| We don't really have a budget, more a system.
We have a HK$1,000 'float' in a jar for our helper. When it is getting low or she has run out, she asks for more. She keeps the receipts in there and I can check if I want to.
The float is used for anything from re-charging her octopus (and my daughters) to taxis for littles ones activities to food shopping to house supplies.
I buy most of our meat (frozen) and fish (fresh) from South Stream Seafoods which is home delivered and I pay via paypal. I do a monthly supplies shop from PnS online - saves my helper trying to battle the long lines at PnS with my unco-operative 2 year old. Their online site and delivery service is excellent. I also do a bit of fruit and vege shopping in town at Olivers, City Super or Great, as I find the quality at PnS quite poor.
So my helper really only has to buy basic additions to the meals, milk, bread, juice and other basic supplies.
We already have a 'no treats' rule with the helper - ie she is not allowed to buy my daughters Mcdonalds or chocolate. This is not so much for budgeting, more for health. She is too kind and she'd buy them whatever they asked for if I let her. She is allowed to buy them a banana smoothie or juice or something along those lines on a hot day, or when they have to wait a long time for a bus, etc.  |