Im fed up carrying you all on my back! I wont foot a single penny morego sort yourselves out! Emma shouted, slamming the cards onto the table.
She shoved the flats door open and instantly heard voices drifting from the kitchen. Her husband Tom was chatting with his mother, Margaret. Shed arrived that morning and, as usual, made herself comfortable in the kitchen.
Whats the deal with the telly? Tom asked.
Its ancient, Margaret complained. The pictures fuzzy, the sound cuts in and out. It should have been swapped ages ago.
Emma slipped off her shoes and padded into the kitchen. Margaret was perched at the table with a mug of tea; Tom was fiddling with his phone.
Ah, Emmas here, Tom said brightly. We were just debating Moms TV.
Whats wrong with it? Emma asked, weary.
Its completely broken. We need a new one, Margaret replied.
Tom set his phone down and stared at his wife.
You always foot the bill for stuff like this. Get Mom a new set. We dont want to dip into our own pockets.
Emma froze, pulling off her coat. He said it as casually as if they were buying a loaf of bread.
I dont feel like it either. And you? Emma asked.
Well, youve got a good job, you earn decent money, Tom said. My salarys modest.
Emma narrowed her eyes, as if testing whether he was serious. He wore a smug grin, convinced hed said something perfectly reasonable.
Tom, Im not a bank, Emma said slowly.
Oh, come on, he waved her off. Its just one TV.
She sank into a chair and replayed the past months in her head. Who paid for the flat? Emma. Who bought the groceries? Emma. Who settled the utilities? Emma again. And the medicines for Margaret, who constantly moaned about her blood pressure and aching joints. Even the loan Margaret had taken out for home repairsshe stopped paying after three months, and Emma picked it up.
Remember something? Tom asked.
I remember whos been covering everything in this family for the last two years, Emma replied.
Margaret interjected, Emma, youre the lady of the house; the responsibility falls on you. Is it really that hard to buy Toms mum a TV? Its a family purchase.
For the family? Emma repeated. And wheres that family when the moneys needed?
Its not like we do nothing, Tom protested. I work, and Mom helps around the house.
What help? Emma asked, eyebrows raised. Margaret comes over for tea and a litany of ailments.
Margaret took offense. Just for a chat? I give you advice on how to run a proper household.
Advice on how Im supposed to support everyone? Emma snapped.
Well, who else would? Tom said, genuinely surprised. You have a steady job and a decent income.
Emma stared at him. He truly believed it normal for his wife to bear the whole financial load.
And what do you do with your money? Emma pressed.
I save it, Tom replied. Just in case.
For what case?
You never know. A crisis, a redundancy. You need a cushion.
And wheres my cushion?
Youve got a secure job; they wont sack you.
Emma said calmly, Maybe its time you and your mum decided what to buy and with what money.
Tom smirked. Why the harsh tone? You manage money perfectly. We already try not to burden you with extra costs.
Not burden me? A flush rose to Emmas cheeks. Tom, do you honestly think youre not a burden?
Its not like we ask you to buy something every day, Margaret defended. Only when its truly needed.
Is a TV truly needed?
Of course! How can you live without a TV? The news, the programmes.
You can stream everything online.
I dont get the internet, Margaret cut in. I need a proper TV.
Emma realised the conversation was looping. Both Margaret and Tom genuinely believed Emma was obliged to provide for everyone while they pinched every penny for themselves.
All right, Emma said. Tell me how much this TV costs.
You could get a decent one for about £500, Tom said brightly. A big one, with internet capability.
£500, Emma repeated.
Yeah, not much.
Tom, do you know how much I spend on this family each month?
Well a lot, probably.
Around £700 a month the flat, groceries, bills, your mums meds, her loan.
Tom shrugged. Its family. Thats normal.
And how much do you spend on the family?
Well sometimes I buy milk. Bread.
Tom, you spend at most £70 a month on the family, Emma calculated. And not even every month.
But Im saving for a rainy day.
Whose rainy day? Yours?
Ours, of course.
Then why does the money sit in your personal account and not in a joint one?
Tom fell silent. Margaret quieted too.
Emma, youre saying the wrong things, Margaret finally ventured. My son provides for the family.
With what? Emma asked, astonished. The last time Tom bought groceries was six months ago, and only because I fell ill and asked him to go.
But he works!
And I work. Yet my salary ends up covering everyone, while his goes straight to him.
Thats just how it is, Tom said uncertainly. The woman runs the household.
Running the household doesnt mean shouldering everyones bills, Emma retorted.
What do you suggest? Margaret asked.
I suggest everyone funds themselves.
Hows that supposed to work? Margaret cried. What about family?
Family means everyone contributes equally, not one person dragging the rest.
Tom looked bewildered. Emma, thats a strange way of thinking. Were husband and wife, we have a joint budget.
Joint? Emma laughed. A joint budget is when both put money into one pot and spend together. What do we have? I put money in, and you hoard yours.
Not for myselfIm saving it.
For yourself. When moneys needed, youll spend it on your own needs, not shared ones.
How do you know?
I just do. Right now your mum needs a TV. You have £500 set aside. Will you buy it for her?
Tom hesitated. Well thats my savings.
Exactly. Yours.
Margaret tried to swing the argument back: Emma, you shouldnt talk to your husband like that. A man should feel like the head of the family.
And the head should support the family, not live off his wife.
Tom does not live off you! Margaret protested.
He does. For the past two years Ive paid for the flat, food, bills, your meds, and your loan. Tom has been saving for his personal needs.
Its only temporary, Tom tried to justify. Theres a crisis, times are tough.
Weve been in a crisis for three years now. And each month you shift more expenses onto me.
Im not shifting them; Im asking for help.
Help? Emma laughed. Did you pay the rent in the last six months?
No, but
Did you buy groceries?
Sometimes.
Buying milk once a month isnt buying groceries.
Okay, I didnt. But I work and bring money into the family.
You bring it in and immediately stash it in your personal account.
Im not hiding it; Im saving for the future.
For your future.
Margaret interjected again, Emma, whats gotten into you? You never complained before.
I used to think it was temporary, that youd start pulling your weight. Now I see Im being used like a cash cow.
How can you say that! Tom exploded.
What else should I call it when one person supports everyone else and they still demand gifts?
What gifts? The TV is a necessity for Mum!
If your mum needs a TV, she should buy it, or you can use your savings.
But her pension is small!
And is my salary made of rubberstretchable without limit?
Well, you can afford it.
I can, but I dont want to.
Silence fell. Tom and Margaret exchanged glances.
What do you mean you dont want to? Tom asked quietly.
It means Im tired of supporting the family alone.
But were a family; were supposed to help each other.
Exactly. Each other, not one person doing all the work.
Emma rose from the table, realizing they saw her as a moneydispensing machine.
Where are you off to? Tom asked.
To sort things out.
Without another word, Emma pulled out her phone, opened her banking app right there, and blocked the joint card Tom had access to. She then transferred all her savings to a new account shed opened a month earlier, just in case.
What are you doing? Tom asked, wary.
Handling finances, Emma said curtly.
He tried to peek at her screen, but she angled the phone away. Five minutes later, every pound had moved to her personal account, inaccessible to anyone else.
Emma, whats happening? Tom asked, alarmed.
What should have happened ages ago is finally happening.
Emma went into the card settings and permanently revoked access for everyone but herself. Tom stared, bewildered, not grasping the scale of her move.
Margaret sprang up. What have you done? Well be left without money!
Youll have the money you earn yourselves, Emma replied calmly.
What do you mean, ourselves? What about family? The joint budget? Margaret shrieked.
We never had a joint budget. There was only my budget, which everyone leached off.
Youve lost your mind! Margaret shouted. Were a family!
In a steady voice, Emma said, From today were separate. Im under no obligation to fund your whims.
What whims? Tom objected. These are essential expenses!
A £500 TV is essential?
For Mum, yes!
Then let Mum buy it with her pension. Or you use your own savings.
Margaret rushed to her son, Why are you silent? Put her in her place! Shes your wife!
Tom mumbled something unintelligible, avoiding Emmas eyes. He knew she was right but wouldnt admit it.
Tom, Emma said quietly, do you really think I should support your whole family?
Well were husband and wife.
Husband and wife means partnership, not one person footing everyone elses bills.
But my salarys smaller!
Your salarys smaller, but your savings are biggerbecause you only spend them on yourself.
Tom fell silent again. Seeing her son wouldnt press his wife, Margaret changed tactics.
Emma, give the money back now! Im out of medicine!
Buy it with your own money.
My pension is tiny!
Ask your son. He has savings.
Tom, give me money for medicine! Margaret demanded.
Tom faltered. Mum, Im saving that for the family.
I am the family! she shouted.
But those are my savings.
You see? Emma noted. When it comes to spending, everyones money suddenly becomes personal.
Realising the seriousness, Margaret tried a softer approach. Emma, lets talk calmly. Youre a kind woman; youve always helped.
I helped until I realised I was being used.
Youre not being usedyoure appreciated!
Appreciated for what? For paying all the bills?
For supporting the family.
Im not supporting a family. Im supporting two adults who can earn their own money.
The next morning Emma went to the bank and opened a separate account in her name. She printed statements for the last two years showing every pound spent on Tom and his motherrent, groceries, utilities, medicines, and the loan. It was all on Emma.
When she got home, she pulled out a large suitcase and began packing Toms belongingsshirts, trousers, socksfolding everything neatly.
What are you doing? Tom asked as he came home from work.
Packing your stuff.
Why?
Because you no longer live here.
What? This is my flat too!
The flat is in my name. I decide who lives in it.
But were married!
For now, yes. Not for long.
Emma rolled the suitcase into the hallway and held out her hand. The keys.
What keys?
The apartment keys. All sets.
Emma, are you serious?
Absolutely.
Reluctantly, Tom handed over the keys. Emma checkedmain set and spare.
Does your mum have keys?
Yes, she pops round now and then.
Call her. Have her return them.
Why?
Because Margaret no longer has the right to enter my flat.
An hour later Margaret arrived, spotting the suitcase in the hallway and realizing the seriousness.
What does this mean? she demanded.
It means your son is moving out.
Moving out where? This is his home!
This is my home. Im done supporting freeloaders.
How dare you! Margaret exploded.
I dare. Hand over the keys.
What keys?
To the flat. I know you have a duplicate.
I wont give them back!
Then Ill call the police.
Margaret raised a proper ruckus, screaming that Emma was destroying the family, that relatives shouldnt be treated like this, that shed always thought Emma a good daughterinlaw.
The good girl is gone, Emma said calmly and dialled 999.
Hello, we need assistance. Former relatives refuse to return the keys to my flat and to vacate the premises.
Half an hour later two officers arrived, checked the paperwork and the ownership of the flat.
Maam, they said to Margaret, return the keys and leave the flat.
But my son lives here!
Your son is not the owner and has no right to dispose of the property.
With witnesses present, Margaret reluctantly took the keys from her purse and tossed them on the floor.
Youll regret this! she shouted as she left. Youll end up alone!
Ill be alone, but with my own money, Emma replied.
Tom silently gathered the suitcase and followed his mother out. At the door he turned back.
Emma, maybe youll reconsider?
Theres nothing left to reconsider.
A week later Emma filed for divorce. There was almost nothing to split the flat had always been hers, and the car was bought with her own cash. No joint assets to divide.
Tom tried calling, begging for a meeting, promising everything would change, that hed cover all expenses himself.
Too late, Emma answered. Trust doesnt bounce back.
But I love you!
Do you love meor my wallet?
You, of course!
Then why did you live off me for three years without a hint of remorse?
Tom had no answer.
The divorce went through quicklyTom didnt contest, understanding how pointless it was. The court declared the marriage dissolved.
For another month Margaret kept phoning Emmacrying, then threatening, then begging for medicine money. Emma listened in silence and hung up.
My blood pressure is high because of you! her motherinlaw complained.
Ask your son to treat you; he has savings.
He says hes sorry to spend the money!
Wonderful. Now you get how I felt for three years.
Six months later Emma bumped into Tom at a supermarket. He looked tired; his clothes had lost their former crispness.
Hi, Tom greeted awkwardly.
Hello.
How are you?
Great. And you?
Fine Im staying with Mum for now.
I see.
You know, I realised I was wrong. I really did dump too much on you.
You realised?
Yes. Now I pay for all of Mums expenses myself, and I see how hard it is.
But you have savings.
I had. I spent them on Mums meds and on fixing her flat.
And? Does it hurt to spend them?
Tom paused, then answered honestly, It does. A lot.
Imagine doing that for three years straight.
I understand. Forgive me.
I already have. But that changes nothing.
What if I make it right? Become a different man?
Tom, you only became different when you were left without my money. Thats not changethats being forced by circumstances.
But Ive realised my mistake!
You realised it only when you had to pay yourself. If Id kept supporting everyone, youd never have seen it.
Tom nodded, knowing Emma was right.
I have to go, Emma said, heading for the checkout.
At home she brewed a cup of tea and settled by the window with a book. The flat was quietno one demanding money for TVs, medicines, or anything else. The money in her account belonged solely to Emma. No one told her how to spend it.
When she shut the door behind her exhusband six months earlier, Emma felt light for the first time in ages. Freedom from financial parasites proved worth more than any family ties. Now every pound she spent was a conscious choice, not coercion.
Emma never again let anyone climb onto her shoulders. She learned to say no without guilt, and money became a tool for her own plans, not a lifeline for freeloaders.
