Meet the Budgeters

Everyone worries about money, right? Well, maybe not, if you have it firmly under control.

SF Chronicle "Money Tales" columnist Lisa Margonelli introduces us to a couple she dubs the Budgeters. Barbara and Brendan (not their real names) are middle-class professionals who manage to live in the pricey Bay Area on just Barbara's salary while Brendan stays home to look over their 8-month-old baby.

How do they do it? Quicken's in their blood, and controlling expenses is "a game of strategy" for them. They diligently plan and scrupulously track where every cent goes. They even amortize their cat's vet bills in a spreadsheet.

Not only are they among the minority of Americans who actually make household budgets, but Margonelli notes that money isn't an issue in their marriage, as it is for many couples:

... what's interesting about the Budgeters as a couple is how much fun they have talking about the way they make financial decisions. They seem to have few secrets, or even touchy topics, between them. It's as if they enjoy finding where they differ in spending habits and then wrestling the problem to the ground.

If you find the Budgeters' zany zeal infectious, visit this handy government Web site to see how your spending compares with national averages.