<prompt> Human: How do you develop a more middle class attitude towards budgeting? My husband and I both grew up poor. Food stamps and commodities and unemployment and free lunches at school poor. Weve worked hard and now have a six figure income. However, we run into issues when we figure out our money that obviously stem from our upbringing and being taught to budget from people who cant even live paycheck-to-paycheck. I have a tendency to super-coupon and stock sale food and clearance clothing, my toddlers have clothing to last for a few years and they can hand down as an example. Ive tried to cut back, but it gives me anxiety. On his end spending anything at all causes anxiety, and the more money he spends the more he will panic even if spending a little more is obviously a smarter choice. He will buy 20 shoes every year for a decade rather than spending 50 on one pair of shoes that will last the whole decade. Or make it work, weve been on the same 20 knife set for the past 15 years even though every time he touches one he complains how it doesnt work as well as his 100 knife that was a gift, but not enough to go out and get new knives or pay to sharpen the old ones. Im pretty sure neither of these attitudes are normal for middle class income, but how do we learn whats actually normal for stocking and making purchases that last?Assistant: I can really relate with this. What helped me was making a budget. Keep your aversion to spending unnecessarily and use that extra income for savingsinvestment. But sit down together and make a budget, so you can spend what you need to without any fear, because you will have looked at the numbers and seen after I buy these things, at the end of the month Ill still be ok. With your budget, start building an emergency fund right away, and that will also help get rid of the fear.Human: By Jan 2018 we should have 9 months of emergency fund, he has outright stated he wont feel good at all until its two years worth. Where to stock it is another common issue. Because I have two years of clothes stocked up I can relate, but I also kinda suspect were being excessive and not smart in either of those choices, but I dont know what is reasonable.  <response>: The sidebar of this sub has several good links that may help. Most people say 3-6 months is good for an emergency fund. Realistically it may depend on your jobs: if you are fired today how long will it likely take you to get a new job? That money you keep somewhere you can get it fast when you need it basic savings account. After that, more money should be put somewhere that it will gain you interest. Investing it is usually considered a good idea, but if you want to know 100 that you wont lose it, at least put it in a CD or something.If the two of you decide you want 2 years worth in an immediate withdrawal account, thats fine. But realize there is a cost to that the interest you could be earning on it. There is some non-zero risk that youll have some sort of medical emergency and your two years emergency fund cant cover the cost, but you could have covered the cost if you had invested your money wisely instead of hiding it under the bed. Its good to be frugal, but in many cases the things were we taught as frugal may cost more in the long run. You just need to understand the risks in both options, and decide which risks youre willing to take. 