The woman, in court seeking spousal maintenance, sought $1400 per week for living expenses for her and two of her children, who still live at home.

She told the Federal Magistrates' Court, sitting in Victoria, that her teenage son had a "Macca's habit".

But federal magistrate Evelyn Bender said the woman had to alter her lifestyle.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the amount claimed by the wife by way of weekly discretionary expenditure in her financial statement is excessive," Ms Bender said.

"She can no longer expect to live as she may have prior to separation, paying $100 per week in gifts, $150 on jeans for (the youngest child) as well as financing his 'Macca's habit' and providing him with generous amounts of pocket money."

In an interim decision on spousal maintenance, Ms Bender ordered that the husband pay the wife $800 per week.

The court heard that, before the couple split, the husband had given the wife $800 per week for food, clothing, medical expenses and other expenses.

But last March, he reduced the payment to $300 per week.

The wife claimed that since then she had exhausted $24,000 in savings on daily living costs.

She said weekly expenses were $1800, including costs associated with the care of their disabled child.

Ms Bender said the wife was challenged in court about some of the amounts claimed by her, including $100 for telephone, $100 for children's activities, $100 for entertainment/hobbies and $100 for medical/dental.

The woman said her expenses included $200 per week for clothes and shoes.

She said her teenage son's casual clothing was expensive, with jeans costing $150 per pair.

Ms Bender said that when challenged as to why she couldn't buy less expensive brands, she replied "well I could but he wouldn't have what his mates have".

She also told the court she needed $100 a week to buy gifts as her family had a tradition of gift giving.

The husband argued that expenses of $1800 per week were grossly inflated and that he could not afford to pay more than $300 a week.

Ms Bender said she was satisfied the husband could reasonably pay $800 a week.