That's true for us -- I don't work, but once we moved here and I took over managing the budget and keeping the bills paid, things started improving, and have continued doing so, so that now, even with my mom's death (which meant losing the BP card for a backstop on gasoline), and our property taxes and insurance going up, it just means a slight lessening of *disposable* income; the necessities are still well-accounted for.
My husband getting 3 raises in 2014, and me quitting smoking, had a HUGE positive effect, naturally, but the cent-by-cent accounting I keep of every penny of income and outgo has made the biggest difference!
As I've noted before, my husband is smart, hard-working, and honest, but he's just no great shakes at budgeting and accounting.
Now he doesn't have to stress himself with the budget, because I handle it.
Andria