January gets all the blame for post-holiday money stress, but for a lot of couples, the real pinch shows up later. You finally feel like you’re back to “normal,” and then February arrives with a credit card balance that won’t quit, surprise renewals, and a calendar full of plans you forgot you agreed to. That’s the spending hangover in its truest form, the fun is over, but the costs keep showing up. For DINK couples, it can feel extra annoying because two incomes should mean faster recovery, yet the drag still happens. Here’s why it lingers, what it looks like in real life, and how to clear it without turning your budget into a punishment.
