Upon entering her apartment, Yana immediately detected voices from the kitchen where her husband Igor conversed with his mother, Valentina Stepanovna. The elderly woman had arrived earlier that morning and had already settled comfortably, as was customary.
Igor inquired about the television, only to be informed by his mother that it had significantly deteriorated over time. “The image is poor, the sound cuts in and out,” she lamented, “it truly should have been replaced ages ago.”
Slipping off her shoes, Yana moved into the kitchen where Valentina sat sipping tea while Igor busied himself with his phone.
“Look, Yana’s here,” Igor announced cheerfully. “We were just discussing Mom’s old TV.”
“What’s wrong with it?” Yana responded, her voice weighted with fatigue.
“It’s completely unusable; a new one is necessary,” Valentina insisted.
Igor glanced at Yana and set down his phone. “You’re usually the one who handles these expenses. Buy Mom a new TV. We’re not inclined to spend our own money.”
Yana paused, removing her coat, shocked at his casual attitude—as if buying a TV was no different than grabbing bread from the store.
“I don’t want to either. Do you?” she challenged.
“You have a stable job and earn well,” Igor explained confidently. “My salary isn’t enough.”
Yana scrutinized him, disbelief painted across her face, yet he was genuine, firmly convinced of his stance.
“I’m not a bank,” she said deliberately.
“Come on,” he dismissed her protest. “It’s just one TV.”
Sitting down, Yana reflected on months of financial struggle. Who covered the mortgage? Yana. Who bought groceries? Yana. Who paid utilities, medicines for Valentina Stepanovna’s chronic ailments, and the loan Valentina had taken for apartment repairs, later neglected and taken over by Yana? She remembered all too well.
“I recall who has been the sole financier of this household for the past two years,” Yana thought.
Valentina Stepanovna interjected, “Yana, as the woman of the house, the responsibility lies with you. Is it really so hard to purchase a TV for the family?”
“For the family?” Yana echoed incredulously. “And where is this family when expenses pile up?”
“We do our part,” Igor argued. “I work, and Mom helps with chores.”
“Help?” Yana asked, surprised. “She comes over, drinks tea, and complains about her aches.”
Valentina took offense. “It’s not just talking—I offer wisdom on running a household correctly.”
“Advice about supporting everyone else?” Yana countered.
Igor looked genuinely puzzled. “Who else would? You have a good job and steady income.”
Yana fixed her gaze on him; he truly believed it was fitting for her to bear the entire family’s financial responsibilities.
“And what do you do with your earnings?” she challenged.
“I save,” he said. “Just in case we hit hard times or I lose my job.”
“And what about my safety net?”
“Your job is reliable; you shouldn’t worry,” he replied.
“Then perhaps you and your mother should independently decide what to purchase and with which funds,” Yana stated calmly.
Igor smirked. “Why say that? You handle finances so well, and we already try to avoid bothering you with extra costs.”
Yana’s face flushed. “Do you really believe you’re not burdening me?”
“Well, we don’t ask daily,” his mother defended. “Only when it is truly necessary.”
“Is a TV necessary?”
“Of course! How else to watch news or shows?”
“Everything is online now.”
“I don’t understand the internet,” Valentina retorted sharply. “I need a proper TV.”
The discussion spiraled endlessly. Both Valentina and Igor presumed Yana was obliged to support everyone, while they carefully conserved their own money.
“Fine,” Yana said. “Tell me the cost of the TV you want.”
Igor brightened. “About forty thousand rubles for a good one – large, with internet.”
“Forty thousand,” Yana reiterated.
“Not that much.”
She sighed. “Do you realize how much I spend monthly on this family?”
“Probably a lot,” he guessed.
“Seventy thousand rubles—for rent, groceries, utilities, medicines for your mother, and her loan repayment.”
Igor shrugged. “It’s normal for family.”
“And your contribution?”
“Sometimes I buy milk or bread.”
“That’s maybe five thousand rubles a month, not even consistent.”
“I’m saving for emergencies,” he said.
“Whose emergencies? Yours?”
“Ours,” he replied.
“Then why keep the money in your personal account instead of ours?”
Igor fell silent, Valentina quieted as well.
“Yana, you’re wrong,” Valentina said tentatively. “My son supports the family.”
“How? The last time he bought groceries was six months ago, and only because I was sick and asked him.”
“But he works!”
“So do I. Yet my salary feeds everyone, and his is for him alone.”
“That’s how it’s always been—women handle household finances.”
“Managing the household doesn’t mean bearing the entire financial load,” Yana replied.
“What do you propose then?” Valentina questioned.
“That each person supports themselves.”
“What about family?”
“Family means sharing responsibilities equally—not one person carrying everyone else.”
Igor looked puzzled. “But we’re married with a joint budget.”
“Joint means both contribute and spend collectively. Here, I contribute but you keep your money separate.”
“I’m saving it.”
“For yourself, not for us.”
“How do you know?” he asked.
“It’s evident. Your mother needs a TV now. You have savings set aside. Will you buy it for her?”
He hesitated. “That’s my private savings.”
“Exactly—yours.”
Valentina jumped in, “Yana, you shouldn’t speak to your husband like that. Men are the heads of families.”
“And heads should support their family, not depend on their wives.”
“Igor does not live off you!” she argued.
“He does,” Yana retorted. “I pay rent, groceries, utilities, medicines, and loan payments. Meanwhile, Igor saves money only for himself.”
“It’s temporary,” Igor tried to explain. “Times are tough due to the crisis.”
“The crisis has lasted three years, and the expenses keep shifting to me.”
“I’m not shifting— I’m asking for help.”
“Help? Did you ever pay rent in the past six months?”
“No, but—”
“Buy groceries?”
“Sometimes.”
“Buying milk once a month hardly counts,” Yana snapped.
“I work and bring money in.”
“Only to stash it away immediately.”
“I’m saving for the future.”
“Your future.”
Valentina tried again, “Yana, you used to be different—you never complained.”
“I thought it was temporary. That Igor would eventually contribute.”
“And now?”
“Now I see I’ve been a cash cow.”
Igor was stunned. “How can you say that?”
“What else can I call it when one person supports everyone and still faces demands for gifts?”
“The TV is a necessity for Mom!”
“If your mother needs a TV, she should buy it herself or you from your savings.”
“But her pension is small!”
“Is my salary limitless?”
“You can afford it.”
“I can, but I won’t.”
Silence fell as Igor and Valentina exchanged glances.
“What do you mean you won’t?” Igor finally asked quietly.
“I’m tired of being the sole provider.”
“But we’re family; we help each other.”
“Exactly. Each helps the other—not one supporting all.”
Yana rose. They regarded her as a never-ending source of money.
“Where are you going?” Igor asked.
“To sort things out.”
She took out her phone and opened her banking app at the table, swiftly revoking Igor’s access to the joint card. She transferred all her savings to a new account, inaccessible to Igor and his mother.
“What are you doing?” Igor questioned anxiously.
“Handling finances.”
He leaned toward her phone, but she turned the screen away. Within minutes, every ruble was moved.
“Yana, what’s happening?” Igor’s voice was unsettled.
“What should have been done long ago,” she answered firmly.
Valentina suddenly stood, alarmed. “You’ll leave us without money!”
“You’ll live within your means,” Yana stated calmly.
“What about family? The joint budget?” Valentina yelled.
“There never was a joint budget. Only mine, which everyone drained.”
“You’ve lost your mind! We’re family!” the mother-in-law shrieked.
Yana spoke clearly, “From today, we live separately. I refuse to fund your whims.”
“Whims?” Igor protested. “The TV is essential!”
“Then buy it with your or your mother’s money.”
Valentina pleaded with Igor, “Put her in her place! She’s your wife!”
Igor avoided eye contact, muttering inaudibly.
“Do you really think I should be the sole supporter?” Yana asked quietly.
“We’re married,” Igor stammered.
“Marriage means partnership, not one-sided support.”
“My salary’s lower.”
“But your savings are higher because you spend only on yourself.”
Igor fell silent once again. Valentina then demanded her money back, citing medicine costs.
“Buy with your own money,” Yana replied.
“My pension isn’t enough!” she cried.
“Ask your son. He has savings.”
“I want money for medicine!” Valentina demanded.
Igor hesitated. “I’m saving for the family.”
“I am the family!” she exclaimed.
“But those are my savings,” Igor reiterated.
“See? Money suddenly becomes personal when spending,” Yana commented.
Valentina changed her tone, “Let’s talk calmly. You’ve always been kind.”
“I was—until I realized I was exploited.”
“You’re valued,” Valentina insisted.
“Valued for paying the bills? I support two grown adults who can fend for themselves.”
The next day, Yana opened a separate bank account solely in her name and printed statements proving she alone funded the household for two years. At home, she packed Igor’s belongings into a suitcase.
“What’s this?” Igor asked returning from work.
“Your things. You’re moving out.”
“I live here too!”
“The apartment is in my name; I decide who stays.”
“But we’re married!”
“For now. Not for long.”
She rolled the suitcase to the hallway and extended her hand for the keys.
“What keys?”
“All sets. Give them over.”
Reluctantly, Igor handed the keys. Yana instructed him to call Valentina for her spare keys, explaining she no longer had the right to enter.
When Valentina arrived, she noticed the suitcase and understood the situation.
“Your son is moving out,” Yana told her.
“This is his home!” Valentina shouted.
“It’s mine, and I will no longer support freeloaders.”
“How dare you!”
“Hand over the keys,” Yana insisted.
“No!”
“Then I’ll call the police.”
When officers arrived, they affirmed Yana’s ownership and ordered Valentina to surrender the keys and vacate.
Reluctantly, Valentina complied but warned, “You’ll regret this. You’ll be alone!”
“I’ll be alone but financially independent,” Yana replied.
Igor collected his suitcase and followed his mother out, pausing to ask Yana to reconsider.
“There’s nothing left to reconsider,” she answered firmly.
One week later, Yana filed for divorce. Since the apartment and car were hers, no property division was necessary. Igor contacted her, promising change, pledging to assume all expenses.
“It’s too late,” she responded. “Trust is broken.”
“But I love you!” he pleaded.
“Do you love me, or my money?”
“You, of course.”
“Then why live off me without remorse for years?”
Igor had no reply. The divorce was finalized swiftly, uncontested.
Valentina continued to call, pleading and threatening over medicine money, but Yana stayed silent.
“My blood pressure is high because of you!” Valentina complained.
“Ask your son; he has savings,” Yana said.
“He won’t spend them!”
“Now you understand my position for the past three years.”
Half a year later, Yana met Igor at a store. He looked worn and less polished.
“Hi,” he greeted awkwardly.
“Hello.”
“How are you?”
“Great. You?”
“Fine. I’m living with Mom now.”
“I see.”
“I realize now I dumped too much responsibility on you.”
“You realized?”
“Yes. I pay for Mom’s expenses myself now and feel the burden.”
“But you had savings.”
“I used them all on Mom’s medicine and apartment repairs.”
“Does it hurt to spend?”
“It does. A lot.”
“Imagine doing that for years.”
“I understand. Forgive me.”
“I have—but it changes nothing.”
“What if I become a different man?”
“You only changed after losing my financial support. That’s not true change, but forced circumstance.”
“I know I was wrong.”
“You only realized it when you had to pay. If I kept supporting everyone, you’d never see it.”
He nodded. Yana headed for checkout, leaving Igor momentarily behind.
At home, Yana relaxed by the window with a book, the apartment peaceful and free of financial demands. All the money in her account belonged solely to her, with no one dictating its use.
Closing the door behind her ex-husband months earlier felt like liberation; freedom from financial dependence trumped any family ties. Henceforth, each expenditure reflected her choice—not obligation.
Yana vowed never to tolerate being exploited again, learning to say “no” without guilt. Money once more became a tool to fulfill her aspirations, not a means sustaining freeloaders.
- Yana’s story highlights the importance of financial equality in relationships.
- Assuming sole financial responsibility breeds resentment and imbalance.
- Open communication and shared contributions are vital for family harmony.
- Personal autonomy over finances leads to healthier boundaries.
Key Insight: Supporting others should be a shared duty, not a one-sided burden, ensuring respect and balance within families.