Olesya had always been a prudent and sensible woman. Employed as an economist at a major firm, she had prudently purchased an apartment on a mortgage before marriage and consistently saved funds for unforeseen circumstances. At the age of thirty-four, she met Alexey, a younger man by five years who worked as a driver. He didn’t smoke or drink excessively, prompting Olesya to think there was nothing wrong with their connection.
Their wedding was modest, lacking any extravagant celebrations. Alexey soon moved into the one-bedroom apartment Olesya was still paying off in its third year. Initially, their life together seemed stable. Alexey was employed at a transport company, earning around sixty thousand rubles monthly. Despite the relatively low income, Olesya did not complain. They rarely discussed the family finances; each contributed to common expenses in their own way.
However, difficulties emerged merely two months after their honeymoon period. One evening, Alexey arrived home sullen and announced his resignation.
“The boss has completely lost it,” Alexey said, removing his sneakers. “He yells at everyone and changes schedules weekly. The stress is giving me constant headaches.”
Understanding the pressures people face at work, especially under challenging leadership, Olesya responded with sympathy.
“Take some time off,” she encouraged. “You’ll find a better opportunity soon.”
Nevertheless, as weeks passed, Alexey’s job search appeared superficial. He would occasionally browse vacancy websites but became dismissive when Olesya suggested specific roles.
- “Not for me,” he shrugged.
- “The pay is too low.”
- “The schedule doesn’t suit me.”
Olesya did not pressure him further. She often worked late hours, juggling multiple projects from home, leaving minimal energy for household disputes. The responsibility for mortgage payments, utilities, and groceries rested heavily on her shoulders. Meanwhile, Alexey remained silent and passive.
About a month after Alexey’s resignation, his mother, Galina Ivanovna, began visiting more frequently. Living in the suburbs, she sometimes brought soup in pots, dropped by for tea, or stayed overnight citing late buses as the reason.
Olesya refrained from objection, unwilling to strain family relations. Galina Ivanovna seemed to offer assistance, though her help came with peculiarities. She washed dishes in her manner, rearranged jars in the refrigerator, shifted photographs on shelves, and constantly dispensed unsolicited advice.
“Olesya, you should buy different pasta; this one doesn’t cook properly,” she said one day while rummaging through kitchen cupboards. “And the bread is too dry. Alexey and I prefer another type.”
Meanwhile, Alexey lounged on the couch scrolling through videos on his phone, occasionally nodding at his mother’s remarks. He showed no urgency in seeking work. However, whenever he wanted to visit the gym or buy cigarettes, funds were promptly found—always from Olesya’s card.
Olesya tried to ignore these issues as her workload increased; her company had secured a major tender, and she was assigned several projects simultaneously. She often stayed late at the office but returned home to household chores and overhearing her husband and mother-in-law gossip about neighbors or television news.
Unexpectedly, early summer brought a peculiar discovery. While reviewing her bank statement, Olesya noticed unfamiliar transactions: payments to beauty salons, purchases from children’s stores, and assorted cosmetics.
“Alexey, do you recognize these expenses?” she asked, showing him the screen.
He shrugged indifferently, “No idea. Perhaps it’s some kind of mistake?”
However, the deductions persisted regularly—small sums vanished daily for hair salons, clothing shops, and pharmacies. Increasingly watchful, Olesya came to understand that her money was being spent without justification or consent.
- Galina Ivanovna’s visits became almost daily.
- She wasn’t alone but accompanied by Alexey’s sister-in-law, Sveta, who had recently given birth and frequently expressed financial struggles.
- Complaints about the high cost of diapers and baby food were common.
“Alexey, won’t you help your sister?” Galina Ivanovna pleaded. “She’s exhausted, and her husband wastes his salary on drinking.”
Alexey nodded and left shortly after, only for Olesya to receive new notifications of purchases an hour later—children’s clothing, toys, personal care products—all bought with her money.
One evening, coming home early, Olesya found Galina Ivanovna on the kitchen table, loudly chatting on the phone.
“Zinochka, this hand cream isn’t expensive,” she said, holding a new package. “Only fifteen hundred rubles but the effect is wonderful. Olesya doesn’t mind; a mother-in-law deserves some pampering.”
Alexey sat beside her, calmly drinking tea and scrolling his phone, indifferent to the use of funds that weren’t theirs.
Anger flushed Olesya’s face; she finally realized she was being taken advantage of. Her card was treated like a communal fund without permission, and her husband feigned ignorance.
Trying to remain composed, she spoke to Galina Ivanovna.
“Galina Ivanovna, can we talk?”
The older woman looked up, feigning surprise.
“Of course, dear. What’s wrong?”
“I noticed unusual transactions on my card—beauty salons, children’s stores, cosmetics. Could you explain these purchases?”
Galina blinked innocently. “Oh, Olesya, Alexey said it was okay. We’re family, aren’t we?”
Alexey glanced away from his phone, avoiding eye contact.
“Mom, this wasn’t our agreement,” he mumbled.
“What agreement?” Olesya snapped.
He faltered, clearly unprepared for confrontation. “Mom just buys some small things.”
“Small things?” Olesya opened her banking app, displaying the amounts. “Twenty-three thousand rubles in a month—small things? Five thousand for baby clothes, three thousand for a manicure, four thousand for cosmetics. Who are these for?”
Galina Ivanovna gathered the shopping bags and stood.
“Don’t be upset. We are relatives. Those baby items are for Sveta; she’s going through a tough time.”
“And the beauty treatments?”
“Well, a woman should take care of herself,” came the hesitant reply.
Olesya inhaled deeply, her patience waning. Supporting everyone—her unemployed husband and his family’s whims—was becoming unbearable.
“Listen,” she said, sitting at the table. “Tomorrow I’m going to the bank to get a new card and block the old one. No one besides me will have access to my money.”
“What do you mean?” Alexey asked, startled.
“From now on, we’ll keep separate finances. Each of us handles only their earnings.”
Alexey jumped up angrily, his chair scraping loudly. “Since when do we have separate budgets? We are husband and wife!”
Galina Ivanovna hurriedly grabbed her bags, acting indifferent but lingering out of curiosity.
“Husband and wife?” Olesya stood with arms crossed. “Where were you when I was paying the mortgage and bills? Where were you when I bought food?”
“I… I was looking for work,” Alexey stammered.
“Looking? On your phone? At the gym? Or when you bought cigarettes with my money?”
Galina Ivanovna intervened. “Don’t yell at Alexey. It’s hard for a man to find a decent job nowadays. And the money—it’s not a big deal. We’re family!”
Olesya turned to her sharply, causing Galina to take a step back.
“Family means sharing expenses, not one person working while others spend without permission. It means respecting boundaries and asking before using someone else’s money.”
“But we didn’t steal! Alexey allowed it!” Galina protested.
“Alexey?” Olesya faced her husband. “You gave permission to spend MY money?”
He was silent, shifting uneasily.
“I thought…” he began but stopped abruptly.
“Thought what? That I would support your whole family? That it’s normal to live off me and complain?”
“How can you say that?” Alexey exploded. “Normal families pool their money!”
“Normal families pool their income,” Olesya replied sharply. “I earn eighty thousand a month, and you haven’t brought a single kopeck in six months. Yet your mother and sister spend my money!”
Galina Ivanovna grabbed her bag. “I won’t listen to insults! Alexey, let’s go. They don’t appreciate you here.”
“Good,” Olesya said calmly. “Please leave and don’t come back without an invitation.”
Alexey slammed his fist on the table. “You’ve lost your mind! She’s my mother!”
“Your mother, your sister, your responsibility,” Olesya replied evenly, though furious inside. “If you want to support them, find a job. From tomorrow, new card, new passwords. Spend your own money if you can.”
Alexey stormed out, slamming the door. Galina’s eyes glared at Olesya before chasing after her son.
“You think we’ll be lost without you?” Alexey shouted from the hallway. “There are people who know how to appreciate!”
The door slammed, rattling the window panes.
Left alone in the kitchen, Olesya sat down, rested her head on her hands, and finally felt relief after months of pressure. It was as though a heavy burden had been lifted.
The next day, Alexey didn’t return. Instead, a lengthy message arrived from Galina Ivanovna, accusing Olesya of being mercenary and heartless, mistreating family, and causing Alexey great sadness through disrespect to elders.
Olesya read and deleted the message without replying.
She proceeded to the bank, blocked her old card, and opened a new one. Changing all online banking passwords and disabling automatic payments, she prevented others from accessing her funds. Then, she visited the building management office to change the intercom code, barring Galina Ivanovna’s casual entries.
Back home, Olesya tidied up the apartment, removing signs of her mother-in-law’s presence. She rearranged photographs, discarded foreign slippers left in the hallway, and threw away jars of jam Galina had brought.
Days passed peacefully, without unauthorized spending or household disruptions. The newfound quietness after prolonged strain felt like a true blessing.
Focused more easily at work, Olesya even stayed late less often, eager to return to her tranquil home.
She treated herself with her first salary after the separation, buying new pillows long desired, attending the theatre alone without needing to convince anyone, and ordering her favorite salad at a café—something Alexey had always deemed overly expensive.
A week later, Alexey called sounding apologetic.
“Olesya, why are we acting like children? I spoke with Mom; this won’t happen again.”
“What exactly won’t happen?” she asked.
“No more spending without asking. It wasn’t intentional.”
“Alexey, are you planning to find a job any time soon?”
Silence lingered before he answered, “I am searching, just haven’t found anything suitable yet.”
“Okay, we’ll talk once you do,” she said, hanging up. Alexey did not call again.
Soon after, a message from Sveta, Alexey’s sister-in-law, accused Olesya of destroying the family over money, suggesting explanations instead of disputes would have sufficed.
Olesya declined to reply, opting not to block family numbers but to simply ignore them, letting them reach out if it eased their minds.
The following month passed quickly. Surprisingly, Olesya found she did not miss them. Evenings were spent immersed in books she had long postponed opening. Weekends brought visits to museums and meetings with friends. The funds formerly spent on supporting Alexey and his family now went toward bringing her joy.
After two months, Olesya made a definitive choice—filing for divorce. There was barely shared property, as the apartment was bought before marriage and furniture belonged solely to her. Alexey could only rightfully claim the television, which he did not even collect.
The divorce proceeded smoothly with no confrontations. Alexey did not attend but consented to the dissolution.
The official divorce was finalized on a bright July day. Olesya left the registry office and sat on a nearby bench in the park, checking her bank balance via phone. Her account held nearly a full month’s salary, free for her to spend as she wished.
She smiled, comforted by the fact that the card was once again solely hers. The apartment belonged exclusively to her. Her salary, time, and choices had finally become her own.
Rising from the bench, Olesya walked back to her apartment—a place untouched by rearranged photographs or unauthorized spending. A home where she could calmly plan her future without the shadow of external demands or claims.
That evening, she ordered the costly sushi Alexey had considered an extravagance, turned on a favorite movie, wrapped herself in a blanket on the sofa, and reflected peacefully. Several missed calls from unknown numbers blinked on her phone, but she chose not to answer.
Life was improving slowly yet steadily. Most importantly, it belonged once again entirely to Olesya.
Key Insight: Olesya’s experience highlights the importance of financial boundaries and self-respect within relationships. Establishing control over personal resources leads to empowerment and peace.
In conclusion, Olesya’s journey—from reliance and compromise to autonomy—demonstrates how reclaiming one’s financial independence can restore personal freedom and happiness. Her story is a testament to the strength required to set limits, demand respect, and ultimately prioritize one’s well-being over imposed obligations.