FOR families who practice it, the importance of housekeeping allowance need not be over-emphasised. However, considering the daily increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the aim of a monthly housekeeping allowance may no longer meet up with its intent and purpose.
As a result of the hyperinflation, the majority of housewives would prefer stipends daily as determined by the market situation. One good thing which made married women happy and recognized as the managers of their homes in the good old days was the monthly housekeeping allowance given to them by their husbands. It used to be a core marital responsibility on the part of the breadwinner of the house.
Irrespective of his financial standing, the man as the breadwinner of the home carries this greater burden of the family’s responsibility by ensuring that the family receives adequate welfare packages and protection. He does not share such responsibility with his wife or engage in unnecessary arguments with her over such financial issues.
What the man needs is comfort and care and that is the reason why most of them preferred their wives living in the home as complete housewives.
Ideally, in a family where love, passion, affection, respect for one another and proper understanding are the guiding principles as in re-enacting their marriage vows, nothing stops the husband from seeking the opinion of the wife in a joint discussion as his better half as to what should be ideal and given to her to run the welfare of the family on monthly basis.
Then, most husbands never bothered about their wife’s educational status quo to compel them to work for financial contributions to the home. What the average man needed was to let her be readily available at home when the children and husband needed her for her motherly services.
When the beginning of every new month tapers towards the end, most housewives beam with smiles waiting for their husbands to wet their palms with the mandatory housekeep allowance. When such monthly upkeep comes uninterrupted, a housewife with wisdom would tactfully manage it to meet the income or expenditure profile of the home and make sure she does not exceed what is given her. At times, too, she manages, to the extent of reserving some amount to solve exigencies before the inception of another new month.
If the woman manages well, there is assurance of peace and understanding in the home, while the man breathes in an air of satisfaction usually enjoyed by fulfilled men.
A model and articulate housewife who has no financial contributory role to play need not be taught how to apply wisdom in managing her home.
At a recent event which brought so many housewives together and the issue of house keep allowance and how often it was given to them, was raised, virtually all the women responded negatively saying it obtains only in a few homes.
Expressing their views, they said it was our parents who enjoyed such privilege from their husbands. Then when a man is not a salary earner to dole out some amount as allowance, he must be a big-time farmer who at the period of every harvest season apportions a specific share of his farm produce to the wife to manage for the welfare of the family. These farm produce would serve as the allowance given to her. Housekeeping allowance disappeared with our community lifestyle.
Today, no housewife sits back at home cross-legged waiting for a monthly stipend. Most husbands have even made it a standing order that their wives financially contribute equally towards the welfare of the family. From the experience gathered, coupled with the increasing influence of Western culture on the life of the average African family, which has occasioned a very expensive and higher standard of living in the face of a harsh economy, you as the wife must contribute financially and otherwise, to win your husband’s regard and love. No husband is even ready to marry a woman who is not educated since acquiring a certificate affords you the opportunity of employment or paves the way for you to learn a vocation that would earn you a living. In retrospect, marriages in the good old days enjoyed enduring legacies unlike in this jet age when divorce cases crop up just a few months after tying the nuptial nut. A careful investigation would further reveal finance and management challenges as the key factors.
Many cases abound when the husband has no job although the certificate is there. In such an increasing situation in society, today due to global unemployment and economic recession, would a wife expect a housekeeping allowance from the husband? Most housewives are now the breadwinners of their homes, constantly struggling under stress day and night to make ends meet.
You discover that with hard times staring every segment of society in the face, only a few women enjoy such opportunities in their marriages. Marriage entails endurance in all ramifications. If you are not privileged as a housewife to receive a monthly allowance from your husband, do not sit idle. Be creative and evolve money-making ventures to move the home forward.
The truth is that rather than sitting cross-legged all hands must be on deck to move the family forward.
