FRIENDS THINK IT’S NICE THAT I GET ‘LUXURY MONEY’

SARAH WILLIAMS, 37, is expecting her third child and lives in East london with husband michael, 33, a train driver. Sarah is a business development manager but receives £450 a month from michael during her maternity leave. She says:

My parents run a business together, but my mum doesn’t have a bank account and has always had to ask Dad for money if she wants to buy something or have her hair done.

It works for them, but I always vowed I would never have to ask my husband for handouts. It was Michael’s suggestion that he pay me a ‘mummy salary’ when I was on maternity leave with our two children, and I will receive it again after the third is born in april.

It’s my so- called luxuries money, to spend as I see fit. the household spending all comes out of his account.

We have a school mums’ night out once a month, at a local family-run restaurant, and I’d hate to have to check with

Michael whether there was enough in the joint account for me to be able to afford the £40 or £50 I usually spend on food and drinks.

Likewise, we’ll sometimes go for coffee or breakfast after dropping our children off at school, and I can buy myself a pastry without feeling guilty.

I will have two babies under two when my next one is born, so I’ll be taking my full maternity leave entitlement and will, therefore, once again be reliant on my ‘mummy salary’ — while saving us a fortune in childcare costs.

some of my friends who don’t work have to ask their husbands for money before a night out, though one of them has a similar arrangement to ours.

they all think it’s nice that Michael gives me ‘ l uxury money’, with no questions asked.

I can be a bit frivolous at times, buying make-up, perfume and dresses I don’t really need. But at least I never have to worry about these purchases showing up on our joint bank statement.