Help! My Wife’s a Ball-Breaker

Hey Scott,

My wife and I are currently following your teachings. However, we have come unstuck on overtime payments and additional income. I am working a second job, and doing overtime in my main job, to increase the amount of ‘fun money’ I have. But the wife says these extra funds should just be put on the home loan and I should not have access to them. I have searched but cannot find what you say to do with overtime and additional income. Can you please enlighten us?

Corey

Hey Corey,

You should check the index of my book — under ‘B’ for ‘ball-breaker’.

(Only joking.)

Then again, she could be right. If your mortgage is eating up more than, say, 40% of your income, I’d definitely side with her — it’s time to put in the overtime and pay that sucker down.

But if it’s under control, I’m on your side. You have every right to a bit of ‘fun money’.

The reason I lay out the Barefoot Steps is to get people to focus on the big moves that will get them to financial security. However, some people get a little overzealous, and get so focused on reaching the end that they forget about stopping to smell the … Bintang in Bali.

Bottom line: money in marriage is a team sport, so you should both have a say on how you spend your money.

Scott