Like many Americans, I run a failing business: the family budget. Lacking the flexibility of most commercial operations (I can't exactly "downsize" my children), I took stock of my situation recently. I realized that if we were going to spend less than 100% of my salary every month, I was going to need the assistance of my entire household, all of whom regard themselves as fully empowered members of the family income disposal committee.
My children had already attended the required "We Spend Too Darn Much Money Around Here" lecture series, so I decided this time to move from the...