I agree with what Christina & Trippin said 100%! Wow, your husband is a control freak! He sounds almost as bad as my dad! My dad NEVER helps my poor mom with a damn thing! And he freaks out if she even spends a small amount of money sometimes! Especially when he's not working or has taxes to pay, but he takes it to the extreme!

For example, he won't let her do anymore of the grocery shopping since he is that controlling. He claims that she buys fattening food, and he's been obsessed with preventing diabetes although he eats to much at times, like by drinking half a gallon of low fat milk everyday, ugh!

You are NOT his maid or his mom! You need to speak up and stand up to him! You work too! Take your money out of the joint account, and put aside some for your OWN private account to where he has ZERO access to it! Use another bank if you have to! And don't forget to check the mail yourself!

Or have stuff mailed to you at work! I don't condone this, but it sounds like you need to stop telling him exactly how much you have at all times. If he asks, lie about it and say that your hours have been cut, or anything that he'll believe. Don't let him see your paycheck. Tax time might be tricky. Ask an account how to go about this.

Don't tell him about money. He's sure not telling you about the extra $ that he makes! Screw him! Put away money for yourself and your kids somewhere safe to where he can't touch it, or know anything about it should anything ever happen. You should NOT need his permission to spend what money YOU earn!

Good luck with everything!