I have seen threads on this in the past, but have not seen one in awhile, and was wondering if ayone had any new ideas on how to hide money for the hobby, when you have a spouse and joint checking account.

I have used "take extra money out at the grocery store", and cash checks rather than deposit them, but $40 at the grocery store takes awhile to build up $400, and it is rare that anyone gives me checks anymore.

Does anyone else have any new ideas? or new ways to generate cash for the hobby that a spouse won't be currious about?

Golf is a pretty expensive sport, take it up and pay greens fees, beers, etc. in cash so your buddy can get AMEX points but don't play, you'll get to $400 in a hurry.  You'll either need complicit buddies or an elaborate lie though. As to what you'll do for three hours when you're supposed to be golfing, I don't know, be creative!

I am single and have no kids so I don't have your problem.  

But you may consider opening a separate brokerage account in your name only. And if the wife ever sees the account balance you can always tell her that your investments haven't been panning out.

Sam's Club lets you take $100 cash back, and I have to go there at least 1x per work for my small business -- all that shows on the bank statement is Sam's and the amount

Have not been audited in my 12 years of existence, and even my CPA does not question the transaction

Separate checking and separate brokerage accounts.

END OF MESSAGE

How is he going to explain the purchases? Milk, eggs,& a box of burger do not justify taking out an extra 100....someone is going to ask what did he buy for such a large purchase.

Then see if you can get 10% in a personal account.  

Then see if you can do some mystery shopping...a little extra income to bolster the funds.  
http://mspa.jobslinger.com/exec/sfs/jobboard. Mspa has all of the legit ones & you can do these after work or lunch break if you have time.  

I still don't know how you pull it off at the grocery store unless your wife never goes & doesn't have a basic idea of the prices. You must be hiding the receipts & put the groceries away yourself.

I do this in my house and my SO never thinks to check the joint checking or savings as long as all the bills are paid on time and we are meeting our other established financial goals. Good luck.

Little bits can add up, but agreed, "hiding" four hundred a month is a hurdle depending on your income.  If you're well into the six figures, its easy.  If you're in the $60k salary I would say almost impossible.

So, let's start.

Spare change, empty your pockets before going in the house into a box in your trunk.  Grab spare change lying around the house (usually men have spare change because they dump it in their pockets).  Check your pockets before doing laundry.   I'll bet you'll have $4-500 in six months.  Thats one month of hobbying.  

Pay off your credit cards in time and get a cash back card and charge EVERYTHING on that card; utilities, groceries, automatic payments, gas, everything.  That should be another month of hobbling money there.

Make a periodic small trip to the grocery store and get cash back, so its not out of line with the 'regular' grocery store purchases. Thats a third trip over the course of a year.

This kind of goes along the lines of basic home finances.  People get into debt, in general, not by the big screen TV and trips, but the day-to-day seepage.  Starbucks everyday, maybe even twice a day is $25 a week , four times a month is $100 a month or $1200 a year.  Thats four visits to a provider charging $300 a visit.

So, brown bag it, skip Starbucks, take advantage of cash back reward cards, control the seepage and you're getting up to almost once a month visits.

Prioritie