Moneys vanished this month, poof, gone, Mike tightened his boots, perched on a stool by the hallway door.
Eleanor gave a halfnod while polishing the hall mirror. Mike slipped a familiar vinyl onto the turntable.
We need to cut back. And you might want to think about stopping the habit of supporting your family.
The rag in Eleanors hand froze midair. She turned slowly toward him.
Really? Thats the only thing you want to trim?
Mike zipped up his jacket, eyes still on the record.
What else?
The front door clicked shut behind him.
Mike simply walked out. A hot, heavy wave of indignation rose in Eleanors chest. She tossed the rag into the bucket and shuffled into the living room.
Buster, Mikes massive Labrador, sprawled on his cushion the size of a cot. He opened one eye, gave a lazy wag, and drifted back to sleep. Eleanor stared at him, feeling her anger thicken by the second.
Five years of marriage Five years of a shared budget where neither kept tabs on the others spendings. Their salaries were about the same she was an accountant at a big firm, he a sales manager. There was always enough for bills and a bit of fun.
Mike didnt skimp on his hobbies. Rockclimbing twice a week with a personal trainer cost £2,500 a month. Boxing with another coach added £1,500. Then there was gear, constantly upgraded. Busters premium food, vet visits, grooming, and the toys he chewed up in a day added up too. In total, at least £5,000 a month.
And her side? She helped mum with medication a tiny pension and expensive hypertension pills. Her sister Natalie, with little Lily, got a few pence in child support after their dad walked out a year ago. That added £3,500£4,000 a month at most. Plus a corporate gym membership £200 a year, a laughable sum.
It had worked before. Each spent on what they deemed important. Then they took out a mortgage on a new twobedroom flat in a development outside London. This year Mikes sales slumped, bonuses were trimmed. Eleanors performance bonus was cut too. They could still meet the mortgage, but holidays and new phones were out of the picture.
A month earlier Eleanor tentatively suggested they both trim a bit. Mike sulked like a child, but pretended to think it over. Now his verdict: cut only her expenses.
Eleanor reached for her phone, almost called Natalie, then changed her mind. There was no point in adding to her stress. Better to clean physical work always soothed her nerves.
Two days passed in tense silence. Mike acted as if nothing had changed. Eleanor let anger snowball, rolling it stubbornly forward. On the third evening, over dinner, Mike finally broached the topic again.
Ellie, have you given any thought about the expenses?
The fork clinked against the plate. Eleanor lifted her eyes to him.
Since when do we only trim my side? Youre not planning to touch your climbing or other fun, are you?
Thats a different story! Mike set his utensils down. I spend on myself, so its a joint thing. Youre just siphoning it off!
Joint? Eleanor almost choked on her outrage. What does my mums medication have to do with your climbing? And how much do you spend on Buster each month, you forgot?
Its my health! And Busters part of the family!
And my mum and sister with a toddler arent family?
Theyre not our family!
Eleanor slumped back in her chair, arms crossed.
Fine. Will you be happy if I start spending £600£700 a month on spa treatments, cosmetology, massages?
Mike leapt up so sharply he nearly knocked his chair over.
Sabotage! Youve never done that! Youre only saying it to be spiteful! I need sport, you understand? Need!
I need to help my relatives! And I still spend less on that than you do on yourself!
Thats a different thing!
Explain then why is your boxing coach more important than my nieces schoolbooks?
Dont twist it! Im simply asking you to be reasonable with the money!
Reasonable means me cutting only my own?
They stood on opposite sides of the table like boxers in a ring. Buster, sensing tension, padded over and nudged Mikes knee with his snout.
Your spending doesnt help us!
Does yours? What does the family gain from you scaling walls like SpiderMan?
Mike flushed, turned, and stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door. Eleanor remained by the table, staring at the cooling dinner.
The next morning Natalie called.
Ellie, I know everything. Mike rang me.
What? When?
Yesterday evening. He said youre having trouble and asked me not to ask you for money. Dont fight over us. Well manage.
Natalie, its not about cash. Its principle. He wants me to fund the mortgage, food, his hobbies and the dog, while my own family is left to fend for themselves.
Ellie, maybe you two can sort it out?
Sort it out? By turning me into a freehand maid?
After the call Eleanor decided enough was enough.
That night, as soon as Mike stepped through the door, she met him in the hallway.
From now on we have separate budgets.
What? Mike hadnt even taken his jacket off. Ellie, dont be daft!
Im tired of arguing. Henceforth each of us pays half the mortgage, utilities, groceries. The rest is ours to spend as we wish.
Thats unfair! We always shared everything!
And it was high time we changed that.
Mike shouted, claiming she was tearing the family apart, that it was unacceptable. Eleanor stood firm. The next day she opened a separate bank account and transferred her salary into it.
The first week Mike kept his chin up. By the second he complained about having to tighten his belt. Midmonth his cash ran dry he missed two climbing sessions and bought cheaper food for Buster.
Ellie, can we stop this? he begged while she was cooking dinner. Youre acting like a child.
Im acting like an adult who controls her own money.
But were a family! Ellie
Family, yes. But that doesnt mean I hand you the keys to my purse.
Mike gritted his teeth and left.
Another month slipped by. Their relationship deteriorated. They barely spoke, slept in separate rooms Mike moved onto the sofa in the living room. Buster wandered between them, whining at night.
On payday Mike exploded.
End this circus! Bring back the joint budget! Like before!
Why? Eleanor kept painting her nails.
Im short of cash!
Cut your spendings.
I cant give up sport! Its my health!
I cant stop helping my family. My conscience wont allow it.
Conscience? Mike shouted. Youre selfish! All you think about is yourself!
Eleanor rose slowly, met his gaze.
Selfish? I share with my relatives. You think only about your muscles and fun and call yourself altruistic?
Youre useless! All you can do is move money around!
And you? Climbing walls and feeding a dog?
Why did I even marry you?
She turned, fetched a suitcase, and started packing. Mike froze in the doorway.
What are you doing?
Moving in with my sister. Ive had enough.
Ellie, wait, lets talk calmly
Talk about what? You called me useless. Why would I stay?
She snapped the suitcase shut, walked past a stunned Mike. Buster gave a mournful whine.
Natalies tiny flat was cramped her, Ellie, and little Lily but peaceful. No one demanded a lineitem report of every pound spent. No one called her useless.
A week later Ellie filed for divorce. Mike called, texted, even turned up at Natalies doorstep she turned him away. He begged her to come back, promising change. Ellie had made up her mind.
The flat was sold quickly a good neighbourhood, fresh renovation. They split the proceeds, the furniture, the appliances. Mike kept Buster.
Ellie took out a modest mortgage on a onebedroom cottage in a cosy old village. It needed a cosmetic makeover, but no one poked around her wallet.
In the first month after moving, she sent her mum to a care home a promise finally kept. Natalie bought Lily a new laptop for school. Ellie herself bought a membership at a nice health club with a pool.
Evenings found her sipping her favourite tea, a message from Mike blinking on the phone something about having realised his mistakes and wanting to change. She deleted it without replying.
The tiny flat was hers alone. The money was hers alone. And for the first time she could spend it exactly how she saw fit, without worrying about anyones climbing schedule, a dogs diet, or anyone elses opinion of what was right or wrong.
