A mate of mine named Harry always fancied the idea of living the high lifeon someone elses tab, naturally. He went to great lengths attempting to charm a girl from an absurdly well-off family. To be honest, it was painfully obvious he didnt love her, and the whole thing was headed for disaster from the start. Still, Harry was utterly convinced that nabbing a wealthy wife was his golden ticket to a life brimming with ease and endless bacon sandwiches. This would almost be believable, if she actually knew how to earn a quid herself. As it turned out, the girl’s family were loaded thanks to her mother, who owned a handful of successful shops dotted around Manchester.
I tried my best to knock some sense into Harry:
Surely you dont think theyll pay for a chap who never lifts a finger? Its much better to stand on your own two feet, you knowto actually have a job.
Oh, come off it! Weve got a baby on the way. They trust me completely! Harry chirped, positively beaming.
I couldnt wrap my head around it. Stringing your girlfriend along for her familys fortune just isnt on. A man ought to work and provide for his familycall me old-fashioned.
Some time passed and I grew curious about how they were getting on, so I asked what he was up to for work. Turned out, neither Harry nor his wife did anything except loll about the house all day. Video games, daytime telly, and the sort of naps that last until tea timewhile her mum footed the entire bill. Ill admit, for a brief moment, I was even a tad envious. Harry had achieved exactly what hed set out to do.
My mother-in-laws absolutely minted. Well never need jobs, Harry gloated, not even trying to hide how chuffed he was.
They might have carried on like that for years, if only the shops hadnt hit a rough patch and the familys income dropped dramatically. Her mum, faced with reality, insisted both Harry and his wife join the family business and earn their keep.
A month after our last pint together, I got a call. Anthony sounded worrieda bit of a change, that. He asked to borrow four thousand pounds for a fortnight.
Im job hunting. Ill manage the interview and get an advancethen Ill pay you straight back. Were absolutely skint, he confessed, sounding more miserable than a rainy Tuesday in London.
And so Harrys cushy, carefree existence came to a screeching halt. From then on, both he and his wife started working in earnest. Fair play to him, he paid back every penny. So much for marrying into easy street, eh? Best not count on someone else to keep you afloatyouve got to rely on yourself if you want to really feel safe and happy.
