This month the cash just vanished, poof, and theres nothing left Simon was pulling his shoes tight, perched on a stool by the front door.
Emma nodded, still wiping the dust from the hallway mirror. He clicked on an old favourite record.
Weve got to trim the spending. And you might want to think about stopping the habit of bailing out your family.
The rag in her hand froze midair. Emma turned slowly toward him.
Really? Thats all you want to cut?
Simon buttoned his coat, eyes still on the vinyl.
What else?
The door behind him shut with a soft click.
Simon left just like that. A hot, heavy swell of indignation rose in Emmas chest. She tossed the rag into the bucket and drifted into the living room.
Buster, Simons massive Labrador, was sprawled on his kiddiesize bed in the corner. He lifted one eye, gave his tail a lazy wag, and drifted back to sleep. Emma stared at him, and her anger grew with every second.
Five years of marriage five years of a joint budget where neither of them kept tabs on the others outgoings. Their salaries were more or less equal she was an accountant at a big firm, he a sales manager. There was always enough for the bills and the occasional treat.
Simon didnt skimp on his hobbies. Rockclimbing twice a week with a personal trainer cost about £250 a month. Boxing with another coach was another £150. Then there was the gear, which he kept updating. And Buster premium kibble, regular vet visits, grooming, and toys that the dog shredded in a day. All in all, his side of the house ran at least £800 a month.
And Emma? She helped her mum with prescriptions her mothers pension was tiny and the bloodpressure tablets pricey. Her sister Megan, who was raising little Molly after her husband walked out a year ago, received a modest childsupport payment. That added up to roughly £350£400 a month. On top of that she had a corporate gym membership that cost about £200 a year laughable, really.
It had worked fine for a while. Each spent on what they thought mattered. Then last year they took out a mortgage on a twobedroom flat in a brandnew development. This year Simons sales slumped and his bonuses were cut. Emmas commission was trimmed too. They could still meet the mortgage, but holidays abroad or the latest smartphones were out of the question.
A month earlier Emma had gently suggested they both shave a little off their personal spending. Simon got puffyeyed like a child, but he seemed to think about it. And now hed declared his decision only her expenses would be trimmed.
Emma reached for her phone, intending to call Megan, but she put it down. Giving herself another guilttrip would achieve nothing. Better to busy herself with chores a bit of physical work always helped calm her nerves.
Two days passed in a strained silence. Simon pretended nothing had changed. Emma let her anger snowball, stubbornly rolling it around inside her.
On the third evening, as they ate dinner, Simon seized his moment.
Ellie, whats the idea? Cutting costs?
The fork clinked against the plate. Emma lifted her eyes to him.
Why are we only cutting my side of the budget? Youre not even thinking of touching your climbing or any of your other fun, are you?
Thats a different story! Simon set his cutlery down. I spend money on myself, so its a joint thing. And you just shove yours to the side!
Joint? Emma was practically choking on her outrage. What does my mums medicine have to do with your climbing? And how much do you spend on Buster each month, you forget?
Thats my health! And Buster is family!
And my mum and Megan with her baby arent family?
Theyre not our family!
Emma slumped back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest.
Fine. Would you be happy if I started spending £600£700 a month on spa treatments, a beautician, massages?
Simon leapt up so sharply his chair nearly toppled.
Thats sabotage! Youve never done that before! Youre only saying that to be difficult! I need sport, you understand? A need!
And I need to help my relatives! I still spend less on them than you do on yourself!
Thats different!
How is it? Emma rose as well. Explain why your boxing coach is more important than my nieces schoolbooks?
Dont twist the facts! 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, shuffled over and nudged Simons knee with his nose.
Your spending doesnt help any of us!
Does yours? What does the family gain from you scaling walls like SpiderMan?
Simons face flushed, he turned and fled to the bedroom, slamming the door. Emma was left standing by the table, her dinner growing cold.
The next morning Emmas sister called.
Ellie, I know everything. Simon rang me.
What? When?
Yesterday evening. He said you were having trouble and asked me not to take any more money from you. Dont let this fight ruin things. Well manage.
Natasha, its not about the money. Its about principle. He wants me to fund the mortgage, the food, his hobbies and the dog, while my family is left to fend for themselves.
Ellie, maybe you can both reach a compromise?
Compromise about what? Turning me into a freerange housemaid?
After that call Emma decided enough was enough.
That evening, as soon as Simon stepped over the threshold, she met him in the hall.
From now on were on separate budgets.
What? He hadnt even taken off his coat. Ellie, dont be daft!
Im tired of arguing. Each of us will pay half the mortgage, utilities and groceries. The rest of the money is ours to spend as we wish.
Thats unfair! Weve always shared everything!
Its high time we changed that!
Simon shouted, tried to argue that she was tearing the family apart, that it was wrong. Emma stayed firm. The next day she opened a separate bank account and transferred her salary into it.
Simon kept his head up for the first week. By the second he started complaining about having to tighten his belt. By midmonth his cash was gone he missed a couple of climbing sessions and bought cheaper dog food for Buster.
Ellie, cant this stop? He approached her while she was cooking. Are you acting like a child?
Im behaving like an adult who controls her own money.
But were a family! Ellie
A family, yes, but that doesnt mean I hand over my cash.
Simon gritted his teeth and stalked off.
Another month slipped by. Their relationship deteriorated further. They hardly spoke, slept in separate rooms Simon moved onto the sofa in the living room. Buster floated between the two, whimpering at night.
On payday Simon threw a fit.
End this circus! Lets go back to the joint budget, like before!
Why? Emma was painting her nails.
Im short of cash!
Cut your spending.
I cant give up sport! Its my health!
I cant give up helping my family. My conscience wont let me.
Conscience? Simon shouted. Youre selfish! You only think of yourself!
Emma rose slowly, met his gaze.
Im selfish? I share with my relatives! And you, who only thinks about your muscles and gadgets, call yourself altruistic?
Youre useless! All youre good for is moving money around!
And what good are you? Climbing walls and feeding a dog?
Why did I even marry you?
Emma turned, headed to the bedroom, and began stuffing a suitcase. Simon froze in the doorway.
What are you doing?
Im going to my sisters. Ive had enough.
Ellie, wait, lets talk calmly
Talk about what? You called me useless. Why would I stay with a useless wife?
She snapped the suitcase shut and walked past the stunned Simon. Buster let out a mournful whine behind her.
Natashas tiny onebed flat was cramped her, Emma and little Molly but at least it was peaceful. No one demanded receipts for every pound spent. No one called her useless.
A week later Emma filed for divorce. Simon called, texted, even turned up at Natashas flat, but she wouldnt let him in. He begged her to return, promised change. Emma had already decided.
The flat sold quickly good neighbourhood, fresh renovations. They split the proceeds, as well as the furniture and appliances. Simon kept Buster.
Emma took out a modest mortgage on a cosy old terraced house with a onebedroom flat above the garage. It needed a bit of cosmetic work, but nobody was poking around her purse.
In the first month after moving, she sent her mum to a care home a promise finally kept. She bought a new laptop for Megan and Molly. For herself she signed up at a nice health club with a pool. In the evenings she settled with a cup of her favourite tea. On her phone sat an unread message from Simon, something about having learned his lesson and wanting to change. She deleted it without replying.
That tiny flat was now entirely hers. The money was hers too. And she could spend it however she saw fit, without worrying about anyones climbing schedule, a dogs diet, or anyones opinion on what was right or wrong.
