<prompt> Human: I keep 5000 in our checking account and our budget should replenish that on a monthly basis. It seems like a lot but I travel for work and we sometimes have fairly large transactions clearing through this account. I have started noticing that this amount is diminishing. So we have a direct deposit split that auto-deposits an amount into a savings account that funds IRAs and emergency funds etc. My current problem is that my wife is spending in excess of the replenishment amount. So basically our savings deposits are being offset with a decrease in the checking account. Its close to a complete offset. I know this is a relationship issue and I should treat it as such but do you guys have any other suggestions? Ive attempted to communicate this to my spouse and she agrees to live within but in reality she is not on board by her actions. Basically shes stealing our savings.Im not a PF noob, and Im quite financially savvy but I cant seem to figure out a better system. The system should work its just the compliance and built in leeway thats the problem. Maybe another chat and budget analysis is required... EDIT: budgetrelationship meeting set tonight PST 8pm. will update with outcome. EDIT POST MEETING: confirmed we indeed seem to have a relationship problem. I guess well be working on this for awhile. My wife does not wish to participate in any type of a process and just wants to spend what she wants to spend... this sucks.Assistant: If she cant control her spending and is not aware of how much she actually spends, an envelope method might be useful. At the beginning of every month, you two can agree how much is OK for her to spend, and place the said amount in the envelope. She will then know how much she has spent, and has available. This may or may not work, but its worth a shot. Human: tried it. Cash disappeared debit purchases did not decline. I really am at a loss on this one. Thanks for the response though. I also thought it would work great...Assistant: Could you give heryourself separate checking accounts? Once you drain the account your SOL until it gets replenished next month.Human: I suppose thats possible, but I do subscribe to the idea that separate accounts are the first step to divorce. Im not trying to be difficult here I do appreciate the responses. I do however think this is a relationship issue and not finance issue. Just wondering if someone has any awesome Ideas I havent considered. thx for your response.  <response>: My boyfriend and I keep separate accounts and have a joint account for foodgroceries, but we each pay separate bills, etc and plan to keep doing so when we get married. Its not a unity thing but an accounting thing. I dont want to ask him why 1000 just disappeared out of our account if he wants to buy some tools, if he saved those 1000 himself, and hes okay with me making large online orders whenever I want. Or more realistically, betting 5-figure amounts on rentalrehab properties.I would suggest you keep your savings what it is but have separate checking accounts for your allowances that you are allowed to spend. Make it a fair amount, and neither of you is allowed to cheat. 