The phrase "sharing is caring," is a widely accepted norm for any close relationship. When it comes to managing finances between spouses, it is imperative to discuss financial contributions beforehand to avoid conflicts and most importantly to share costs when living together. Every couple has their own way of managing it, but the subject came up for discussion when a Reddit user anonymously turned to the AITA forum for advice. She asked if she was wrong for refusing to compensate her husband for "providing" her with a room to work from home.
The post not only stunned the users but also sparked some important questions as to whether asking one's partner to pay for working from home is fair.
Reddit user, @u/Emil536775 wrote: "I (F32) began working from home 2 months ago. My husband bought the house we live in before we got together. He calls it his property which's fine by me. The house is small, has only 2 rooms, one of which used to be empty till I started using it as an office for my [work from home] job. All was going fine with my job till he sat me down last night saying he's expecting 30% 'profit' from whatever I get from my job since he 'provides' the office for my work. I was completely caught off guard by this. I asked if he was serious and he went on about it being his home and how he could be using this room for his own purpose since it's 'his property.'"
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The two reportedly argued over the matter as the wife defended herself by saying that "there's no mortgage to be paid. I do all chores in the house as well as share pay the bills in half." The husband then went to the extent of involving his family and called his mom, who remarked that 30% is not a huge amount and that this room is providing "stability" for her work-from-home job and therefore her son should be compensated for it. In the concluding line, the woman asked if she was wrong for putting her foot down and refusing to pay him.
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It is very unfortunate that many adult partners interpret the idea of living together as a means of financial exploitation. Asking for a major portion of one's earnings just because the spouse owns the residence is a sheer case of financial abuse. According to Verywell Mind, "Financial abuse [in a relationship] involves controlling a victim's ability to acquire, use, and maintain financial resources. Those who are victimized financially may be prevented from working."
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Reddit users flooded the post with pieces of advice like, "keep doing the chores and bill him the same amount he would charge you for the office." Another wrote: "This is a control thing. 'It's my house' LOL sir you are married, that is an equal partnership or it is nothing."
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Reference:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/zgdhgj/aita_for_refusing_to_pay_my_husband_for_using_a/
https://www.verywellmind.com/financial-abuse-4155224
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Cover Image Source: Getty Images/skynesher (representative), Reddit/Emil536775
