“I’ve Been Supporting My Husband for Five Years: Today, I Finally Asked for Financial Help”

I’ve been married to Tom for five years now, and during this entire period, I’ve been the one shouldering all our financial responsibilities. Tom is seven years older than me and has a stable job, but he doesn’t contribute a single penny to our household expenses. Instead, he spends his money on his hobbies and his child from a previous marriage.

When Tom and I first met, he had just gone through a rough divorce. He moved back in with his parents to get back on his feet. We started dating shortly after, and I was smitten by his charm and the way he made me feel special. I believed that once we got married, things would change. I thought he would start contributing to our shared life, but I was wrong.

From the very beginning of our marriage, I noticed that Tom was reluctant to discuss finances. Whenever I brought up the topic, he would change the subject or make excuses. At first, I didn’t mind because I was earning well and could manage our expenses. But as time went on, it became increasingly difficult to handle everything on my own.

Tom has a child from his previous marriage, and he pays child support regularly. I understand that this is a significant financial commitment, but it doesn’t justify him not contributing to our household at all. He spends his weekends with his child, taking them out for expensive activities while I stay home and worry about how to pay the bills.

I’ve tried talking to Tom about our financial situation multiple times. Each time, he promises to change and start contributing, but nothing ever happens. It’s always the same story: he needs to buy something for his child, or he has an unexpected expense. Meanwhile, I’m left to cover the rent, utilities, groceries, and everything else.

Last month, things reached a breaking point. I had to dip into my savings to cover our expenses because my paycheck wasn’t enough. I felt frustrated and resentful. Why should I be the only one sacrificing while Tom continues to live his life without any financial responsibility?

Today, I finally decided to confront him. I sat him down and told him that I couldn’t continue like this anymore. I explained how stressed and overwhelmed I felt and how unfair it was that he wasn’t contributing. Tom listened quietly, but when I finished, he simply shrugged and said he didn’t have any extra money to give.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. After five years of marriage, he still didn’t understand the importance of sharing financial responsibilities. I felt a wave of anger and disappointment wash over me. How could he be so indifferent to my struggles?

I realized then that things were never going to change. Tom would never step up and take responsibility for our household expenses. I had been holding onto hope for too long, believing that he would eventually come around. But it was clear now that I had been fooling myself.

As much as it pained me, I knew I had to make a difficult decision. I couldn’t continue living like this, constantly stressed and worried about money while Tom remained oblivious. It was time to put myself first and consider what was best for my future.

I don’t know what the future holds for us, but one thing is certain: I can’t keep supporting someone who refuses to share the burden. It’s time for me to take control of my life and find a way to move forward, even if it means doing so without Tom by my side.