Equality of the sexes

[Bodgy]

Boys, there seems to be a severe state of male members groveling to their spouses for permission to purchase some bit of machinery which, inevitably, gets used to improve the amenity of the family home.

Try this contract with your partner:

If both partners work, then agree an equitable allocation of household and family expenses, by income. Each meets their own responsibilities.

Hence, whatever is left is deemed "discretionary income" and each spends it as they see fit.

So, if Her Indoors wants a holiday in Fiji, fine. If Him Indoors wants a table saw, fine. Each foots the bill. I'd prefer the TS, but thats just me.

Why do many members need to seek permission, or at least accquiescence from their partner? We are all equal these days, aren't we? Does HI ask you when she spends $100 on a hair cut (as opposed to our $12.50)?

Come on fellas, don't be such wimps!

Think I'm off on a late night rave?

Maybe so, but run a search on 'SWMBO' and check out how many references aren't seeking permission for a purchase. Not a lot!

Soft male poultry!

[craigb]

I don't have a problem.

My missus likes me making stuff (usually to her design btw ).
I don't have to get permission for my purchases and neither does she for hers.

Of course, when I'm planning a major purchase, like a table saw for instance, I'll pay her the curtesy of discussing it with her.

(I'll still buy it though. )

Craig (the un-whipped )

[Jack E]

I'm with Craig.
We both buy what we want when we want it
Mind you, I think I am much better at the spending game and usually come out on top

Cheers, Jack (also un-whipped )

[Kev Y.]

I do what I want, when I want (now, have been spouseless for three years ), but prior to that I asked "permission" to make purchases, not because I need to OK it the keeper of the purse strings, BUT I need to make sure the family budget would allow it.

NOW I know that the kids are being taken care of - the government has set the $ value I have to supply to them each month, I know all the bills have been met, and I have food (alcohol is a food isnt it?) in the cupboard for the week, so any money I have left over can be spent how I want and on what I want.

[Wood Borer]

I earn and Meg manages the finances - has worked perfectly for us for 29 or 30 years now.

I ask her if I can buy tools and I welcome her questioning whether or not it is important etc. It is another filter for not buying crap or not blowing money on a whim due to a campaign by another sleaze bag marketing drop kick.

We own our own house 100%, we owe no money, I have some nice tools, Meg wants for nothing plus we are both happy.

Would we be in this financial position if the financial management was different? Who knows?

As the chief purchasing officer, Meg buys all my beer, wine, smokes, clothes and she has bought most of my tools. Many of the good tool outlets know her on a first name basis!

Am I under the thumb? I don't think so, maybe others think do think so.

I suggest the best arrangement is whatever works best for the people involved so that long term plans benefiting everone are realised.

[Andy Mac]

I don't refer to my wife as 'SWMBO', I don't want to formalise what is already apparent!!
If I want a new tablesaw, and go and discuss it , she'll say "If you're so bloody handy why don't you go and make one!" :eek:

Cheers,

[reeves]

Why do many members need to seek permission, or at least accquiescence from their partner? We are all equal these days, aren't we?

Soft male poultry!

mm are u crazy or what ?

anyon ethgat relates to a female regularly knows they will only accept blanket superiority to us, sometimes benevolent other times hostile...
ask them...they will tell u i am sure..hehehe

my wife has the same concerns as most others, i got around it by just buying what i need, often on layby and then telling her later, as the drill press is carried thorugh the house to the verndah workshop...mmmm

then i produce things that she can use for her spinning and impress her friends..its a trade in brownie points

when we wre married, she expressed conerns that the vows did not contain 'and to obey'...i hadnt noticed...

dunno why this is, just anthropomorphic behavoiur...i guess...

still a su suggest, its a trade off and sensible managment will help both parties reach satisfaction....in an ideal world...

cheeeeeeeers
john

[Clinton1]

I am free to spend as much as I like on whatever I like - so long as it comes from my pocket money.
Anything outside of that requires a discussion because it affects the overall budget.
The main reason we discuss things is because we have so little "discretionary income".

$100 haircuts, holiday in Fiji, machinery for the shed - these all fall into the "later" category in our life; at the moment it is needs, house, study fees, and super/investments.

[rrich]

LOML and I were married August 7, 1965. Shortly after the wedding we decided that the checking account was a 50-50 propisition. It seems that my 50% was making deposits and her 50% was writing the checks.

Now at age 62, I was able to retire with both vehicles and the house paid for in full. We're both on Social Security (The old age dole?) so finally LOML does do some depositing in the checking account. And I have about all the wood working tools that I need. The dust collector will be purchased probably in May, my choice.

So mates, when you find one that has a good financial head on her sholders, acquiesce my friends, acquiesce.

[Iain]

My other half handles millions of other peoples dollars, invests, deposits, collects and ensures it's safe and secure.
Why can't she do the same with ours????????

[Zed]

Woodborer - I think I love you....

my missus tells me what I can buy, mind you she lets me buy anyting I want so long as I save up for it out of my pocket money - as a trade off I agree to dig her holes for her plants, carry her stuff around, pay the mortgage and be the medical expenses weeny.

besides, I love being whipped. hurt me! hurt me!

[Wood Borer]

Woodborer - I think I love you....

Zed - what can I say?

Wasn't that a song by the Carpenters? Probably wrong because I am hopeless at remembering the names of bands.:mad:

[DanP]

My SWMBO does a stirling job with our finances. I don't have any idea what money we have where. Therefore, when I say that I have to go to SWMBO, what I mean is, I need to find out if we can afford it. If she says no, then we can't.

Dan