Agree to balance spending

Rising prices have significantly impacted the lives of many families. Many couples have proactively planned their spending, cut back on unnecessary purchases, and sought additional sources of income. This not only helps stabilize family life but also strengthens a sense of responsibility and bonding among family members, fostering happiness together.

Many women believe that balancing household expenses should begin with saving small amounts of money.

Ms. Hong Thanh and her husband, residing in Ninh Kieu ward, have two young children. Ms. Thanh sells food online from home, while her husband works as a delivery driver. Their combined monthly income is approximately 20 million VND. Ms. Thanh shared: “For many years, my husband and I have worked hard but haven't had any savings. Prices of goods are constantly rising, and competition in the market has somewhat affected my work. Because our incomes are unstable, managing finances and saving is quite difficult.”

Following her friends' example, Ms. Thanh created a clear spending plan, setting aside 10% of her income for savings. Ms. Thanh recounted: “Seeing me saving money in a piggy bank, my husband was very supportive. He also limited his participation in social gatherings and avoided overspending on unnecessary items. Besides his job as a delivery driver, he took on extra work repairing electrical appliances for neighbors. He and I put all of this money into our piggy bank. I'm very happy to see that my husband and I are united and know how to share difficulties with each other.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Tuyet Nhung and her husband, both factory workers in Long Tuyen ward, earn a combined monthly income of approximately 15 million VND. Therefore, Ms. Nhung has to carefully manage her expenses to cover living costs, raise her children, and save for the future. Ms. Nhung shared: “Factory wages aren’t high, so outside of work, I help clean restaurants; my husband also does odd jobs to supplement our income. My savings method is using a piggy bank; I save less when I have little money and more when I have a lot. Thanks to this, after a year, I’ve accumulated a considerable amount, which will serve our family’s major goals.” According to Ms. Nhung, the mutual support between her and her husband has helped their family manage their finances and avoid unexpected shortages.

According to many women, to build a happy family, husband and wife need to agree and cooperate in managing finances; most importantly, they need a specific spending plan. Ms. Ngoc Tran from Ninh Kieu ward recounted: “Before, I used to shop impulsively. Especially when I saw shops selling clothes on sale, I would spend money without hesitation. Similarly, when I went to the supermarket, I bought a lot of food to stock up, but by the time I needed it, it had expired and had to be thrown away. Because of this, my husband often criticized me for being wasteful. Meanwhile, my husband also spends money quite freely.” To save money, Ms. Ngoc Tran and her husband agreed to adjust their family habits. They limited eating out at restaurants; they curbed the purchase of unnecessary items. She also made family meals more carefully planned…

In reality, not all couples agree on how to manage household finances. Some maintain spending habits from their single days, while others are too rigid and inflexible about dividing responsibilities, failing to contribute to a shared fund. Therefore, agreement and consensus in managing family finances are crucial. This not only helps maintain happiness but also serves as a strong "shield" to help couples overcome difficulties and shortages. Depending on their circumstances, each couple will find ways to manage their finances skillfully by setting appropriate goals, saving together to realize plans for housing, children's education, shopping, etc., gradually improving their quality of life and building a happy home together.

Article and photos: KIEN QUOC

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/dong-long-can-doi-chi-tieu-a192925.html