When a spouse turns finances into a never – ending negotiation, marriage becomes a cold – blooded transaction. Andrea found herself trapped in a miserly nightmare until she decided to hit her husband with an unexpected bill of her own.
I always thought money disputes in marriages revolved around major issues: buying a house, saving for retirement, or splurging on a vacation. Little did I know I’d end up arguing with my husband over Wi – Fi.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, as I drove home from the grocery store, the sunlight filtering through the windshield, my mind wandered to how Thomas and I had reached this point.
When we first met, I was really impressed by his financial responsibility. He kept track of his expenses down to the last cent, paid off his credit cards every month, and had a healthy savings account. It seemed like a great sign. He was a responsible adult who wouldn’t drag me into debt.
Our first year of marriage was a breeze. We opened separate accounts, along with a joint one for household expenses. It made perfect sense at the time. We both contributed equally to cover the mortgage, utilities, and groceries.
As I pulled into our driveway, I let out a sigh. What had started as sensible financial management had transformed into something completely different.
I carried the groceries inside. While putting them away in the kitchen, I couldn’t help but recall how much things had changed.
Thomas’s idea of “fair” gradually turned into an obsession with splitting every single penny. The separate accounts were okay, but then came the nitpicky splitting of every expense, based on who used what.
“Andrea, you took a 40 – minute bath today. That’s bound to hike up our gas bill,” he said last month, calculator in hand.
“Thomas, it was only 15 minutes, and that’s because I pulled a muscle at yoga,” I retorted.
He just shrugged. “Still, it’s extra, so I’m upping your share of the bill this month.”