You’re right, little expenses can certainly add up over time. Your wife may not recognize the significance of the cost difference, however, if she isn’t the one reviewing bank statements or the family budget every week. On the other hand, costs might not matter to your wife at all if she feels that healthy eating is more important than money.
Whatever the case may be, there are a couple of things you can do to reach a compromise. First, make sure the two of you review bank statements and cash flow together every week, so that you’re both aware of how much money is coming in, how much is going out and where money is being spent. From there, discuss the family budget and determine how much of your income should go toward food. In his most recent book The Total Money Makeover, personal finance expert Dave Ramsey recommends spending five to 15 percent of your budget on food. You might consider using this recommendation as a benchmark for starting your discussion.
Since healthy eating is obviously important to your wife though, and saving money seems important to you, the two of you are going to have to find some middle ground. You could work on creating other ways to obtain organic foods without overspending, like gardening or seeking out local organic farmers who charge less than Trader Joe’s. You could also try to identify certain foods that your wife would be willing to purchase that are un-organic. And finally, I’d recommend keeping things in perspective. After all, in the grand scheme of things, is $40 per week worth arguing over?
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