Do you think $100 weekly allowance for wife is a reasonable amount?

[KostasKouvalis]

That's what my dad gives my mom, and it's supposed to be for groceries, fast food, gas and anything she wants buy for herself, like clothes or beauty products.

My mom thinks its laughable and ridiculous that he gives her a weekly allowance. He used to only give her $20. I don't know, what do you think?

It's reasonable

It's not reasonable

[dynamicyandere]

I mean, if it’s $400 a month without doing any work — just purely out of your dad’s pocket, then yeah, I think that’s reasonable.

Generally speaking.


The caveat would be whether your mom has income of her own and how many people she’ll be feeding when she buys groceries.


Like if your mom is a stay-at-home mom with no other sources of income, then $400 a month can be tight if the majority of that is going to monthly groceries to feed the family.


$400 a month is perfectly doable for 2 people. But if you have a large enough family, groceries alone would eat up that whole $400 or even more.


Unless you’re all just eating beans and rice or something.


But for a healthy diet? $400 may only be enough to cover 2 people or so.


But if your mom is making a decent income of her own, and this $400 is on top of her existing income, then yeah, that’s perfectly reasonable — generous even.

[dynamicyandere]

If he wants to spoil her, then $2000-$5000 a month would be good.

But if you’re talking about just being reasonable, then $400 a month is fine if she always has an income that can technically cover everything already.

But if she has no other income than $400 a month is pretty low — especially if that’s going to be used for expenses like groceries and not just spending money.

[dynamicyandere]

I read that she’s a stay at home wife and doesn’t make her own income.

I also read that your dad’s in a sh*t load of debt.

That’s a tough spot to be in.

If she doesn’t make her own income, $400 a month is very little.

But if your father is struggling with money, then what can you do?

Either your mom decides to go make an income herself, or your dad needs to sort out his financial situation so he can provide better.

In the meantime, you’re going to need to either change the system (becoming a dual-income-household), or endure this period of financial struggle.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I spend more than that for me on food alone. Granted I eat really clean, but still... that essentially leaves nothing for her to splurge on.

[Apple1996]

That is financial abuse. They should equally share money and spend as needed.. no allowances like she ain't a kid

[KostasKouvalis]

That's what it is

[Apple1996]

Does he allow her access to the accounts if she needs extra money?

[KostasKouvalis]

Usually, but she has to ask permission

[Apple1996]

Yeah that's wrong. She should just have access of it

[KostasKouvalis]

He has a shitton of debt

[Apple1996]

Your parents are a mess lol

[KostasKouvalis]

I know. You don't even know the half of it. But also, my dad likes to be in control

[4ngelic]

how can you live on 100 $ a week if you have to buy food and all that.. that's nothing. he should make it 300$

[4ngelic]

i mean if he can afford that

[KostasKouvalis]

Have to be smart I guess

[zeitgeist057]

I used to be married, and my wife was the breadwinner. She paid the rent, paid all bills, paid all the cheques when we went out, pretty much everything. I did not receive any allowance and if I wanted to buy anything like you described, then I did that out of my own pocket (savings). I maintained my own vehicles (gas, insurance, &c.), paid for my own private trips, &c.

I was already spoiled/well taken care of, and would have been even more spoiled to have an extra $100/week to do what I liked with. All my needs were already met, so I probably would have put most of that back into savings. It's not a lot, but it's almost $5K/year.

That said, if she doesn't get any food or clothes outside of that budget, then it is absolutely not enough. I think something along the lines of $50/day to buy groceries or a meal. I saw you are in CA, and here a cheap meal is about $15, a more expensive one closer to $50 with a drink and tip. So I think $350/week or about $1400/mo is more reasonable. But I also understand they are in debt and that means something about their spending needs to change, unless it is a planned and manageable debt like a home loan. But if they are in trouble financially and buying luxury items like new cars, or wasting money on crap like streaming services and cable tv, then it's time to look at why their budget is a mess. If your dad is controlling all the money, then he might be looking at his wife like a financial liability and not trusting her to be careful with the budget. But he could also be the real culprit for overspending. It's hard to say from where I'm sitting, but sounds like some change is due.

[MzAsh]

Uh, no. I’d rather give the money back to him and go and make a real income myself.

[KostasKouvalis]

Some days when she gets mad, she tells him to shove it

[MzAsh]

I’m sure, but if she really feels slighted by his allowance, then she needs to not spend it and go make her own income. Otherwise her words are just words that mean nothing.

[KostasKouvalis]

She believes a marriage is nor supposed to work this way

[BourbonAndBacon]

If a man is paying all the household expenses he shouldn't even consider a stay home wife if he can give her $1k a month just for her expenses. If he wants her to dress and look nice that number needs to go up.

[Dinklex3]

$100 a week is not enough for all of that.

Gas for my sedan alone is like $45.

[genericname85]

Is that the same budget she has to use to make food for the family?

[DextroShade]

In today's age of hyperinflation and Bidenomics that simply isn't enough to cover those expenses.

[LunarEclipse433]

$250 a week just for groceries for two people not ever buying the name brand stuff.

[Sour-rose]

$100 is like $5 a week. 🙃 so no

[KostasKouvalis]

In this economy, YES! lol

[RedInnocent68]

Probably not. How much does your Dad make, and where do they live?

[KostasKouvalis]

Between 70 and 75 K according to him. That's per year and we live in California

[RedInnocent68]

A hundred bucks a week is not much for incidentals in California.

[KostasKouvalis]

I know

[Anonymous]

No. I would say definitely more money than that.

[jahaims]

Is she a housewife? Stay at home mom?

[KostasKouvalis]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

"Allowance"? GTFO. OMG.

[Malwi93]

what is the purpose of the money