I’m fed up with lugging you all around on my back! No more penny leftgo sort yourselves out! Emily shouted, slamming the card against the door.
She yanked the flats door open and was hit by the clatter of voices from the kitchen. Her husband, James, was in a heated chat with his mother, Margaret Bennett, who had arrived that morning and made herself at home, as usual.
So whats the story with the telly? James asked.
Its ancient, Margaret complained. The pictures all fuzzy, the sound cuts in and out. It shouldve been swapped ages ago.
Emily slipped off her shoes and stepped into the kitchen. Margaret sat at the table nursing a mug of tea; James was fiddling with his phone.
Ah, Emilys here, James said brightly. We were just debating Mums TV.
Whats wrong with it? Emily asked, weary.
Its completely busted. We need a new one, Margaret replied.
James set his phone down and stared at his wife. You always foot the bill for stuff like this. Buy Mum a TV. We dont feel like dipping into our own money.
Emily froze, pulling off her coat. He said it as casually as if he were ordering a loaf of bread.
Im not keen either. And you? she asked.
Well, youve got a good job, you earn decent money, James said. And my salarys modest.
Emily frowned, weighing his words. His face radiated absolute certainty that he was right.
James, Im not a bank, she said slowly.
Come on, he waved her off. Its just one TV.
She sank into a chair and replayed the past months in her mind. Who paid the rent? Emily. Who bought the groceries? Emily. Who covered the utilities? Emily again. Who funded Margarets medication for her high blood pressure and aching joints? Emily. Who took over the renovation loan Margaret had stopped paying after three months? Emily.
Remember anything? James asked.
I remember whos been footing every bill for this family these last two years. Emily replied.
Margaret leaned into the conversation. Emily, as the lady of the house, the responsibility falls on you. Is it really that hard to buy a TV for my sons mother? Its a family purchase.
For the family? Emily repeated. And wheres this family when moneys actually needed?
Its not like we do nothing, James protested. I work, and Mum helps around the house.
What help around the house? Emily asked, incredulous. Margaret comes over for tea and to whine about her ailments.
Margaret bristled. What do you mean just to talk? I give you advice on running a household properly.
Advice about supporting everyone? James asked, genuinely surprised. You have a steady job and a decent income.
Emily studied James. He truly believed it normal for his wife to bear the whole financial load.
And what do you do with your money? she pressed.
I save it, James replied. Just in case.
For what case?
You never knowcrisis, redundancy. You need a safety cushion.
And wheres my cushion?
Youve got a reliable job; they wont sack you.
Emily said calmly, Maybe its time you and your mother decided what to buy and with what money.
James smirked. Why the harsh tone? You manage money brilliantly. We already try not to burden you with extra costs.
Not burden me? Blood flushed Emilys face. James, do you seriously think youre not a burden?
Its not like we ask you to buy something every day, Margaret chimed in, defending her son. Only when its truly needed.
Is a TV truly needed?
Of course! How can you live without a telly? The news, the shows.
You can stream everything online.
I dont get the internet, Margaret snapped. I need a proper TV.
Emily saw the conversation looping. In their minds, Margaret and James were convinced she was obliged to provide for everyone while they pinched every penny for themselves.
All right, Emily said. Tell me how much this TV costs.
You can find a decent one for four thousand pounds, a big set, internetready, James brightened.
Four thousand pounds, Emily repeated. Not that much.
James, do you know how much I spend on this family each month?
Probably a lot, he guessed.
About seven thousand pounds a monthrent, groceries, utilities, Mums meds, her loan.
James shrugged. Its family. Thats normal.
And how much do you spend on the family?
Sometimes I buy milk. Bread.
James, you spend at most five hundred pounds a month on the family, and not even every month, Emily calculated. And you keep the rest in your own account.
Because Im saving for a rainy day, he muttered.
Whose rainy day? Yours?
Ours, of course.
Then why is the cash sitting in your personal account and not in a joint one?
James fell silent. Margarets mouth fell shut too.
Emily, youre saying the wrong things, Margaret finally ventured. My son provides for the family.
With what? Emily asked, shocked. Margaret, the last time James bought groceries was six months ago, and only because I was ill and asked him to go out.
But he works!
And I work. Yet my salary goes everywhere, while his stays in his own pocket.
Thats just how its done, James said uncertainly. The woman manages the household.
Managing the household isnt the same as carrying everyone on your back, Emily retorted.
What do you suggest? Margaret asked.
I suggest everyone supports themselves.
Hows that supposed to work? Margaret cried. What about family?
Family means everyone contributes, not one person dragging the rest.
James stared at his wife, baffled. Emily, thats a strange view. Were husband and wife, we have a joint budget.
Joint? Emily laughed. A joint budget means both people put money into one pot and spend it together. What we have is me putting money in and you keeping yours to yourself.
Not for myselfIm saving it.
For yourself. When moneys needed, youll spend it on your own needs, not ours.
How do you know that?
I just do. Right now your mother needs a TV. You have four thousand pounds set aside. Will you buy it for her?
James hesitated. Well thats my savings.
Exactly. Yours.
Margaret tried to swing the argument. Emily, you shouldnt speak to your husband like that. A man should feel the head of the family.
And the head should support the family, not leech off his wife.
James does not live off you! Margaret protested.
He does. For two years Ive paid for the flat, food, utilities, your meds, your loan. And James has been saving for his personal wants.
Its temporary, James tried to justify. Theres a crisis, times are tough.
Weve been in a crisis for three years, and each month you shift more expenses onto me.
Im not shifting them; Im asking for help.
Help? Emily laughed. Did you pay the rent any time in the last six months?
No, but
Did you buy groceries?
Sometimes.
Buying milk once a month isnt buying groceries.
Fine, I didnt. But I work and bring money into the family.
You bring it in and stash it in your own account.
Im not hiding it; Im saving for the future.
For your future.
Margaret jumped in again. Emily, 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! James exploded.
What else do you call it when one person funds everyone else and they still demand gifts?
What gifts? Mum needs a TV!
James, if Mum needs a TV, she should buy it herself, or you use your savings.
But her pension is small!
And is my salary made of rubberstretchable without limit?
You can afford it.
I can, but I dont want to.
Silence fell. James and his mother exchanged glances.
What do you mean you dont want to? James asked quietly.
It means Im exhausted supporting the family alone.
But were a family; were supposed to help each other.
Exactlyeach other, not one person feeding everyone.
Emily rose from the table, realizing they saw her as a moneymachine.
Where are you going? James asked.
To take care of things.
Without a word, she pulled out her phone, opened the banking app right at the table, and blocked the joint card James 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? James asked, wary.
Handling the finances, Emily said curtly.
He tried to peek at the screen, but she angled it away. Five minutes later, every pound was moved to her personal account, inaccessible to anyone else.
Whats happening? James asked, alarmed.
What should have happened ages ago is finally happening. Emily replied.
She went into the card settings and permanently revoked access for everyone but herself. James stared, bewildered, not grasping the scale of what shed done.
Margaret leapt up. What have you done? Well be left without money!
Youll have to earn what you earn yourselves, Emily said calmly.
What do you mean, ourselves? What about family? What about the joint budget? Margaret shrieked.
We never had a joint budget. There was only my budget, which everyone leeched off.
Youve lost your mind! Margaret shouted. Were a family!
In a steady voice Emily said, From today we live separately. Im not obliged to fund your whims.
What whims? James objected. These are necessary expenses!
A fourthousandpound TV is a necessary expense?
For Mum, yes!
Then let Mum buy it with her pension, or you buy it with your savings.
Margaret rushed to her son. Why are you silent? Put her in her place! Shes your wife!
James muttered something unintelligible, avoiding Emilys eyes. He knew she was right but wouldnt admit it.
James, Emily said quietly, do you really think I should support your whole family?
Well were husband and wife.
Husband and wife means partnership, not a onesided support system.
But my salary is smaller!
Your salarys smaller, but your savings are biggerbecause you never spend them on anyone but yourself.
James fell silent again. Seeing her son unable to pressure his wife, Margaret changed tactics.
Emily, give the money back now! Im running low on medication!
Buy it with your own money.
My pension is tiny!
Ask your son. He has savings.
James, give me money for my meds! Margaret demanded.
James faltered. Mum, Im saving that for the family.
I am the family! Emily shouted.
But those are my savings.
You see? Emily noted. When it comes to spending, everyones money suddenly becomes personal.
Margaret finally softened. Emily, lets talk calmly. Youve always been kind, always helped.
I helped until I realized I was being used.
Youre not being usedyoure appreciated!
Appreciated for what? For paying every bill?
For keeping the family afloat.
Im not supporting a family. Im supporting two adults who can earn their own money.
The next morning Emily 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 James and his motherrent, utilities, groceries, medication, the loanall on her. It was all on Emily.
When she got home, she hauled out a large suitcase and began packing Jamess belongingsshirts, trousers, socksfolding everything neatly.
What are you doing? James asked when he returned from work.
Packing your things.
Why?
Because you no longer live here.
What do you mean I dont? This is my flat too!
The lease is in my name. I decide who lives here.
But were married!
For now, yes. Not for long.
Emily rolled the suitcase into the hallway and held out her hand. The keys.
What keys?
All sets. The main ones and the spare.
Emily, are you serious?
Absolutely.
Reluctantly James handed over the keys. Emily checkedboth sets were there.
Does your mother have keys?
Yes, she drops by 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, her eyes widening at the suitcase in the hallway.
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 erupted.
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 caused a scene, screaming that Emily was destroying the family, that relatives shouldnt be treated like this, that shed always thought her daughterinlaw a good girl.
The good girl is gone, Emily said calmly, dialing 999.
Hello, we need assistance. Former relatives are refusing to return the keys to my flat and are refusing to leave the premises.
Half an hour later two officers arrived, checked the ownership documents and said to Margaret, Maam, return the keys and leave the property.
But my son lives here!
Your son is not the owner and has no right to dispose of the property.
With witnesses present, Margaret grudgingly tossed the keys onto the floor. Youll regret this! she shouted as she left. Youll end up alone!
Ill be alone, but with my own money, Emily replied.
James silently lifted the suitcase and followed his mother out. At the door he turned back. Emily, maybe youll change your mind?
Theres nothing left to reconsider.
A week later Emily filed for divorce. There was almost no joint property to splitthe flat had always been in her name, and the car was bought with her own cash. Nothing to divide.
James tried calling, begging for a meeting, promising to change, to pay all expenses himself.
Too late, Emily said. Trust doesnt return.
I love you!
Do you love me or my wallet?
You, of course!
Then why did you live off me for three years without a hint of remorse?
James had no answer.
The decree was swift; James didnt contest, understanding how pointless it was. The court declared the marriage dissolved.
For a month Margaret kept phoningcrying, threatening, begging for medicine money. Emily listened in silence and hung up.
My blood pressure spikes because of you! Margaret complained.
Ask your son to treat you; he has savings.
He says hes sorry to spend the money!
Wonderful. Now you see how I felt for three years.
Six months later Emily ran into James at a supermarket. He looked tired; his oncecrisp clothes were now faded.
Hi, he greeted awkwardly.
Hello.
How are you?
Fine. And you?
Fine Im staying with Mum for now.
I see.
You know, I realised I was wrong. I really dumped too much onto 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 medication and on fixing her flat.
And? Does it hurt?
It hurts a lot, James admitted. Now I understand what three years of that feels like.
Forgive me, he said.
I already have. It changes nothing.
What if I try to make it right? Become a different man?
James, you only became different when you were left without my money. Thats not changethats being forced by circumstance.
But Ive learned my lesson!
You learned it only when you had to pay yourself. If Id kept supporting everyone, youd never have seen it.
James nodded, accepting the truth.
I have to go, Emily said, heading to the checkout.
At home she brewed tea, settled by the window with a book. The flat was quietno one demanding money for TVs, meds, or anything else. Every pound in her account was hers alone. No one told her how to spend it.
When she closed the door behind her exhusband six months earlier, Emily felt a lightness she hadnt known in years. Freedom from financial parasites proved worth more than any family tie. Now each pound she spent was a conscious choice, not a coerced surrender.
Emily never again let anyone climb onto her shoulders. She learned to say no without guilt, and money once again became a tool for her own plans, not a lifeline for freeloaders.
