A woman married nine years says she’s always been the saver while her husband is the spender. After his serious car accident left him unable to work, her income kept them afloat during a four-year wait for disability, draining their savings and piling up debt.

When his back pay finally arrived, she asked him to clear his car loan and save the rest—but he blew it all. She started rebuilding a small cushion from her salary to tackle debts, and he knew that was the plan.

Then she found $700 missing; he’d secretly “lent” it to his parents. After a blowup, it happened again—another $1,000 gone to them without a word. She told him she’ll cover only household essentials, cut off financial involvement with his family, and plans to move her money to a new account he can’t access. She wonders if that’s going too far.

Big takeaway: protect stability with clear money boundaries. Talk openly about income, debts, and goals; build a budget together; set shared targets (house, holidays, education); and review finances regularly so both partners stay informed and accountable.