I COULDN'T AFFORD MY FRIENDS
WOMAN'S OWN|April 01, 2024
When Tej Patel, 41, went through some major life changes, she experienced a friendship wealth gap
FRANCES LEATE
I COULDN'T AFFORD MY FRIENDS

Picking up the pace in my designer heels, as I walked to my banking and investment job in the City, I checked my phone. It was summer 2018 and I was keen to see where my friend had booked for our meal on Saturday night. ‘Nobu, nice choice,’ I replied back, already looking forward to our fortnightly dinner date.

My job in the City was stressful and with a five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son at home, I really enjoyed time with my friends on the weekends, when my husband would take the reins and I could have some fun.

I had a couple of really close friendships and we regularly went on dinner dates to lavish restaurants, nights out to fancy bars and booked girls’ holidays to places like Dubai, Cyprus and Marbella. I earned a very good salary and my husband, who was in the same field, also did well, so I rarely thought about the cost of everything.

EVERYTHING CHANGED

My friends and I all had similar careers and while I knew how privileged we all were to be able to afford our fancy cars, nice homes and enviable lifestyles, if I was being honest, I probably took it all for granted.

Bu hikaye WOMAN'S OWN dergisinin April 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye WOMAN'S OWN dergisinin April 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

WOMAN'S OWN DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS
WOMAN'S OWN

FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS

Filling family meals to save you time and money

time-read
3 dak  |
January 06, 2025
ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?
WOMAN'S OWN

ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?

Keen to know if the workouts she sees online can actually make her fitter, Rachel Tompkins, 44, gives them a try

time-read
4 dak  |
January 06, 2025
GO OUT OF SEASON
WOMAN'S OWN

GO OUT OF SEASON

While some European cities seem to go into hibernation over winter, others just get better in the colder months

time-read
2 dak  |
January 06, 2025
MY LIFE IN MUSIC
WOMAN'S OWN

MY LIFE IN MUSIC

Monica Cafferky, 55, reveals how certain tunes bring back special memories

time-read
2 dak  |
January 06, 2025
THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
WOMAN'S OWN

THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

After trying diets without success, Breanne Concannon, 31, was left feeling hopeless

time-read
5 dak  |
January 06, 2025
MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG
WOMAN'S OWN

MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG

For Trish Hughes, 44, the thrills of being married to a man 20 years younger is worth all the judgement

time-read
4 dak  |
January 06, 2025
'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'
WOMAN'S OWN

'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'

Lying in the hospital bed, my husband Michael had tears of happiness in his eyes as he showed me a photo on his phone. 'Here she is,' he said proudly. 'This is our beautiful baby girl.'I stared at the photo and shook my head. 'No, that's not my baby,' I said. 'There must be a mistake.'It was August 2010 and I'd not long before had an emergency caesarean. I'd not had a chance to see Winnie when she arrived as she'd been whisked away for tests because she was nearly two months premature.

time-read
4 dak  |
January 06, 2025
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
WOMAN'S OWN

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Hayley, 45, has her son to thank for crucial evidence

time-read
5 dak  |
January 06, 2025
'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'
WOMAN'S OWN

'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'

Loose Women's Linda Robson on the daytime show, dating and her next career move

time-read
3 dak  |
January 06, 2025
Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE
WOMAN'S OWN

Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE

We take a look at the power couple's posh pads

time-read
2 dak  |
January 06, 2025