“I could cover my parents’ walls with gold if I wanted — it’s my money! And your mother can sort out her own debts. Help her yourself.”
Marina was standing in the wallpaper store, carefully looking over the samples. Her parents’ apartment had long needed renovation, and their daughter had decided to take the initiative. In two years of marriage, she had learned how to plan the budget so there was enough not only for her own needs, but also to help loved ones. She worked as chief accountant at a trading company, earned seventy-two thousand rubles a month, and that allowed them to live decently.
Pavel, Marina’s husband, had been in a state of “finding himself” for the past four months. After being fired from his sales manager position because of a conflict with management, he still could not find a suitable job. Either the salary offered was too low, or the schedule was inconvenient, or the team did not suit him. As a result, the family was living on Marina’s salary alone, which created a certain tension in their relationship.
“Marish, why do you need such expensive ones?” Pavel asked, coming up to his wife in the building materials store. “You can get simpler ones. They’re all the same anyway.”
“They’re not the same,” Marina replied, feeling the texture of the wallpaper. “These are high-quality, German ones. I want my parents to live beautifully.”
“And how much is that going to cost?” her husband asked warily.
“About forty thousand for all the rooms,” Marina said calmly.
“Forty thousand?!” Pavel almost jumped. “Are you out of your mind? That’s half a month’s salary!”
“My salary,” his wife clarified. “And I can afford it.”
Pavel fell silent, but his face darkened. At home, the conversation continued in a much more tense atmosphere.
Marina’s parents, Sergey Mikhailovich and Lyudmila Vasilyevna, lived in a two-room apartment in an old Stalin-era building. The apartment was spacious, with high ceilings, but it had long needed cosmetic repairs. The wallpaper had peeled off in places, the paint on the radiators had flaked, and the linoleum was worn through in holes. Their pensions were enough only for the essentials — food, medicine, and utility bills. Renovation was out of the question.
Marina could not calmly watch the way her parents lived. Sergey Mikhailovich had worked all his life as an engineer at a factory, and Lyudmila Vasilyevna had been a schoolteacher. They were honest, decent people who never took more than they needed, never got into debt, and were satisfied with little. When their daughter was studying at university, her parents saved on everything in order to help her.
“Dad, Mom,” Marina said during one of her visits, “let’s renovate your place. I’ve saved up some money.”
“Marinka, why would you spend so much?” Lyudmila Vasilyevna worried. “Everything is fine here as it is.”
“Mom, your wallpaper is falling off,” her daughter pointed out. “It’s uncomfortable to live like this.”
“We’re used to it,” Sergey Mikhailovich waved it off. “Don’t spend money on us. Buy something for yourself instead.”
But Marina was determined. She made a renovation plan, calculated the expenses, and chose the materials. Besides the wallpaper, she planned to buy a new sofa to replace the old, collapsing one, and to replace the kitchen set. The total came to about one hundred and twenty thousand rubles — money she had been saving for six months specifically for this purpose.
Pavel found out about his wife’s plans and reacted painfully.
“Marina,” her husband said one evening as they sat in the kitchen, “I feel uncomfortable. You’re spending so much money on your parents, but you don’t even ask about my mother.”
“What about your mother?” Marina asked in surprise.
“She has plenty of problems too!” Pavel said indignantly. “She has loans hanging over her, she doesn’t have enough money. And you act as if you don’t even notice her.”
Marina sighed. Tamara Ivanovna, her mother-in-law, really did not live in the best conditions. But the reasons were completely different from Marina’s parents’ situation. The fifty-seven-year-old woman worked as a saleswoman in a grocery store and earned twenty-eight thousand rubles. But she somehow managed to spend far more.
Tamara Ivanovna loved shopping. She constantly bought new clothes, expensive cosmetics, and decorations for her home. She could not walk past sales, discounts, or special offers. As a result, she had taken out loans totaling half a million rubles and now could barely handle the payments. Her apartment was perfectly decent, but her money flowed into completely different expenses.
“Pavel,” Marina explained patiently, “my parents need repairs because they don’t have money even for the most basic things. Your mother spends money on entertainment and gets into debt.”
“So what?” her husband did not understand. “She’s family too.”
“She is family,” Marina agreed, “but I’m not going to sponsor her wastefulness.”
“Wastefulness?” Pavel was outraged. “A woman has the right to live beautifully!”
“She does,” his wife nodded, “but with her own money.”
The conversation ended with nothing resolved. Pavel went to his friends, slamming the door, while Marina continued planning the renovation for her parents.
The next day, her husband tried to approach the issue from another angle.
“Marish,” Pavel said at breakfast, “maybe we could help my mom at least partially? Not with all the loans, just part of them.”
“How much is ‘partially’?” Marina asked.
“Well… fifty thousand. To cover the most urgent debts.”
“Pavel, fifty thousand is almost a month of my work,” his wife reminded him. “Why should I give away that kind of money?”
“Because she’s my mother!” her husband flared up.
“She’s your mother, so you help her yourself,” Marina replied calmly. “Find a job and sponsor her as much as you want.”
“Oh, and finding a job is easy right now, is it?” Pavel said sarcastically.
“Easier than sitting at home and discussing who I supposedly owe money to,” Marina cut him off.
After that conversation, the atmosphere in the house became tense. Pavel walked around gloomy, answered questions in monosyllables, and demonstrated his offense with his entire appearance. Meanwhile, Marina bought the materials for the renovation and hired workers.
“You help your parents, but you don’t want to help my mom? That’s not right. Mom will be offended,” Pavel exploded when he saw his wife unloading rolls of expensive wallpaper from the car. “Look at the expensive wallpaper you’re buying them! You want to pay for the renovation! And you’ve forgotten about my family!”
Marina’s patience finally overflowed. For four months she had supported her husband, endured his complaints, and listened to his accusations. And now he was trying to dictate how she should spend the money she earned.
“I could cover my parents’ walls with gold if I wanted — it’s my money!” the woman burst out. “And your mother can sort out her own debts. Help her yourself!”
Pavel froze. He had never heard such harsh words from his wife before. He was used to Marina being quiet, agreeable, always ready to compromise. But now she had given such a firm refusal.
“Marina, what are you saying?” her husband asked, confused. “We’re family.”
“We are family,” his wife agreed, “but family doesn’t mean I have to pay for other people’s mistakes.”
“Other people’s?” Pavel was offended. “She’s my mother!”
“Your mother is an adult,” Marina reminded him. “Let her answer for her own actions.”
That evening, Tamara Ivanovna called. Apparently, Pavel had complained to his mother about his wife’s cruelty.
“Marinochka,” her mother-in-law began in a sweet voice, “Pavlik told me about your conversation. This doesn’t look good somehow.”
“What exactly doesn’t look good?” Marina asked.
“Well, how can it be? You help your parents, but you don’t care about your husband’s relatives,” Tamara Ivanovna said reproachfully. “We’re all one family now. Money should be shared.”
“Tamara Ivanovna,” Marina explained patiently, “my parents live in an apartment that is falling apart because they only have enough money for food. And you spend money on shopping and get yourself into debt.”
“So what?” The mother-in-law was surprised. “I have the right to buy myself beautiful things.”
“You do,” Marina agreed, “but not at my expense.”
“At your expense?” Tamara Ivanovna was outraged. “I didn’t ask you for money!”
“You haven’t yet,” Marina clarified. “But Pavel is asking.”
“Pavlik is my son. He cares about me,” the mother-in-law said, touched. “And you’re stopping him from doing that.”
“I’m not stopping him,” Marina objected. “Let him care for you with his own money.”
“What is your own money?” Tamara Ivanovna did not understand. “You’re family. Everything should be shared.”
“Decisions should be shared,” Marina explained. “But I’m the only one earning the money.”
“So what?” the mother-in-law shrugged. “It’s hard for a man to find work right now.”
“Hard, but possible,” Marina replied. “If he wants to.”
After her conversation with Tamara Ivanovna, Marina became fully convinced that her decision was right. Her mother-in-law believed that her daughter-in-law was obligated to support not only her husband, but his mother as well. At the same time, no one intended to limit their appetites or look for additional income.
Pavel continued pressuring his wife, demanding fairness.
“Marina,” her husband said, “you don’t understand. Mom is desperate. Collectors are calling and threatening her. And you don’t even want to help.”
“I do want to,” Marina unexpectedly agreed.
“Really?” Pavel brightened.
“Really. But I’ll help properly.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll find your mother a financial consultant,” his wife explained. “Let her learn how to plan a budget. And a psychologist too, so she can deal with her shopping addiction.”
“Are you mocking me?” her husband frowned.
“No,” Marina answered seriously. “That’s real help. Not throwing money into a bottomless pit.”
“Mom needs money, not consultants!” Pavel protested.
“Mom needs to learn how to live within her means,” his wife objected. “Otherwise, any money will be wasted.”
The renovation at Marina’s parents’ apartment began a week later. The workers removed the old wallpaper, leveled the walls, and put up the new wallpaper. The German wallpaper really did turn out to be high quality — thick, with a beautiful texture, pleasant to the touch. The apartment was transformed before their eyes.
“Marinochka,” Lyudmila Vasilyevna said, stroking the new wallpaper in the living room with her hand, “it’s become so beautiful. Thank you, my daughter.”
“Mom, this is only the beginning,” her daughter smiled. “We’ll also put in a new sofa and update the kitchen.”
“Why spend so much?” Sergey Mikhailovich worried. “We’re already grateful.”
“Dad, Mom, you spent your whole lives on me,” Marina reminded them. “Now it’s my turn to take care of you.”
Her parents exchanged glances, and tears shone in both their eyes. They were not used to such care; they had always been satisfied with little.
One day Pavel came to look at the renovation and saw how his mother-in-law and father-in-law’s apartment had changed. The wallpaper really did look expensive and beautiful, the new sofa was comfortable and stylish, and the kitchen set was modern and functional.
“It’s beautiful,” her husband admitted. “But expensive.”
“It is expensive,” Marina agreed. “But my parents deserve it.”
“And what, my mom doesn’t deserve it?” Pavel was offended.
“Your mom deserves what she can afford,” his wife replied. “On her own salary.”
“Marina, you’re cruel,” her husband shook his head.
“Fair,” his wife corrected him.
At home, Pavel started another scandal.
“You spent one hundred and twenty thousand!” her husband shouted. “And you won’t even give my mom ten!”
“I won’t,” Marina calmly confirmed.
“Why?!”
“Because that wouldn’t be help. It would be enabling,” his wife explained. “Your mother will get used to someone paying for her mistakes.”
“What mistakes?” Pavel did not understand.
“Living beyond your means is a mistake,” Marina explained.
“And living beautifully is every person’s right!” her husband objected.
“With money they earned,” his wife added.
Pavel paced around the apartment, waving his arms and shouting accusations of selfishness and greed. Marina sat on the sofa and calmly watched his tantrum.
“Are you finished?” his wife asked when her husband ran out of steam.
“What?” Pavel was confused.
“Are you finished with your tantrum?” Marina clarified.
“I wasn’t having a tantrum,” her husband said, offended. “I was trying to get through to you.”
“You did,” his wife nodded. “Now listen to me.”
Marina stood up and walked over to her husband.
“Pavel,” the woman said, looking him straight in the eyes, “I will no longer allow you to dictate who I should help with money.”
“I’m not dictating…”
“You are,” Marina interrupted. “And you’re demanding that I sponsor your mother.”
“She’s family!” Pavel exclaimed.
“She’s family, but she is not my responsibility,” his wife said clearly. “If you want to save your mother from debt, find a job and help her yourself.”
“It’s easy to say — find a job,” her husband grumbled.
“And sitting at home making demands of your wife is not difficult?” Marina asked sarcastically.
Pavel fell silent, realizing he had no arguments.
“Marina,” her husband tried to change tactics, “think about it yourself. Is this fair? Your parents get the best, and mine gets nothing.”
“It is fair,” his wife replied firmly. “My parents never asked for anything extra. Your mother created her own problems.”
“But you can understand a person,” Pavel tried to reason with her. “A woman wants to be beautiful.”
“You can understand it,” Marina agreed, “but you don’t have to pay for it.”
“Then what should you pay for?” her husband did not understand.
“For what is truly necessary,” his wife explained. “Food, housing, medical treatment. Not handbags and dresses.”
“You’re cynical,” Pavel shook his head.
“Practical,” Marina corrected him. “And I no longer intend to discuss this topic.”
The next day, Tamara Ivanovna came in person. The mother-in-law looked agitated and held some papers in her hands.
“Marinochka,” Tamara Ivanovna began, “I need to talk to you.”
“I’m listening,” Marina nodded.
“This is serious,” the mother-in-law continued, waving the papers. “The bank has filed a lawsuit. If I don’t pay by the end of the month, they’ll seize my property.”
“How much do you need?” Marina asked.
“One hundred and fifty thousand,” Tamara Ivanovna blurted out.
“That’s a lot,” Marina noted.
“Marinochka, you can help!” her mother-in-law pleaded. “You have money!”
“I do,” Marina agreed.
“Well then!” Tamara Ivanovna rejoiced. “That means you’ll help?”
“No,” Marina answered calmly.
Her mother-in-law’s face changed.
“What do you mean, no?” Tamara Ivanovna could not believe it.
“Very simple,” Marina explained. “I won’t pay for your mistakes.”
“What mistakes?” the mother-in-law was indignant. “I didn’t take out loans for vodka!”
“What did you take them out for?” Marina asked.
“For a beautiful life!” Tamara Ivanovna declared proudly. “I have the right!”
“You do,” Marina agreed. “But you must pay for it yourself.”
“What is family for, then?” the mother-in-law could not understand.
“Family is for support in a difficult moment,” Marina explained. “Not for paying for someone else’s whims.”
“Whims?” Tamara Ivanovna was insulted. “I wasn’t buying whims!”
“Then what?”
“Beautiful clothes, cosmetics, decorations for the home,” the mother-in-law listed. “How can one live without that?”
“The way my parents live,” Marina replied. “Within their means.”
“Your parents are beggars!” Tamara Ivanovna snapped.
“My parents are honest people,” Marina cut her off. “And that is why I help them.”
“So I’m dishonest, then?” the mother-in-law was offended.
“You are wasteful,” Marina said clearly. “And you shift responsibility onto others.”
Tamara Ivanovna left with nothing, slamming the door and promising to complain to her son. But Pavel already knew his wife’s position and did not try to persuade her.
“Marina,” her husband said that evening, “Mom cried.”
“Let her cry,” his wife replied indifferently. “Maybe it will finally sink in.”
“What will sink in?”
“That adults are responsible for their own actions.”
“You’re heartless,” Pavel shook his head.
“Reasonable,” Marina corrected him.
A month later, part of Tamara Ivanovna’s property really was seized — expensive furniture and appliances bought on credit. The woman sobbed, complained about injustice, and begged her son to stand up for her. But Marina was unwavering.
“Let this be a lesson to her,” his wife said. “Maybe she will finally learn to live within her means.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Pavel asked.
“Then she will keep paying for her foolishness,” Marina replied. “But not at my expense.”
Pavel realized that pressure was useless. His wife had taken a clear position and was not going to back down. He had to look for ways to help his mother himself — first he started working part-time as a courier, then found a job as a manager in a small company. The salary was modest, but at least he now had his own money.
“See?” Marina remarked when her husband received his first paycheck. “When you wanted to, you found a job.”
“I had to,” Pavel muttered.
“It’s good that you had to,” his wife nodded. “A man should work.”
“And you still don’t want to help Mom?” her husband asked.
“I do,” Marina unexpectedly agreed.
“Really?” Pavel was surprised.
“Really. But I’ll help in my own way.”
The next day, Marina booked Tamara Ivanovna an appointment with a financial consultant and a psychologist who worked with addictions. She paid for several sessions as a birthday gift for her mother-in-law.
“This is the best gift I could give,” Marina explained to her husband. “If she learns to plan her budget, she won’t have problems.”
“And if she doesn’t learn?” Pavel asked.
“Then that’s her choice,” his wife replied.
That evening, Marina sat in her parents’ renovated apartment and drank tea with Lyudmila Vasilyevna. The room looked completely different — bright, cozy, modern. Her parents were glowing with happiness and could not stop admiring their new surroundings.
“Thank you, my daughter,” her mother repeated for the hundredth time. “It’s so nice now.”
“Mom, you deserved it,” Marina smiled. “You spent your whole lives on others. It’s time to think about yourselves too.”
“And Pavel?” Lyudmila Vasilyevna asked cautiously. “Is he angry?”
“At first he was,” her daughter admitted. “But now he’s gone to work. Maybe it was for the best. He realized that a man should earn money himself instead of relying on his wife.”
Marina finished her tea and looked out the window. The sun was setting, coloring the sky in pink tones. For the first time in a long while, the woman felt complete calm. The money had been spent correctly, her parents were happy, and her husband was working. Most importantly, no one was dictating how she should manage the money she earned anymore. And that feeling of freedom was worth more than any compromise.