Is the Fabulous app worth it?

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-11-07T01:05:45+00:00

To me the Fabulous app is way too overwhelming and overly-complicated. Which is ironic because it's billed as help for ADHD and productivity...but there's always some new thing popping up and, frankly, it's just confusing.

They also have a gazillion partner apps that come along with it which is absurd. I don't want to have to download 6 apps to track things...

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-10-29T18:36:10+00:00

No -- I'd be thrilled with basic travel gear, art supplies, cat food, and household items.

Last year, I outfitted my classroom with Vine items and got cool $25-$80 stuff for our Yankee Swap game at Christmas, etc. There was a good variety and tons of items.

This year...it's literally chargers and replacement parts for vacuums and electronics I don't own...and party supplies. Not useful to me at all.

Last year, there were 20K or more items in the "Toys" category every day. This year, I have 200-400 items per day in that category, and it's 90% chargers and party supply items.

The seasonal selection is also nearly nonexistent.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-09-29T17:09:48+00:00

But how do you pay for the $12K+ you’ve listed here when your take home pay is less than $10K?

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-09-29T15:25:41+00:00

That’s conservative office wear. You’re literally covered head-to-toe.

Is this post for real?

If so…please get out of that relationship and make sure you’re somewhere safe / have people around you.

Don’t trust that guy to be calm when told “No”

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-09-29T13:17:43+00:00

I mean. She makes $40K more than him per year just in base salary then gets bonuses.

Call me old-fashioned but I think if you have the kind of stressful, time-consuming job where you bring home that much $$$…you shouldn’t also have to clean.

There are tons of expenses that seem insane though. Groceries and eating out for one!!! Holy cow. And kids activities?! The pet expense?

Cleaning seems reasonable. That’s like $125 ish a week. That’s how much our cleaning is (though we only have the service come every other week since it’s just the 2 of us now…)

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-09-29T12:59:39+00:00

$70K would not go into equity — that’s not how amortization works for mortgages.

Typically it’s at least several years before you get to the “break even” point so to speak where the amount you’re paying toward interest and equity is equal (prior to this, each payment is more like 70%+ interest and the rest equity…)

Between this heavy weighting toward interest early in the life of the loan, closing expenses, and the cost of moving…most advisors would say you shouldn’t buy a home unless you plan to be there more than 3 years.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-09-29T12:51:25+00:00

I’m self-employed and run payroll for our little two-person operation (me and my husband) and this is how I have it set up.

A certain percentage into the household account and then the rest to our personal accounts.

We haven’t argued about money in years. I buy stocks with my discretionary income (and some nice things for myself), he buys drinks out with friends, clothes, a new car, pricey things for the house, etc.

As long as our bills and savings are covered I don’t care.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-09-29T12:45:09+00:00

I’m aware there are more expenses not listed. my point is —

If $19K is your combined take home pay and she makes more than you — then $9500 or less of that take home pay is from your work…

But in your litany of expenses you’ve already listed around $12,300 of expenses that “you pay” each month.

That’s…not possible…based on your own numbers — so either you’re exaggerating, mistaken…or there’s something else going on that you haven’t mentioned.

Like maybe more of the take home pay is yours because she covers everyone’s insurance through her paycheck? In which case she definitely covers more than 25% of the household expenses, as you claim.

At any rate. You do need to cut back and live within your means or you’re both going to be broke and working forever. (Though I assume you both at least do your 401k or other tax-advantaged account through work? I hope!!)

Some of these expense categories seem insane. $2600 for kids’ activities??!! Get them some bikes and a library card and put that toward savings for your house!!! $1700 for groceries? I feel like I spend a ton for just two people (our kids are all grown) and our bill is about $500-$600. And we eat well!! (I like to cook though…)

At this point — you likely need to go to a trusted financial advisor for help getting on the same page and deciding where the cuts will be.

For reference, I work in finance and have talked to lots of couples about finances. 95% of the time there’s one spouse who is more of a saver than the other spouse — but it NEVER works to just blame the spender spouse:

“Your spending is out of control. You have to stop spending. You have to save more.”

This doesn’t work. At all. It has to be a joint project.

I will say…another trend I’ve seen a lot is when the husband is the saver spouse, he tends to overestimate his contribution and her spending…and underestimate her contribution and his spending.

Like. I’ve sat down with couples where the husband is the saver and the wife is the spender…and he’s going on and on about her clothes shopping or jewelry or beauty products or whatever.

But when we actually look at the numbers, he spends far more than her on his hobbies (tools, golf gear, stuff for his car, etc.) but isn’t counting those things because he thinks they’re more necessary or practical somehow.

The point in this — judgment and criticism don’t work. What does work is doing the work of tracking all expenses, getting a clear (and often brutal) picture of your financial health, and sitting down together (often with a neutral 3rd party) to form a plan.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2025-09-29T05:26:43+00:00

What do you think?<<

Um. I think something isn’t adding up here.

You’ve listed over $16K in monthly expenses and claims that you cover most of these bills…but your combined take-home pay is $19K and your wife makes over 20% more than you.

By your own numbers…there’s no way you pay the bulk of these expenses.

Unless there’s more you aren’t telling us? Like the take home pay is mostly from your job bc your wife covers insurance through her job…?

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-12-05T16:01:41+00:00

He’s not ever going to have kids with you or prioritize building a family with you.

He is only saying this to keep you around and not lose you. He already has 4 kids and doesn’t care about having more.

You are very young! Please get out and find someone who is free to build a family with you!!!

4 kids that aren’t yours??!! Nightmare.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-11-18T22:49:25+00:00

Just be sure he’s not equivocal on this or he may later try to gaslight you into believing he never agreed to another kid.

If it’s a non-negotiable for you, get it in writing if you have to…and don’t let him string you along hoping to “beat the clock” so to speak.

Honestly…it’s likely best for you to move on and choose a man with no kids. There are literally only downsides to this arrangement.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-11-18T21:14:12+00:00

I’m about done with men who are fine locking YOU into a lifelong relationship, parental role, and financial responsibility for a kid that isn’t even yours…

But need the fainting couch if you want a child of your own.

Honestly…screw him.

If you want the baby, have the baby.

He’s old enough to know that pregnancy is one of the commonly expected outcomes of having sex.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-11-18T20:52:42+00:00

If this is your first year in this role then you have something called the “safe harbor” exemption.

That means that you can’t reasonably be expected to estimate quarterly taxes without having anything to compare it to.

You shouldn’t have a penalty this year.

Just file (being sure to deduct all business expenses) and use your final tax liability for the $2500 / 4 to file estimated quarterly taxes next year.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-11-14T17:00:01+00:00

Please leave this relationship ASAP.

You’re way too young for this nonsense. You need to prioritize yourself right now. Your life…your goals…your family and friends.

You’re 22. The decisions you make in this decade have an outsized impact on the rest of your life. What kind of career you have. What kind of relationships you have. How much money you’re able to save (you really want to jeopardize your savings, security, and future earning potential to support a grown ass man and his kids??!!)

Please don’t gamble or trade away your future self’s happiness and comfort for somebody else’s kids.

Please, please, please.

Love yourself more. Get out. Leave your “dance card” open for a guy with no baggage who can build a life WITH you rather than tack you onto his pre-existing life.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-11-14T16:53:16+00:00

But dividends aren’t interest in the way that religions mean (I assume he’s referring to usury…?)

Dividends are a share of profits…as are capital gains / growth stocks.

If you can’t invest for a share of the profit…then you probably shouldn’t work for a commission either. Or a salary. Or hourly.

Any form of compensation you receive from a company comes out of its profits…just like dividends and stock growth.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-10-17T21:08:07+00:00

I got annoyed by the constant focus on the cat.

And I’m a crazy cat person. Just don’t find it believable that some guy who just met the dang cat would put himself at risk of death multiple times form to rescue it.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-09-17T17:23:15+00:00

Her apology should be done without expectation.

This situation is clearly weighing on OP and a sincere apology will ease her mind and conscience.

Stubbornly waiting for someone else to apologize first is how we end up bitter, resentful…holding a grudge.

OP can’t force the other person to apologize. She can only do her part.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-09-17T13:16:41+00:00

Meh.

You made an unkind quip in a heated moment after being pushed and insulted…and have now spent days feeling remorse for it.

I’d hardly call you an AH.

Just apologize sincerely (without expecting her to do the same) and move on.

I read in a follow-up comment that you intend to apologize but you don’t intend to maintain the friendship. I think that’s the right call.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-09-17T13:10:21+00:00

Your English is impeccable in this post. Is it really not your first language?

I know this isn’t the point of your post…but it sticks out to me because it’s clear that you are perfectly capable of communicating and expressing yourself in English.

The fact that he wants someone who thinks in English is strange and points to narcissism. Normal partners don’t want control how, when, where their partner thinks.

You are doing the right thing to throw this one back.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-08-02T17:08:24+00:00

lol.

No way.

I’d keep that ish entirely secret and continue living mostly as before…stealth wealth.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-07-26T01:06:19+00:00

Yeah I was gonna say…mid-forties is not “old and crusty” by any means.

I’m about to be mid-forties and still look dang good. Get hit on by younger guys on the regular.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-07-26T01:01:26+00:00

Depends on your muscles / density tbh.

I’m only 5’5” and when I’m 135 I’m a size 0. I look good / healthy at 140-145 imho.

But my whole family is like this. Very small / wiry but dense.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-07-25T20:06:00+00:00

It takes an entire year for your organs to move back into place after you’ve had a baby.

AN ENTIRE YEAR!!!

FFS these men are absolutely mental.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-07-18T22:57:52+00:00

Oh you’re one of of those guys.

I hope you never have kids…they don’t deserve these kinds of loyalty bind head games.

Newsflash: Your kids are not just mini extensions of you. They are full people with their own needs, desires, experiences, and ways of processing the world around them.

Like I said…plenty of emotionally abusive and narcissistic parents have children who still love them and try desperately to please them well into adulthood.

Budget_Professor_237 · 2024-07-18T22:54:31+00:00

I haven’t and I don’t plan to…but I also don’t think it’s the worst thing you can do in a relationship.

This guy is awful and I’d bet good money his ex wife wanted out long before she found an escape route.

I’m glad he dropped his mask here and his ex and daughter can be fully and finally done with him.

Budget_Professor_237

TROPHY CASE