that this constant take out is too expensive to do every day? He spent over $20.00 on lunch, drinks including coffee, and snacks alone yesterday - bringing the grand total to almost $80.00 this week!

P.S., I show him the bank statements, since he pays for everything with his debit card - and it still doesn't have an effect on him!

Answer 1

There are these bags called Icy hot bags that are really big so you could make him his coffee put it in a thermo and then by like a few bottles of juice or what ever to add up to what he drinks of it and try to make him a really big lunch.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

more than anything it is unhealthy too

Answer 3

withhold s*x

Answer 4

You start doing the same and put in different account and let it add up for the month.Then let him see what it has added up to.Give him cash for two weeks 100 bucks and say make it work.Dr phill says work with cash then he will realize how much he has spent.Because there wont be any left.

Answer 5

I totally had the same problem, last year bought personal finance software,this allowed me to enter all my bill,spending, loans, investments etc, it is a bit of work, but you can then see graphs and tables on monthly and yearly total, hubby and I have both saved heaps since we have been able to 'see' these amounts

Answer 6

Your choice is to live with it, or for you to take action

(avoid becoming a nag, don't carp at him, enable him)

Buy the cooler, make him a great lunch every day and pack the drinks. . . .this is something you want him to do, then make it easy for him. . . .

Answer 7

Can you get him to buy into a discussion of budget and financial goals and aims?  Here's a web sight that may help:

http://www.threerules.org/

  It will help IF you can keep the discussion from being accusatory.  The two of you need to agree on goals and aims and agree that both get into the harness.