THE HIGH EARNER (WITH A RICH HUBBY)

TAX accountant Vesna Hargreaves, 31, lives in a threebedroom house in South-West London, with her husband Daniel, 34, who works in the City. Vesna earns £60,000 a year. She says: LAST week I went to the theatre with Lucy, who had got £10 tickets for a new play, and afterwards we went for a couple of drinks.

Normally I wouldn’t drink cheap Prosecco, but I wanted to have fun with my friend on a budget she could afford, so it was well worth the headache I had the next day.

I try to remember that not everyone can afford what I can. I’m friends with them because they’re kind, interesting women who are great company, not because of what they earn.

I’d hate money to become a big issue between us, but that’s not to say I’ m not aware of the odd squabble that can break out.

My husband earns more than me, so together we have a very comfortable lifestyle. When I think of Latoya raising two children on her own, I feel very lucky — and also proud of what I’ve achieved at my age.

I love spending money on my home and holidays. We bought our house in 2007 and have completely re-decorated it. We’ve had a large extension built, with a bespoke designer kitchen.

Daniel and I are just back from Iceland, and we recently visited Japan, where we stayed i n an amazing five- star hotel. We don’t scrimp on holidays.

Holidaying with the girls is very different. We’ll share rooms in a cheaper hotel and stick to a budget when it comes to meals. I’d rather compromise than exclude anyone or cause an argument.

I like to spoil my friends on special occasions, and I can afford to. But I stopped after a family member told me that my expensive gifts were making them feel uncomfortable, because they were worried they’d have to return the favour.

I don’t know whether Latoya, Lucy and Kaidi envy my lifestyle, but i t’s not perfect. My bank balance is healthy, but I’m not smug about that.

I’ve worked hard for my money, and I make sacrifices the others don’t. I have a difficult job which some people might regard as dull, and I work longer hours than everyone else, which means I have less time with my husband and friends.

Money isn’t everything, and while the girls might think I ‘have it all’, there are times when I envy Lucy’s passion for her work, or Latoya’s time at home with her sons.