Hey love, listen Ive gotta get this story off my chest, its about Ellie and her husband Simon, and how things went sideways over the past few months.
It all started one rainy Thursday in London. Simon was lacing his boots, hunched over a stool in the hallway, grumbling, The moneys just vanished this month, poof, gone. Ellie was still polishing the hallway mirror, a record humming in the background.
Simon dropped his voice, We need to trim the spending. And maybe you should think about stopping the handouts to your family. He kept polishing the mirror, his hand frozen midwipe.
Ellie turned slowmo, eyebrows raised. Really? Thats all youre cutting?
Simon, still buttoning his jacket, didnt look up. What else?
The front door clicked shut behind him. He walked out, leaving a tight knot of anger bubbling in Ellies chest. She tossed the cloth into the bucket and walked into the living room where Buster, Simons massive Labrador, was sprawled on his tiny bed the size of a baby crib. He opened one lazy eye, thumped his tail, and went back to snoozing. Ellie stared at him, and her frustration grew with every second.
Five years of marriage, five years of a joint budget where neither of them kept tabs on the others spending. Their salaries were pretty much neckandneck Ellie was an accountant at a big firm, Simon a sales manager. Money was never tight; they could afford the bills and still treat themselves.
Simon didnt hold back on his hobbies. Rock climbing twice a week with a personal coach cost about £250 a session, so roughly £500 a month. Boxing with another trainer was another £150. Then there was his everchanging gear, plus Busters premium kibble, regular vet visits, grooming, and toys that lasted a couple of days. All that added up to about £1,000 a month.
Ellies side? She helped Mum with her medication a tiny pension and pricey bloodpressure tablets. She also chipped in for her sister Rebecca and little niece Mia the money that used to come from a husband whod vanished a year earlier. That was around £400 a month. And there was the corporate gym membership, which was hardly anything, maybe £15 a year.
It worked fine until last year when they took out a mortgage on a twobed flat in a new development in Bexley. This year Simons sales slumped, his bonuses got sliced, and Ellies performance bonus was trimmed too. They could still keep up with the mortgage, but holidays, new phones, that sort of thing were out the window.
A month ago Ellie cautiously suggested they both shave a bit off their personal expenses. Simon got puffyeyed like a kid, but he seemed to mull it over. Then he dropped his decision only she should cut back.
Ellie reached for her phone to call Rebecca, but she put it down. Why make it worse for myself? she thought. Better to clean the physical work always helped her calm down.
Two days passed in a tense silence. Simon acted like nothing had changed. Ellie let the anger snowball, rolling it around in her mind. By the third evening, as they were eating, Simon finally broached the subject again.
Ellie, have you thought about the expenses? he asked, his fork clinking against the plate.
Ellie lifted her eyes, Why are we only cutting my side? Youre not going to touch your climbing or other fun stuff, are you?
Its different! Simon put down his knife. I spend on myself, so its a shared thing. Youre just pulling money out of the pot!
Shared? Ellie almost choked on her words. What does my mums meds or Rebeccas kid have to do with your climbing? And how much do you spend on Buster each month, you forgot?
Thats my health! And Busters part of the family!
My mum and my sisters child arent part of the family?
Theyre not our family! Simon snapped.
Ellie leaned back, hands folded. Fine. Would you be happy if I started spending £600£700 a month on spa days, a beautician, massages?
Simon jumped up so fast he nearly tipped his chair over. Thats sabotage! You never did that before! Youre just being spiteful! I need my sport, its a need!
And I need to help my relatives! I still spend less on them than you do on yourself!
Its different!
What? Explain why your boxing trainer is more important than my nieces schoolbooks!
Dont twist this! Im just asking you to be reasonable with the money!
Reasonable means only I save?
They stood on opposite sides of the table like boxers in a ring. Buster, sensing the tension, waddled over and nudged Simons knee.
Your spending doesnt benefit us! he seemed to say. What does your wallclimbing bring to the family?
Simon flushed, spun, and stormed off to the bedroom, slamming the door. Ellie was left at the table with a cooling dinner.
The next morning Rebecca called.
Ellie, I know everything. Simon rang me last night. He said youre having trouble and asked me not to ask you for money. Dont fight over us, well manage.
Its not about money, Rebecca. Its about principle. He wants me to fund the mortgage, the food, his hobbies and the dog, while my family just scrapes by, Ellie replied.
Maybe you can make a compromise? Rebecca suggested.
Compromise? Becoming his freehandmaid? Ellie snapped.
That call sealed it for her this couldt go on.
That evening, as soon as Simon crossed the threshold, Ellie met him at the hall.
Were moving to separate budgets, she said.
What? Dont be daft! Simon barely managed to take off his jacket.
Im tired of arguing. From now on we each pay half the mortgage, utilities and groceries. Whatevers left we spend as we wish.
Its unfair! We always had a joint budget!
And it was time to change it! Ellie shot back.
Simon tried to shout, accusing her of tearing the family apart, but she was unmoving. The next day she opened a separate bank account and transferred her salary into it.
Simon strutted around proudly the first week, then started whining that he had to tighten his belt. By midmonth his cash was gone he missed two climbing sessions and bought cheaper dog food for Buster.
Ellie, cant we go back? he pleaded while she was cooking dinner. Youre acting like a child.
Im acting like an adult who decides how to use her own money, she replied. Were still a family, but that doesnt mean I hand you the reins to my cash.
He gritted his teeth and left.
Another month slipped by. Their relationship kept spiralling. They hardly talked, slept in different rooms Simon moved onto the sofa in the living room. Buster paced between them, whimpering at night.
On payday, Simon threw a fit.
Stop this circus! Lets go back to the joint budget!
Whats the point? Ellie was painting her nails.
Im short of cash!
Cut your spendings, he retorted.
I cant give up sport its my health!
And I cant stop helping my family. My conscience wont allow it.
Conscience? Youre just selfish! Simon shouted. All you think about is yourself!
Ellie stood slowly, looked him straight in the eye.
You think Im selfish? Im the one who shares with relatives. Youre the one who only thinks about your muscles and toys. You call yourself altruistic?
What good are you? Climbing walls and feeding the dog?
Why did I even marry you?
She turned, grabbed a suitcase, and started packing. Simon froze in the doorway.
What are you doing?
Leaving for my sisters place. Ive had enough.
Ellie, wait, lets talk calmly
Talk about what? You called me useless. Why would I stay?
She snapped the suitcase shut and walked past a stunned Simon. Buster let out a mournful whine as she left.
Rebeccas onebed flat was cramped Rebecca, Ellie and little Mia all squeezed in, but at least it was peaceful. No one demanded receipts, no one called her useless.
A week later Ellie filed for divorce. Simon called, texted, even showed up at Rebeccas door, but they wouldnt let him in. He begged her to return, promising to change, but Ellie had already made up her mind.
The flat theyd owned together sold quickly good neighbourhood, fresh renovation. They split the proceeds, the furniture, the appliances. Simon kept Buster.
Ellie took out a modest mortgage on a cosy onebed flat in an older, but charming, terrace house. It needed a bit of cosmetic work, but no one was sticking their nose in her wallet.
In her first month she booked her mums stay at a health resort a promise finally kept. She bought Rebecca and Mia a new laptop for school. And she treated herself to a membership at a nice health club with a pool.
In the evenings shed settle down with a cup of her favourite tea. Her phone buzzed with an unread message from Simon, something about finally understanding his mistakes. She deleted it without replying.
That little flat was hers alone. The money was hers alone. And now she could spend it however she saw fit, without having to answer to anyones climbing walls, the dogs diet, or anyone telling her what was right or wrong.
