For a long time, I tried to be patient. I tried reasoning with Peter, my husband, about splitting the bills and housework fairly. But he refused to listen, brushing off my concerns and doubling down on his outdated views.

So, I found a way to make him regret every bit of his selfishness.

Peter and I have been married for six years. We’re both hardworking professionals, but there’s one glaring difference—I earn more than him.

At 35, I was recently promoted to head of my department, which meant longer hours and greater responsibilities. Meanwhile, Peter, 40, worked a steady job that ended at 4:00 p.m. every day.

Despite this, he expected me to handle all the cooking and household chores—because, in his words, “That’s the wife’s job.”

It wasn’t just about chores. It was about money, too.

When we argued over who should pay for a takeaway meal one evening, I pointed out that since we both ate, we should split the cost.

Peter laughed. “You’re the wife. Cooking is your responsibility. If you don’t cook, you should pay for the food.”

That was when it hit me—he wasn’t just being inconsiderate. He was using me.

The Breaking Point

I worked 70-hour weeks, came home exhausted, and still had to hear Peter complain about why dinner wasn’t ready. Meanwhile, he’d be relaxing on the couch, watching videos or playing games.

His contribution to household chores?

• Cleaning the bathroom once a month (if I reminded him).
• Doing the dishes occasionally—but only after whining about it.

I started keeping a meticulous record of our finances.

• Rent? Paid by me.
• Groceries? Me again.
• Phone bills, utilities, Uber rides, vacations? Me.
• Fishing gear for Peter’s hobby? You guessed it—me.

Yet, whenever I brought up splitting responsibilities fairly, he had the same excuse—“That’s just how marriage works.”

The final straw came a few months ago when Peter, after a few too many drinks, boasted in front of our friends:

“I don’t need to worry about money. I’m investing all my cash in Shannon’s [expletive].”

The room fell silent. My cheeks burned with humiliation.

That was the moment I decided enough was enough.

The Payback

I didn’t argue with Peter that night. Instead, I planned my revenge.

A few weeks later, Peter casually suggested we take a short vacation to unwind. As usual, he expected me to pay for everything.

But this time, I smiled sweetly and said, “Oh honey, since you’re the ‘man of the house,’ it’s your job to pay for our trips. If you don’t pay, we don’t go.”

His face fell.

He stammered, “Wait, what? That’s not fair!”

“Fair?” I laughed. “You’ve been expecting me to cover everything. Isn’t that how marriage works?”

It was priceless watching him realize what I had done.

For the first time, he saw the imbalance. The financial burden he had ignored suddenly became his responsibility.

Peter tried to argue, but I shut it down.

“You don’t want to split things fairly? Fine. But from now on, I’ll only pay for what I use. You want to order food? You pay for your share. You want to go on a trip? You cover it. Just like I’ve been doing for years.”

His entire attitude changed.

The Aftermath

At first, Peter sulked. But then, he realized he couldn’t afford the lifestyle he was enjoying without my help.

So, he finally stepped up.

• He started cooking during the week.
• He stopped complaining about splitting bills fairly.
• He finally acknowledged that a marriage should be a partnership, not a one-sided arrangement.

Looking back, I paid for nearly everything in our relationship, including:

• A $3,000 summer vacation (without asking him for a dime).
• 90% of his clothes and shoes.
• Every little luxury he enjoyed.

Meanwhile, his money? It went toward fishing gear and gadgets.

And yet, he had the audacity to tell me “that’s just how marriage works?”

At one point, I suggested counseling.

He laughed in my face.

“I don’t need someone telling me what to do. I know what I want.”

Well, so do I.

I wanted respect. I wanted a partnership. And if he couldn’t give me that, he was going to feel exactly what it was like to be taken for granted.

Thankfully, Peter finally got the message.

We still have a long way to go, but at least now, he’s trying.

For once, he understands how much effort I’ve put into our life together.

And if he ever forgets?

Well, I have plenty of receipts to remind him.