When I met Tom at 22, he seemed like the sweetest man. Three months later, we were married. My grandmother’s warning, “marry in haste, repent at leisure,” turned out to be true.
At first, life was good. We were careful with our finances, clipping coupons and sticking to a strict budget. But two years in, when Tom got a promotion, things didn’t improve. I found out I was pregnant, and Tom insisted we needed to save even more.
When our daughter Angelina was born, I was thrilled but quickly realized we were struggling. Tom insisted I quit my job, saying childcare would cost more than I earned. Still, I had to account for every penny, and his obsession with saving grew.
Then, he came home worried about his new boss and insisted we cut back further. He slashed my grocery budget, leaving me to struggle, while he ate lunch at work and dinner at his mother’s house. Even when Angel grew quickly and needed new clothes, Tom took me to thrift stores.
He always looked sharp and wore an expensive watch, though. When Angel started school, I got a part-time job to afford her shoes. Tom was unhappy, but things took a worse turn when his company offered him a 20% salary cut.
At a work function, Tom’s boss praised him, but Tom insisted he was on the “blacklist.” Then, at Christmas, Tom bought a costly TV while I couldn’t even buy Angel a gift. He claimed it was his money to spend, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
I packed my bags and left, taking Angel with me. Over time, I earned a promotion and later, a director position at the restaurant. Life improved drastically.
One day, Tom showed up at my door, looking worse for wear. He begged for help, but I turned him away. I’d finally realized: it was my money, and I wouldn’t waste it on him.
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