After My Husband Got a Raise, He Wanted 50/50 Finances – But I Had One Condition

My Husband Demanded We Split Finances 50/50 Because He Got a Salary Raise – I Agreed, but on One Condition

I was taken aback when James demanded that we divide all costs equally after his pay doubled. At his urging, I was working part-time, but I only consented if we put it in writing. He has no idea that my consent is the first step in a plan, not a capitulation.

I never imagined that I would be the type of woman who sacrifice her job for a man. And yet there I was, at our kitchen table, sitting across from James, listening to him explain why it was a good idea for me to work less hours.

He created such a captivating vision of our future together when our daughter Emily was just three months old.

He added, “Think about it, Sarah,” and reached across to give me a squeeze. “I understand that you want to spend as much time as possible with Emily now that we are parents. Part-time employment will enable you to accomplish that.

“I know,” I said, “but James, I love what I do. At this stage in my career, I’m not sure if I want to make such a significant move.”

“But do you really want the stress of juggling a full-time job and being a mum?” James scowled. “You can still do what you love and have the flexibility to be there for Emily.”

He grinned warmly and assuredly. I recall stirring my coffee cup while gazing into it and observing the swirling patterns formed by the cream.

I had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right, but I ignored it.

“How are my consulting assignments going? I’ve been cultivating these connections for years.

James told me, “Those will always be there,” in a honey-smooth voice. However, these formative years spent with Emily? Those will never be returned to us.

Now that I think about it, I should have seen the manipulation beneath his worry. However, I had faith in him. Above all, I had faith in our collective abilities.

The following six years flew by as we took care of our home, picked up kids from school, and worked part-time as consultants.

And for the most part, I was happy. I was still able to work at a career I enjoyed and see my baby develop into a lovely young girl with a sharp intellect and a caring heart.

However, I kept thinking that something was lacking. I stayed in touch with a lot of my former coworkers, and occasionally it was painful to hear of their promotions.

I couldn’t help but wonder what position I would have held at that time on the corporate ladder.

I told myself that this was what partnership looked like as James’s career took off while I balanced everything else.

The night that altered everything then arrived. Excited, James rushed through the front door with a bottle of champagne in his hand.

He exclaimed, “I got it!” as he began removing glasses from the cupboard. “The advancement. And hold out till you hear about the pay increase.

I was genuinely happy for him, even proud. “Honey, that’s incredible! I had faith in your abilities.

As he popped the cork, he declared, “I’ll be earning double my current salary,” “Double! Which brings me to something we need to discuss.”

His tone changed, and I felt my gut tighten. He put his glass down and gave me what I had come to call his “business face.”

“Now that I’m making this kind of money, we need to formalise our financial arrangement,” he stated. “I believe that going forward, we should divide things equally. Everything: food, bills, and the mortgage.

The punchline never materialised, despite my waiting. “James, you can’t be serious. Remember that I only work part-time? And you suggested that I work fewer hours. occupying care of our baby and running the house are already occupying a lot of my time. How am I supposed to make an equal contribution?

He gave a shrug. “It’s not my fault you chose to settle for less.”

Reminding him, “I didn’t choose this,” “You pushed for it.”

“Yeah, but things are different now.” As he poured us champagne, James grinned. “I’m in a different league, financially speaking, and I think we should have a more balanced approach.”

His remarks were a slap in the face. “So, let me get this straight: you want me to manage the house, raise our child, and still contribute half of everything?”

“It’s only fair,” he said in response. You do realise that we’re a team? Teams also make equal contributions.

Then, like tectonic plates grinding against one another before an earthquake, I sensed a change within me. I gazed at James, looking for a clue on his expression that he understood how incredibly unfair his idea of teamwork was.

However, I couldn’t find anything. He smiled at me like a child on Christmas, his eyes sparkling with delight. At that moment, I became aware of something about my husband and understood exactly what I had to do.

“You want fair?” I whispered. “All right. As long as we make it official, I’ll agree. An agreement will be draughted and notarised by us. It all broke apart in the midst.

“That’s a brilliant idea, honey!” James grinned tooth and nail. “I’m going to have a busy day tomorrow, so why don’t you sort out the paperwork and let me know when it’s ready for me to sign?”

“Of course.” I sipped my champagne while gritting my teeth into a smile.

The following day, we signed the notarised document outlining our agreement. James’s agreement was now formally established. As we exited the notary office, he had a smug expression. Evidently, he was unaware that I was holding off on telling him what he had just committed to.

The months that followed were enlightening. James changed so much with his increased pay that I hardly recognised him. His old job clothing were replaced by designer suits. Our common credit card was charged for exclusive club dues and exclusive gym memberships.

In the meantime, I made half of everything, including Emily’s bills, with my meagre part-time wage.

In no time at all, he began to treat me differently.

He once said, “You should see the people at these executive mixers,” while fiddling with his pricey tie in the mirror.

I said sternly, “I would if you let me join you,”

James chuckled. At the country club, you’d stand out like a sore thumb! It’s not the place for someone on your budget, darling, no offence intended. Furthermore, it’s no longer truly your scene. You would be at a loss for topics to discuss.

I nodded and grinned as I saw how unbearable he was getting. His announcement that he will be attending a significant networking event was the tipping point.

He paused and frowned as he said, “The CEO is hosting a private mixer at that new restaurant in town everyone’s been talking about…” “But I guess you probably haven’t heard of it considering your social circle.”

“Are you kidding me?” “I said.” James, I’m not living under a rock. What time is this event? I’d really like to go. The chef has a stellar reputation, I’ve heard.

“Oh, you’re not allowed to accompany me. “It’s high-level stuff,” he said condescendingly as usual. “You’d feel out of place.”

I gave a small smile. “I see. I wish you luck in your networking endeavours.

That’s when I realised it was time to start the second half of my strategy. After James left that evening, I made a phone call that would alter the course of events.

After two weeks, James returned home in a state of shell shock. His tie was loose over his neck, and his pricey suit was crumpled.

He responded, “They’re demoting me,” and fell to the couch. ‘My role is being’restructured,’ it seems. However, they gave me a position that was much lower than my previous one! My pay has decreased since I started! Nothing about it makes sense.

I muttered, “Actually, it makes perfect sense,” in response.
“That rise? It arrived via my previous network. Mike, your supervisor, and I have a long history. I told him that my spouse wanted to advance in his career. I left the words lingering.

“What?” James scowled at me and straightened. “But then, why have I been demoted?”

“It’s easy. James, I contributed to your achievement. And I made the decision to take it back when you revealed your true self to me. And it’s not just that.”
Sitting in the armchair across from him, I grinned. “I accepted Mike’s offer of your post. Next week, I’ll be starting full-time.”

He gave me a startled look. “At least we’ll still be making the same amount of money,” he said at the end. We can return to the previous state of affairs, and—”

I interrupted, “That’s not going to happen,” We have a formal agreement that has been notarised. You came up with it, and I don’t see why we should alter it.

“This is ridiculous,” he growled. “It’s obvious this fifty-fifty split won’t work anymore!”

“If I made it work, I’m sure you can, too,” I responded.

The following two years were traumatic as we saw our marriage fall apart due to his bitterness. James was unable to cope with the role reversal and couldn’t bear to watch me thrive while he struggled.

That previous arrangement he had pressed for came back to haunt him once more when we eventually signed the divorce papers.

Emily is now twelve years old, incredibly intelligent, and already displaying her mother’s commercial acumen. She occasionally enquires about James, and I take care to answer in an impartial manner.

However, I make sure she is aware of the most crucial lesson I took away from this experience: a genuine partnership isn’t about dividing things evenly. It’s about encouraging one another, appreciating one another’s efforts, and not allowing achievement to alter one’s identity.