When James’s salary doubled, I was blindsided by his sudden demand that we split all expenses 50/50.
He’d been the one who convinced me to work part-time after our daughter Emily was born, so his insistence seemed like a cruel twist.
I agreed, but only under one condition: we formalize the arrangement in writing. Little did James know, this wasn’t me giving in—it was the first step in a plan I’d been quietly building for years.
The conversation started innocently enough over dinner one night, with James beaming as he shared the news of his promotion.
“I got it!” he announced, pouring champagne to celebrate. “And wait until you hear the salary—it’s double what I’m making now.”
I was genuinely thrilled for him. “That’s incredible, James. You deserve it.”
But then he shifted in his seat, his expression turning serious. “There’s something I think we should discuss. Now that I’m earning more, I think it’s only fair that we split everything equally—bills, groceries, Emily’s expenses, the mortgage. Everything.”
