[newdad]

I have spent hours trying to create a budgeting system that can be maintained by the whole family. I tried the envelope system, but I found that trying to break down the money into the exact amounts was too time consuming. I then created a calendar that has all the bills and when they are due, and I created a monthly projected breakdown of each bill, so that I would know where every dollar of every paycheck is supposed to go. The problem is, I can't get my wife to follow it. She doesn't spend a lot of money, (five or ten dollars a week), but it adds up over the month. I could use that money to pay a late doctors bill or something. I get frustrated, because creating a monthly budget is time consuming and then it doesn't work. Anyone know of a practicle approach that makes it easy for both members of the family to follow?