When Sophie fell for her husband James, his earning power didn’t feature on his list of attractions. The couple met as graduates, working in a bookshop. It was a first job for both of them and they bonded over a love of literature. ‘He was thoughtful, intelligent, caring,’ says Sophie. ‘He wasn’t ambitious or driven, but I’d grown up expecting to look after myself. Which of us would end up with the better salary seemed irrelevant.’