It may be necessary in the lean times to make some sacrifices but this should not be the norm. Here are some reasons why this type of selflessness can actually harm your marriage.

It hurts your self-esteem. You are in effect, telling yourself that you are not as important as the other members in your household.

Your husband does not want a self-sacrificial wife. He wants you to be his queen and it is important that you treat herself as one.

It can affect your husband’s self-worth. If he sees that you are not buying the things you want for yourself, he feels inadequate as a provider.

It can cause you to feel resentful and angry when you keep making sacrifices and no one seems to notice or care. In fact if you complain to your husband about it- he may get defensive and angry.

While I am not saying you should go out and buy yourself a diamond bracelet when your children don’t have lunch money for school, it is important that you take care of yourself and do things that make you feel good about yourself- things like getting your hair done, wearing stylish clothes or using quality make-up.

Frequent self-denial does not increase your worth as a wife, instead it has the opposite effect. By taking care of yourself, you will increase your confidence and it will be easier for you to meet the needs of your family.