Teaching Finances to the Financially Challenged

How do you get a non-budget-minded person to understand financial responsibility?  My husband picked out an expensive birthday gift that he wants me to buy for him for his birthday (in a few weeks).  He does this every year and he doesn't see how this would be irritating.  I'm surprised he hasn't given me his Christmas gift list and easter gift ideas for men list already too. Just kidding. I'll get those about a month before the holiday.

I told him this morning there is no way we can spend that much money and to come up with something at least $100 less.  He has no concept of money.  I'd give him the bills to pay so he might get a clue about it but I know it wouldn't work -  he'd just rob Peter to pay Paul and we'd end up with no electricity or something.  High school really needs to teach a finances/budget class to every kid! That would definitely be an education they'd use (as opposed to geometry that confused the heck out of me and I never use:)

I set up our electronic bill payments at the beginning of every month for that month's worth of bills.  I think I will start printing out the monthly register once a month to show him how close we are to being in the hole so he might realize there is no room for extravagance right now.

That's all I can think of to do (other than wring a neck).