Real Stories - May 2005

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Financially, she allowed me some freedom, but there were restrictions. Bill payment was by her criteria. Joint bills (such as utilities) were split equally, despite her control over items such as heat and telephone usage. Other bills, such as those for my automobile, were my sole responsibility. Instead of dividing the mortgage, she insisted that I (like her) make a full payment, without receiving any equity in the property, as she felt that I ought to look upon our cohabitation as an enriching experience and not as a financial advantage. She also had strict quality of life demands, such as restaurant meals four times weekly, weekly flowers sent to her office and for the home, weekly gift certificates to department stores near her workplace, and spending criteria (e.g., I had to prove I spent at least $500 per occasion on gifts for Valentine's Day, our anniversary, her birthday, etc). The end result was that I worked almost entirely for her.