A wife has found a unique way to manage household chores by billing her husband for tasks he neglects, claiming it maintains harmony at home.
Jess Wright, 32, initiated this practice four years ago when her spouse, DJ, 33, repeatedly forgot to tidy up and left dirty clothes around their home. Frustration led to her creating invoices for the chores he missed.
Initially surprised by the invoices, DJ, who works in real estate investment, now appreciates the method as it encourages him to maintain his share of the household responsibilities.
The couple, parents to three children, divide chores evenly, reviewing their duties on a weekly basis.
Jess assigns values to DJ’s missed chores each month, with minor annoyances like leaving toothpaste out costing $5. More significant tasks, such as neglecting laundry, range from $10 to $20, while major oversights, like failing to switch car seats, can result in charges between $25 to $50, depending on Jess’s mood.
Depending on the month, DJ’s invoice can range from $30 to $600.
Jess, from Atlanta, explains her unusual approach: “I’m being compensated for it [picking up the chore]. There is less resentment.”
Surprisingly, DJ is comfortable with this arrangement. He shares, “Ultimately, we wanted to keep the peace. It’s unorthodox. I like the system. She’s not yelling. I just pay it and that’s it.”
The adage “happy wife, happy life” seems to apply here.
Jess and DJ, who reside in Georgia, have been together for eight years and married for seven. Reflecting on their early days, Jess recalls, “When I first met him he told me he was neat. I didn’t find out that he wasn’t until we were stationed out in Texas together.”
“I kept having to have these conversations, why have you left your glass out or your shirt out? He’s very forgetful,” she adds.
As their family expanded, so did the chores, leading Jess to feel even more frustrated. That’s when she decided to keep a tally and unexpectedly sent DJ a bill.
“I was putting in more energy to talk to him about it. Once you start adding kids there is a lot more to talk about than these petty conversations,” Jess explains.
“I decided to pull on his strengths — money motivation,” she adds.
DJ recalls the initial bill: “I was a bit taken aback at first. It definitely does work, it’s not that I never do the chores. I never do it on purpose.”
He admits that his untidiness is a weak point, a trait that sometimes leads to financial consequences.
To monitor DJ’s progress, Jess maintains a tally in an Excel spreadsheet, and the couple uses a calendar to track their chores.
She emphasizes their commitment to equality, saying: “There is not a huge expectation on him to complete it all and vice versa.”
Instead of arguing over tasks left undone, Jess notes everything and adjusts the invoice accordingly.
She highlights her preference for order: “It’s big for me for everything to have a home; that’s a small annoyance fee.”
DJ pays the amount from his personal account to Jess, who uses the funds for personal indulgences or savings.
She mentions: “Sometimes I use it for a TJ.Maxx trip. I treat myself.”
Perhaps a service charge could be added to the bills as well?