WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR HUBBY’S MISTAKES?

When I met my husband four years ago he was an affluent businessman who promised me a secure future. I’ve always wanted to marry a rich man as my family was very poor. I believe a husband should provide for his wife so she can focus on looking lovely and being the perfect hostess.

A year ago my husband made serious financial errors that resulted in him losing his fortune. Now we have to sell our house and our lifestyle has to change completely. We’ve had to move into a dingy flat and our friends have started to ignore us.

I didn’t sign up for this and I hate him for bringing us down. I want to get a divorce but can’t afford to. My husband told me to look for employment, which has only made me hate him more. He owes me a good lifestyle and now he can’t deliver! Marlene, email Marriage is a partnership, not a relationship in which one partner has to give everything while the other gets a free ride. Of course you should find employment because you both need to work together to get out of this difficult financial situation.

Many businesses are going through a difficult time due to the state of the economy, so it may not just be bad judgment on your husband’s part – and even if it is, people make mistakes.

Marriage is about handling both the good and the bad times. Now is the time to support your husband, encourage him and do what you can to supplement your joint income. It’s not helpful to point fingers and act like a child who’s lost a favourite toy.

Many businesspeople have lost a fortune and then built up a business again – but this takes plenty of effort and perseverance. You need to decide if you can support your husband in this – if not, you should get divorced. Contact any law clinic at a university to assist you.