QUESTIONS HW

Background

Steve and Mia have been married for 10 years and have two children. Before they had kids, both Steve and Mia worked full time. Now they have a five-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. Steve works part-time, to help take care of the kids, as Mia’s salary is high enough for them to manage. The following conversations are just an example of the many they’ve had about money.

Power Isn’t Always Pretty

Conversation Number 1 (At a party, in front of their friends)

Mia: We had the best vacation in Mexico. That’s the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.

Steve: Are you kidding me? You were so worried about spending too much money. I can’t believe that you just said that.

Mia: I wasn’t worrying about money; I just didn’t want you to overdo it. It’s not like we have tons of cash just lying around.

Steve: I just wish you were willing to spend more money when we’re on vacation. That’s when you’re supposed to have fun! I didn’t want to worry about the cost of every little thing.

Mia: Well, you don’t have to worry about it; I’m the one who pays the bills.

Steve: $5,000 is not that much to spend on a vacation.

Mia: Easy for you to say. It would take you a year to save up that much money, and you’re willing to blow it in a week.

Steve: That’s not true. I work plenty. Besides, I thought you wanted me to be around more with the kids. I can’t make a ton of money and do that, too.

Conversation Number 2 (Alone at their home)

Mia: I see you bought Caitlin more video games today.

Steve: Yeah, they’re brand new—they just came out today.

Mia: I wish you’d check with me before you buy that much stuff. Our cash flow is kind of low right now.

Steve: It’s not that much. Besides, you’re getting that extra check this week. I figured that would cover it.

Mia: Well, we should have at least discussed it. These are the kind of decisions that we should make together.

Steve: You mean I need to get your permission before I do anything. I feel like I’m asking for an allowance or something. I should be able to make financial decisions on my own.

Mia: You can, but we at least need to talk about it beforehand. Instead, you buy a bunch of stuff and you don’t even see if we have enough in our checking account.

Steve: Well, I can’t stand not having any say over how the money gets spent. Just because you make more than I do doesn’t mean that I don’t get to decide once in a while.

Mia: And I don’t like having all the pressure to make all that money. It’s not like it’s the greatest job in the world. I wouldn’t keep it except we (mostly you) spend too much, so I stay.

Steve: I could start working more.

Mia: No, we’re not doing that.

Steve: You can’t have it both ways?

Mia: What both ways? All I am is a paycheck to you, and you’re just the person who spends it.