Victoria had always thought of herself as a kind, responsive woman. When she married Konstantin three years ago, her relationship with his mother, Lyudmila Georgievna, was quite friendly. Her mother-in-law often dropped by, helped with housework, and Victoria genuinely appreciated the support.
The first time she was asked to hand over her bank card for shopping, it was her husband who asked.
“Vic, Mom’s going to the store—give her your card so she can buy bread and milk,” Konstantin said as he was getting ready for work. “I don’t have any cash, and the ATM’s on the way.”
Without a second thought, Victoria took the card out of her wallet and wrote the PIN on a slip of paper.
“Lyudmila Georgievna, here you go, please. Just don’t forget to bring the receipt.”
Her mother-in-law smiled and carefully slipped the card into her handbag.
“Of course, dear. Thank you for trusting me.”
Back then, it seemed like ordinary family give-and-take. Lyudmila really did buy only the essentials and returned the card with the receipt. Victoria didn’t even check the amount—she trusted her completely.
Gradually, these requests became frequent. Sometimes her mother-in-law went to the pharmacy to get medicine for everyone, sometimes to the store for groceries before guests came, sometimes Konstantin asked her to hand the card to his mother when he didn’t have time to stop by the supermarket. Victoria got used to it and didn’t see anything wrong with it. Lyudmila always brought receipts and always bought exactly what they’d agreed on.
One day in September, Konstantin came home particularly pleased.
“Vic, Mom found a great deal on vacuums! Our old one is completely dead, and this one’s on sale. Will you give her your card? She’s already headed to the mall.”
“How much is it?” Victoria asked.
“Well, the usual price for a good vacuum. But it’s German—quality stuff.”
Victoria nodded and handed over the card. They really had needed a new vacuum for a while, and Lyudmila understood appliances as well as the salespeople.
That evening, when her mother-in-law returned with the purchase, Victoria was surprised by the size of the box.
“Lyudmila Georgievna, it’s huge! So how much did it come to?”
“Twenty-eight thousand, dear. But it has a five-year warranty, and you don’t need bags—the container is washable.”
Victoria’s eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. The amount seemed hefty, but she didn’t argue. The vacuum really did look solid, and Lyudmila was so delighted with her lucky find.
A week later the story repeated itself with a microwave.
“Can you imagine, Vika,” Konstantin said over dinner, “Mom popped into the same store for batteries, and they were having an appliance sale! A microwave exactly like the one we wanted, at half price!”
“We wanted a microwave?” Victoria asked.
“Well, yeah, you said it’d be convenient for reheating…”
Victoria tried to recall the conversation, but nothing came to mind. Still, a microwave would indeed be useful.
“All right. But next time let’s discuss it first and then buy.”
“Of course, of course,” her husband agreed hastily.
October brought new surprises. Lyudmila bought a set of bed linens—expensive, natural silk.
“Sweetheart,” her mother-in-law explained, unfolding the purchase, “I saw the exact same one on a TV show! They said silk is great for your skin and hair. And the color—just gorgeous!”
Victoria examined the beige linens with a golden sheen. Beautiful, no doubt, but the price—seventeen thousand rubles—seemed excessive.
“Maybe you should have checked with us first, Lyudmila Georgievna?”
“Oh, Vika, don’t worry! It’s for you and Kostya. I wanted to do something nice.”
Konstantin backed his mother up:
“Come on, Vic. Mom went to the trouble. It really is beautiful.”
In November, Lyudmila brought a massage certificate.
“Vikulya, you work so hard! This massage is a miracle. My friend Zoya Ivanovna went—she said she felt reborn!”
“How much did it cost?” Victoria asked cautiously.
“Fifteen thousand for the course. But just imagine how good it is for your health!”
Victoria took the certificate in silence. A massage wouldn’t hurt, but again—a major expense without discussion.
When in December Lyudmila announced she’d bought orthopedic pillows for twelve thousand, Victoria decided to check her bank statements.
What she saw made her sit down. More than a hundred thousand rubles had left the account in the last three months. The vacuum, microwave, bed linens, massage, pillows, and many other purchases Victoria hadn’t even known about: a set of frying pans, a humidifier, an electric kettle, cosmetics, groceries in quantities far exceeding what one family needed.
Konstantin came home around eight and immediately noticed his wife’s dark expression.
“What happened?”
Victoria silently handed him the statements.
“Konstantin, please explain to me what this is.”
Her husband ran his eyes down the lines and coughed awkwardly.
“Well… Mom gets carried away sometimes. But it’s all for the house, for us.”
“For us?” Victoria stood and paced the kitchen. “Konstantin, no one told me I was sponsoring your mother’s shopping! An eighteen-thousand-ruble cookware set—is that for us? Face cream for five thousand—is that for us too?”
“Vic, don’t get heated. Mom didn’t mean any harm. She’s just used to a certain standard of living…”
“On my dime?” Victoria’s voice grew quieter but firmer. “Konstantin, this is my salary as a design engineer. I work ten hours a day to earn this money. And your mother spends it as if it were her own!”
Konstantin lowered his eyes.
“I’ll talk to her.”
“No,” Victoria shook her head. “I’ll talk to her myself. And tomorrow I’m going to the bank to change the PIN.”
“Why so drastic? We can just come to an agreement…”
“An agreement?” Victoria unfolded the statement and jabbed a line with her finger. “Right here your mother bought French perfume for eight thousand. As a present—to herself. Is that ‘for us’ too?”
Konstantin had no answer.
The next day, Victoria left work for an hour and went to the bank. Changing the PIN took a few minutes, but she felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted.
“The new PIN will be active,” the bank employee said. “And I recommend you don’t share it with anyone.”
“I certainly won’t,” Victoria replied firmly.
At home, Konstantin asked nervously:
“Well, did you change it?”
“I did. And no one but me is going to use the card anymore.”
“What if Mom needs something urgently?”
“Then she can use her own money or ask you.”
Konstantin wanted to object, but one look at his wife’s face told him the conversation was over.
Two days passed. Victoria had already forgotten about the PIN change when the doorbell rang on Saturday morning. On the threshold stood a red-faced, blazing-eyed Lyudmila.
“Where’s Konstantin?” she demanded sharply, not even greeting her.
“Good morning, Lyudmila Georgievna. Konstantin’s in the shower. Come in.”
Lyudmila stepped into the entryway but didn’t take off her coat.
“I’ll wait here.”
Victoria shrugged and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. A few minutes later, Konstantin appeared, still not fully awake.
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
Lyudmila drew herself up to her full height and loudly—so that Victoria could hear from the kitchen—declared:
“Your wife changed the PIN on the card, and now I can’t buy a wardrobe!”
Victoria froze at the stove, ladle in hand. So her mother-in-law had already tried to use the card.
“What do you mean, a wardrobe?” Konstantin asked, bewildered.
“An ordinary wardrobe! For clothes! At the furniture showroom!” Lyudmila’s voice was rising. “I picked out a wonderful set, went to the register, and the card wouldn’t go through! The salespeople looked at me like I was a thief!”
Victoria stepped out of the kitchen and stopped in the doorway.
“Lyudmila Georgievna, why did you decide you could buy a wardrobe with my money?”
Her mother-in-law swung around to her.
“Because we’re one family! Because Konstantin needs that wardrobe for his things! And because I’ve always helped you!”
“Helped?” Victoria frowned and tilted her head, trying to digest what she’d heard. “Lyudmila Georgievna, in three months you spent more of my money than I spend on myself in half a year.”
“So what? At least now you have the best of everything! Appliances, cookware, bed linens!”
“Which I didn’t choose and didn’t need in that quantity.”
Lyudmila threw up her hands.
“Didn’t need them? You use all of it every day! You should be thanking me!”
Konstantin tried to intervene:
“Mom, maybe let’s not… Vika’s right, you should have asked first…”
“Oh, so now you’re on her side?” Lyudmila turned on her son. “I raised you for twenty-eight years, spared nothing, and now you listen to your wife more than to me!”
Victoria calmly went to the living room, opened the writing desk, and pulled out a folder with bank documents. Returning to the entryway, she set it on the console.
“Here are all the statements for the last three months, Lyudmila. You can see how many of your purchases are on them. Those are not my expenses.”
Her mother-in-law didn’t even glance at the folder.
“Why are you counting pennies! The main thing is your home is overflowing now!”
“At my expense,” Victoria repeated evenly. “And without my consent.”
“Consent?” Lyudmila snorted. “Did I ask for consent when I made you soup? When I washed the floors? When I ironed Konstantin’s shirts?”
Victoria nodded slowly.
“Let’s tally it up, Lyudmila Georgievna. You came about once a week. You cooked when you felt like it. You cleaned when you were in the mood. But you spent my money every day.”
“Vikulya, don’t be so stingy,” Lyudmila shifted to a pleading tone. “What does it cost you? You have a good job, a decent salary…”
“Which I earn myself. And I’ll be the one to decide how it’s spent.”
Konstantin shifted awkwardly between his wife and mother.
“Maybe we can find a compromise? Mom, what if you give us a heads-up before big purchases?”
“What purchases?” Victoria looked at her husband. “Konstantin, there won’t be any more purchases. I’m the only one who knows the PIN.”
Lyudmila flung up her hands and headed for the door.
“Fine! Wonderful! Live on your own then! Without my help! We’ll see how you manage!”
She slammed the door so hard the glass in the china cabinet rattled. Konstantin gave his wife an apologetic look.
“Vic, maybe you’re being too harsh? Mom is just used to helping…”
“Helping?” Victoria took the statements and opened to the first page. “Sit down, Konstantin. I’ll show you how your mother ‘helped.’”
She spread the statements out on the table like a fan, pointing to lines of expenses.
“Here’s the vacuum for twenty-eight thousand. Here’s the microwave for fifteen. Bed linens—seventeen thousand. Massage—fifteen. Pillows—twelve. And those are just the big purchases.”
Konstantin stared silently at the numbers, and Victoria went on:
“And here are the little things. A spice set for three thousand that nobody uses. Scented candles for fifteen hundred—I’m allergic to those fragrances. Hand cream for two thousand, even though I already have some. Shampoo for twelve hundred—not for my hair type.”
Lyudmila stood in the doorway listening, growing paler by the minute. Victoria raised her eyes and looked at her steadily.
“Please explain, Lyudmila, why you thought you had the right to spend my money on your whims.”
Her mother-in-law froze, blinking, unable to find an answer. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came.
“I… I didn’t know…” Lyudmila finally squeezed out.
“Didn’t know what?” Victoria asked calmly. “That the money isn’t yours? Or that you need to ask permission?”
“Kostya gave me the card…”
“Kostya gave you the card for bread and milk. Once. And then you decided you had a right to my account permanently.”
Konstantin flushed and mumbled:
“I didn’t think it was that serious… You know, a few things for the house…”
“A few?” Victoria flipped through the pages. “Konstantin, in three months your mother spent a hundred and twenty-three thousand rubles. That’s two of my salaries.”
Her husband flinched at the total.
“One hundred and twenty-three? But I thought…”
“You didn’t think,” Victoria cut him off. “You just turned a blind eye to the fact that your mother was living off me.”
Lyudmila tried to go on the offensive:
“So what? You earn money! And besides, I raised Kostya for years without counting the cost!”
“Lyudmila,” Victoria stood, folding her arms, “he’s your son. Raising your children is a parent’s duty, not a service you can demand payment for later.”
“How dare you talk like that!” her mother-in-law flared. “Ungrateful! And who helped you when you were sick last year?”
“Helped?” Victoria gave a short laugh. “You brought me one jar of chicken broth and left after half an hour because you ‘had things to do.’ But the next day you bought a humidifier for eight thousand—on my card.”
Konstantin squirmed in his chair.
“Mom, maybe Vika’s right… You should have warned us before buying things…”
“Warned?” Lyudmila turned on her son. “I’m your mother! I don’t have to report to anyone!”
“It’s my money,” Victoria said quietly but clearly, “and it will no longer be spent without my knowledge.”
Her mother-in-law threw up her hands and wailed:
“You traitor! I counted on your support! We’re one family! And you’re putting up walls with money!”
“With ‘some money’?” Victoria’s eyebrows rose. “Lyudmila, this is the result of my work. I get up at seven, spend an hour commuting, and work until evening to earn it. And you spend it on perfume and massages.”
“But I wasn’t buying for myself! For the family!”
“For the family?” Victoria opened to the October expenses. “Foundation for four thousand rubles—is that for the family? It’s not even my shade. Vitamins for strengthening nails—those are for the family too? I don’t take those.”
Her mother-in-law tried to justify herself:
“Well… maybe I got the shade wrong… And vitamins are healthy, you should try them…”
“Lyudmila,” Victoria stood and gestured toward the door, “enough of this scene. In my home, I make the rules.”
“In your home?” Lyudmila squealed. “What about Kostya? It’s his home too!”
“Konstantin,” Victoria turned to her husband, “do you agree that your mother has the right to spend my money without asking?”
He lowered his head and kept silent.
“I’m waiting for an answer,” Victoria pressed.
“I… don’t know…” Konstantin muttered.
“Then I’ll help you decide,” Victoria said, picking up the November statement. “Your mother bought a gift set of cosmetics for seven thousand. Who do you think she gave it to?”
Konstantin looked up.
“Probably some friend…”
“Herself,” Victoria said curtly. “She bought herself a present—with my money.”
Lyudmila couldn’t hold back:
“So what! I have the right to treat myself!”
“At my expense?” Victoria stacked the statements. “If you want to treat yourself, use your pension.”
“My pension?” her mother-in-law gasped, scandalized. “You can’t buy much on a pension!”
“Exactly. That’s why you decided to live on my account.”
Konstantin tried to rise from his chair.
“Girls, maybe let’s not fight? Let’s find a compromise…”
“What compromise?” Victoria looked at her husband. “Konstantin, your mother stole a hundred and twenty-three thousand rubles from me. That’s a criminal offense.”
“Stole?” Lyudmila screamed. “How dare you! You gave me the card yourself!”
“For buying bread,” Victoria reminded her. “And you decided that gave you the right to all my money.”
“We’re relatives! We should help each other!”
“Help—yes. Not rob.”
Lyudmila darted to her son:
“Kostya! You’re not going to let your wife talk to me like that!”
Konstantin sighed heavily.
“Mom, what can I say? Vika’s right. You really did spend a lot…”
“Oh, I see!” Lyudmila clutched at her heart. “She’s turned my own son against me! A snake in the grass!”
Calmly, Victoria gathered the statements into the folder.
“Call me whatever you like, Lyudmila. But you won’t be managing my money anymore.”
“And if Kostya needs something?” her mother-in-law tried one last loophole.
“Konstantin is a grown man. He can earn it himself or ask me. Ask properly—explain what for and why.”
“Ask?” Lyudmila snorted. “Ask his own wife for permission?”
“His own wife, whose money he’s claiming,” Victoria clarified.
Realizing she had no arguments left, her mother-in-law switched to shouting:
“Stingy! Miser! You’ll lose a good husband because of your penny-pinching!”
“If a husband is good, he won’t steal from his wife,” Victoria replied, then added, looking at Konstantin, “If you think it’s normal to steal from your wife—pack your things.”
Konstantin flinched as if slapped.
“Vic, are you serious?”
“Absolutely. Choose: either you’re on my side, or you go to your mother and live at her expense.”
“I didn’t know it was this serious…”
“Now you do. What’s your decision?”
Her husband stayed silent, staring at the floor. Lyudmila waited for him to defend her, but he never raised his head.
“Fine, stay with your miser then!” the mother-in-law burst out. “I will never set foot here again!”
She stormed out, slamming the door so hard the stairwell echoed.
Victoria and Konstantin were left alone. The silence stretched.
“I really didn’t think Mom was spending that much,” he said at last.
“Didn’t think, or didn’t want to?”
Konstantin looked up.
“Maybe didn’t want to. I thought it wasn’t a big deal… She bought something for the house…”
“For the house?” Victoria pulled another statement from the folder. “Your mother bought clothes. On my card. For herself. Here’s a dress for nine thousand, shoes for seven, a handbag for twelve.”
He examined the lines carefully.
“I… didn’t know about the clothes.”
“But you knew about the rest?”
“The big purchases—yes. But I figured since you trusted her with the card…”
“I trusted her with the card for groceries. Once.”
Konstantin stood silently and went to the bedroom. Victoria heard him open the wardrobe and pull out a duffel bag.
Half an hour later he came back with the bag in his hand.
“I’ll stay with a friend for a while. Think things over.”
“What is there to think over?” Victoria asked.
“How to live from here on. I won’t side with Mom—she really crossed the line. But I understand you too.”
“Konstantin, it’s simple: will you defend your mother when she steals my money, or will you stand with me?”
He was silent for a long time, then said quietly:
“Probably, for the first time in twenty-eight years, I’ll tell my mother ‘no.’”
“Probably?”
“I will,” he repeated more firmly. “Vika, you’re right. Mom abused your trust. That’s wrong.”
Victoria nodded.
“Then stay. And don’t give the card to anyone again.”
Konstantin set the bag on the floor.
“What do we do about Mom? She’s offended.”
“Let her be offended. When she realizes the money’s gone, she’ll stop.”
And that’s exactly what happened. Lyudmila held out for three weeks, then called Konstantin.
“Son, maybe we should make peace? I realize I was wrong…”
But Victoria was adamant: no cards, no major purchases without discussion. Lyudmila agreed, but she started visiting much less often.
Victoria safeguarded her finances and showed everyone that trust cannot be replaced by using someone else’s account for personal whims. Family relationships became more honest, if a bit cooler. But Victoria preferred honesty to showy kinship at her own expense.
