I’ve had enough of dragging you all along! Not a penny more—sort yourselves out and eat however you please!” Yana exclaimed, throwing down the cards.

Enough! Im done carrying the whole lot of you on my back! No more penniesgo feed yourselves however you wish! Eleanor shouted, slamming her hand down on the credit card.

She pushed open the flats front door and was immediately hit by the clatter from the kitchen. James was in a heated chat with his mother, Margaret. Shed arrived early that morning and, as usual, made herself at home in the kitchen.

So, whats the story with the telly? James asked.

Its ancient, Margaret complained. The picture is fuzzy, the sound jumps. It shouldve been swapped ages ago.

Eleanor slipped off her shoes and slipped into the kitchen. Margaret sat at the table nursing a mug of tea; James fidgeted with his phone.

Ah, Eleanors here, James said, brightening. We were just talking about Moms TV.

Whats wrong with it? Eleanor asked, weary.

Its dead. We need a new one, Margaret said.

James set his phone down and stared at his wife.

You always foot the bill for this sort of thing. Buy Mom a TV. Dont expect us to dig into our own pockets.

Eleanor froze, coat halfoff. He said it as casually as if he were ordering a loaf of bread.

Im not in the mood either. And you?

Your job pays well, you bring in decent money, James retorted. My salary is modest.

Eleanor narrowed her eyes, as if testing whether he was serious. His expression was a mask of absolute confidence.

James, Im not a bank, she said slowly.

Oh, come on, he waved a dismissive hand. Its just a TV.

She sank into a chair, replaying the past months in her mind. Who paid for the flat? Eleanor. Who bought the groceries? Eleanor. Who settled the utilities? Eleanor again. And the medicines for Margaret, who constantly complained about her blood pressure and aching joints. The loan Margaret had taken out for home repairsshe stopped paying after three months, and Eleanor took over.

Remember anything? James asked.

I remember whos been footing every bill for the last two years.

Margaret interjected, Eleanor, youre the lady of the house; the responsibility falls on you. Is it really that hard to buy a TV for Jamess mother? Its a family purchase.

For the family? Eleanor repeated. And wheres the family when moneys actually needed?

Its not like we do nothing, James protested. I work, and Mom helps around the house.

What help? Eleanor asked, incredulous. Margaret comes over for tea and to whine about her ailments.

Margaret bristled. What do you mean just to talk? I give you advice on running a household properly.

Advice on how Im supposed to support everyone?

Who else would? James said, genuinely puzzled. You have a steady job and a good income.

Eleanor stared at him, amazed that he considered it normal for his wife to bankroll the whole clan.

And what do you do with your money? she asked.

I save it, James replied. Just in case.

For what case?

You never knowcrisis, a job loss. You need a safety cushion.

And wheres my cushion?

Youve got a secure job; they wont fire you.

Eleanor replied calmly, Maybe its time you and your mother decided for yourselves what to buy and with what money.

James smirked. Why the harsh tone? You manage money so well. We try not to burden you with extra costs.

Not burden me? Blood rushed to Eleanors face. James, do you really think youre not a burden?

Its not like we ask you for a new pair of shoes every day, Margaret defended. Only when its truly needed.

Is a TV truly needed?

Of course! How can you live without a telly? News, shows.

You can stream everything online.

I dont get the internet, Margaret snapped. I need a proper TV.

Eleanor saw the conversation looping. In their minds, both Margaret and James genuinely believed she was obliged to fund everything while they pinched every penny for themselves.

Fine, Eleanor said. Tell me how much this TV costs.

A decent one runs about four hundred pounds, big screen, internet ready, James said, brightening.

Four hundred pounds, Eleanor repeated. Not much, right?

James, do you know how much I spend on our family each month?

Well a lot, I guess.

About six hundred pounds a monthrent, food, utilities, your mothers medicines, her loan.

James shrugged. Its family. Thats normal.

And you?

Sometimes I buy milk. Bread.

James, you spend at most fifty pounds a month on the family, and not even every month.

But Im saving for a rainy day.

Whose rainy day? Yours?

Our, of course.

Then why is the money stuck in your personal account and not in a joint one?

James fell silent. Margarets lips sealed too.

Eleanor, youre getting it all wrong, Margaret finally said. My son provides for the family.

With what? Eleanor asked, shocked. The last time James bought groceries was six months ago, and only because I was ill and asked him to.

But he works!

And I work, yet my salary goes to everyone, and his goes only to him.

Thats just how its done, James said uncertainly. The woman runs the household.

Running the house doesnt mean shouldering everyones debts, Eleanor retorted.

What do you suggest? Margaret asked.

I suggest everyone supports themselves.

How would that work? Margaret cried. What about family?

Family means everyone contributes equally, not one person dragging everyone along.

James looked at his wife, baffled. Eleanor, thats a strange way to think. Were husband and wife; we have a joint budget.

Joint? Eleanor laughed. A joint budget is when both put money in one pot and spend it together. What we have is me putting money in, and you keeping yours to yourself.

Not for myselfIm saving it.

For yourself. When moneys needed, youll spend it on your own needs, not shared ones.

How do you know?

I just do. Right now your mother needs a TV. You have four hundred pounds set aside. Will you buy it for her?

James hesitated. Well thats my savings.

Exactly. Yours.

Margaret tried to sway him. Eleanor, you shouldnt speak to your husband like that. A man should feel like the head of the family.

And the head should support the family, not live off his wife.

James doesnt live off you! Margaret protested.

He does. For two years Ive paid the rent, food, utilities, your medicines, and your loan. Meanwhile James saves for his personal wants.

Its only temporary, James tried to justify. Theres a crisis, times are tough.

Weve been in a crisis for three years, and each month you shove more expenses onto me.

Im not shoving them; Im asking for help.

Help? Have you paid the rent in the last six months?

No, but

Bought groceries?

Sometimes.

Buying milk once a month isnt grocery shopping.

Fine, I didnt. But I work and bring money into the family.

You bring it in and stash it in your personal account.

Im not hiding it; Im saving for the future.

For your future.

Margaret jumped in again. Eleanor, whats gotten into you? You never complained before.

I used to think it was temporary, that youd start pulling your weight soon enough.

And now?

Now I see Im a cash cow.

How can you say that! James erupted.

What else am I supposed to call it when one person funds everyone else and they still demand gifts?

What gifts? The TV is something Mom needs!

If your mother needs a TV, she should buy it, or you can use your savings.

But her pension is small!

And is my salary made of rubberstretchable without limit?

You could afford it.

I could, but I dont want to.

Silence fell. James and Margaret exchanged a look.

What do you mean you dont want to? James asked quietly.

It means Im tired of supporting the whole family alone.

But were a family; were supposed to help each other.

Exactlyeach other, not one person bearing everyones load.

Eleanor rose from the table, realizing they saw her as a moneydispensing machine.

Where are you going? James asked.

To sort things out.

Without a word, she pulled out her phone, opened the banking app right at the table, and froze Jamess joint card. She moved to the transfers screen and began shifting all her savings into a new account she’d set up a month earlier, just in case.

What are you doing? James asked, uneasy.

Taking care of finances, Eleanor said curtly.

He tried to peek at the screen, but she angled it away. Five minutes later, every penny had been transferred to her personal account, inaccessible to anyone else.

Whats happening? James asked, alarmed.

What should have happened ages ago is finally happening.

She went into the card settings and permanently revoked everyones access except her own. James stared, bewildered, unable to grasp the magnitude.

Margaret leapt from her chair. What have you done? Well be left without money!

Youll have the money you earn yourselves, Eleanor replied calmly.

What do you mean, ourselves? What about family? What about the joint budget? Margaret shrieked.

There never was a joint budget. There was only my budget, which everyone leached off.

Youve lost your mind! Margaret shouted. Were a family!

In a steady voice, Eleanor said, From today onward we live separately. I am not obliged to fund your whims.

What whims? James objected. These are necessary expenses!

A fourhundredpound TV is a necessary expense?

For Mom, yes!

Then let Mom buy it with her pension, or you buy it with your savings.

Margaret rushed to her son. Why are you silent? Put her in her place! Shes your wife!

James muttered something unintelligible, avoiding Eleanors eyes. He knew she was right but wouldnt admit it.

James, Eleanor said softly, do you really think I should support your entire family?

Well were husband and wife.

Husband and wife means partnership, not a onesided charity.

But my salary is smaller!

Your salary is smaller, but your savings are larger because you never spend them on anything but yourself.

James fell silent again. Seeing her son unwilling to pressure his wife, Margaret changed tack.

Eleanor, give the money back immediately! Im running out of medicine!

Buy it with your own money.

My pension is tiny!

Ask your son. He has savings.

James, give me money for medicine! Margaret demanded.

James faltered. Mom, Im saving that for the family.

I am the family! she shouted.

But those are my savings.

You see? Eleanor noted. When it comes to spending, everyones money suddenly becomes personal.

Realising the seriousness, Margaret softened. Eleanor, lets talk calmly. Youre a kind woman; youve always helped.

I helped until I realized I was being used.

Youre not being usedyoure appreciated!

Appreciated for what? For paying all the bills?

For keeping the family afloat.

Im not supporting a family; Im supporting two adults who can work and earn their own money.

The next morning Eleanor went to the bank and opened a separate account in her name. She printed statements for the past two years, showing every pound spent on James and his motherrent, utilities, medicines, the loan. It was all on her.

Back home she hauled a large suitcase and began packing Jamess belongingsshirts, trousers, socksfolding each item neatly.

What are you doing? James asked when he got home from work.

Packing your things.

Why?

Because you no longer live here.

What do you mean, I dont? This is my flat too!

The lease is in my name. I decide who stays.

But were married!

For now, yes. Not for long.

She rolled the suitcase into the hallway and held out her hand. The keys.

What keys?

All of themmain and spare.

Eleanor, are you serious?

Absolutely.

Reluctantly, James handed over the keys. She checked both sets. Does your mother have a copy?

Yes, she drops by now and then.

Tell her to return them.

Why?

Because Margaret no longer has the right to enter my flat.

An hour later Margaret arrived, eyes widening at the suitcase in the hallway.

What does this mean? she demanded.

It means your son is moving out.

Moving out where? This is his home!

This is my home. Im done supporting freeloaders.

How dare you! Margaret exploded.

I dare. Hand over the keys.

What keys?

To the flat. I know you have a spare.

I wont give them back!

Then Ill call the police.

Margaret raised a scene, screaming that Eleanor was destroying the family, that relatives shouldnt be treated like this, that shed always thought her daughterinlaw was a good girl.

The good girl is gone, Eleanor said, dialing the police. Hello, we need assistance. Former relatives refuse to return the keys to my flat and to leave the premises.

Half an hour later two officers arrived, checked the ownership papers and addressed Margaret, Maam, return the keys and leave the flat.

But my son lives here!

The son is not the owner and has no right to dispose of the property.

With witnesses present Margaret grudgingly tossed the keys onto the floor. Youll regret this! she shouted as she left. Youll end up alone!

Ill be alone, but with my own money, Eleanor replied.

James silently gathered the suitcase and followed his mother out. At the door he turned back. Eleanor, maybe youll reconsider?

Theres nothing left to reconsider.

A week later Eleanor filed for divorce. There was almost no joint property to splitthe flat had always been in her name, and the car was bought with her own money. Nothing to divide.

James kept calling, begging to meet, promising everything would change, that hed cover all expenses himself.

Too late, Eleanor said. Trust doesnt bounce back.

But I love you!

Do you love meor my wallet?

You, of course!

Then why did you live off me for three years without a hint of remorse?

James had nothing to say.

The divorce was finalized quicklyJames didnt contest, understanding the futility. The court declared the marriage dissolved.

For a month Margaret kept callingcrying, then threatening, then begging for medicine money. Eleanor listened in silence and hung up.

My blood pressure is high because of you! Margaret complained.

Ask your son to treat you; he has savings.

He says hes sorry to spend the money!

Wonderful. Now you understand how I felt for three years.

Six months later Eleanor ran into James at a supermarket. He looked tired; his clothes had lost their former crispness.

Hi, James said awkwardly.

Hello.

How are you?

Fine. And you?

Im good Im living with Mom for now.

I see.

You know, I realised I was wrong. I really dumped too much on you.

You realised?

Yes. Now I pay for all of Moms expenses myself, and I see how hard it is.

But you have savings.

I had. I spent them on Moms medicine and on fixing her flat.

And? Does it hurt?

James paused, then answered honestly, It does. A lot.

Now imagine doing that for three years straight.

It hurts, he admitted. Forgive me.

I already have. It changes nothing.

What if I try to make it right? Become a different man?

James, you only became different when you were left without my money. Thats not changethats circumstance forcing you.

But Ive realised my mistake!

You realised it only when you had to pay yourself. If Id kept supporting everyone, youd never have seen it.

James nodded, knowing she was right.

I have to go, Eleanor said, heading for the checkout.

At home she brewed a cup of tea, settled by the window with a book. The flat was quietno one demanding money for TVs, medicines, or anything else. The money in her account belonged solely to her. No one told her how to spend it.

When she shut the door behind her exhusband six months earlier, Eleanor felt a weight lift for the first time in years. Freedom from financial parasites proved worth more than any family tie. Every pound she now spent was a conscious choice, not a coerced one.

Eleanor never again let anyone climb onto her shoulders. She learned to say no without guilt, and money returned to being a tool for her own plans, not a lifeline for freeloaders.