Should he really know how much you earn?

Rosette and Tonny’s relationship almost came to a halt when she refused to reveal to him how much she was going to earn at her new job. She declined to tell him because he had also kept details of his salary a secret. They spent weeks without talking despite the fact that they shared a bed. It took the intervention of family for them to sort out their issues. However, that was the genesis of a new chapter of problems in their marriage. Rosette later regretted why she had disclosed her salary to him. She earned slightly more than him but she was also paying fees for three of her siblings. Tonny suggested that she buys food and other necessities for home use while he foots all the other bills, school fees inclusive. They both agreed and all went well. A year later, their relationship turned sour when Tonny demanded that Rosette pays fees for one of the kids since she earns more. He didn’t care about the fact that she had siblings to take care of. Many women are having the same issue with their hubbies. At times, it‘s the men that refuse to tell their wives how much they earn so this is a common occurrence that many should be used to. But how about when he demands to know how much she earns. Is it worth telling him? Why does he want to know? Should I give him the wrong figures? Such questions might linger in your mind when he asks. “At first it was a little hard for my husband and I to open up about how much each one of us earns. It was after we had built the trust that we spoke openly our salary and how best we should spend and invest it,” says Annabel Musanganire, a mother of three. According to Musanganire, knowing how much each one earns depends on the kind of partner one has. It’s always better for a couple to build the trust first. If the two of you don’t trust each other or keep secrets from each other then its going to be hard to tell each other how much each of you earns. “My salary is none of his business as I don’t care what he earns either. A woman’s salary should be kept to herself. The man should take care of all the home requirements and the woman’s money should cater for her needs,” says Hellena Keza, a 23 year old University student. The choice of whether he should or shouldn’t know about your salary is entirely yours to make. However you should bear in mind the consequences of him knowing. Are they positive or negative? Will they make or break your marriage? Then only you can decide!!! m.kaitesi@yahoo.com