I’M AN ITEM ON OUR FAMILY SPREADSHEET

LAURA PARNHAM, 26, has a daughter aged three and lives in Cambridgeshire, with partner James, 27, a stock controller. She was a multilingual customer services adviser for an international online company before becoming a full-time mum. She says:

ANYTHING to do with money, including budgeting, really stresses me out so James and I have an arrangement whereby he pays me an allowance, which enables me to be a full-time mummy and have cash for a few luxuries, without having to worry about it running out.

At first, when I told friends about our arrangement, they were a bit critical of James — they thought it sounded like he was being controlling.

But I explained it was a joint decision to do things this way because of my stress and anxiety around money, even though it’s usually the parent who stays at home who deals with that sort of stuff. After all the bills, including a credit card repayment, have been covered, James transfers £150 a month to my account and keeps the same amount for himself, to spend on whatever we fancy.

James likes to keep track of the finances and make sure we don’t get into debt so he’s equally happy doing things this way. Out of my ‘mummy salary’ I buy make-up, as well as craft materials and artists’ paint, as I’m quite creative. Every three months I pay £35 to have both mine and my daughter’s hair cut.

James keeps track of all our outgoings and standing orders on a spreadsheet.

If there’s more than £150 each left over monthly, he will transfer extra cash and I’ll buy things for the flat.

We’re planning another baby — and a wedding — and I’m also building up a business, selling pet paintings and ornaments I craft from wood.

But for now I’m happy to be another item on the spreadsheet.