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AIBU?

Rubbish proposal

253 replies

Fidgetthefluffer · 07/08/2020 03:47

My DP proposed the other night and it was completely unexpected. To put it in context we have had a fucking horrendous year. Hes in court with his ex on an ongoing basis. We argue constantly about everything involved and his lack of boundaries with her have caused us massive problems. 2 weeks ago, we had yet another massive argument as he wants us to move towards joint finances. I lost my temper and pointed out amongst other things that he had never even taken me out for dinner despite earning over 3 times more than me.<br /> For a long time, he was in debt as he pays his ex so much money, is rubbish at budgeting and so was living on credit cards. They were both terrible with money and got themselves in loads of debt which he took on at the end of the marriage. The only reason he / they did not go under is he earns a massive wage and it kept them afloat. I however am a saver and am very different. I used to treat him but soon realised he preferred much more expensive things then I was prepared to pay for. With a LOT of my help he has now got out of dept but as he now has so much more disposable income he spends thousands every month on random stuff. After a while it has started to grate that we are living these very different lives where he buys stuff constantly – He can afford it but doesn’t save – and I save obsessively so have some capital behind me but no nice “stuff.” It worries me for the future. I think at our age and position in life ( i.e. we are both very behind!) we need to be saving as much as possible regardless of how much we earn. Day to day its not an issue as we do not have joint finances and we spend our time together going hiking / inexpensive things that we both enjoy. <br /> Anyway, I was very fed up after conversations and randomly got an email from my favourite jewellery designer with 20% off. Totally out of character I decided to buy myself a ring for approx. 100 quid. It was beautiful. I loved it and to be honest I was fed up of never doing anything nice for myself. It was also one if not the cheapest in the whole collection. I love all his work but can’t justify spending too much.<br /> <br /> That night I mentioned it to my partner who went white and told me he had bought me the same ring. (He got emails as well as bought me a birthday ring there once.) I was really touched by how thoughtful he had been and that my remark has gone home. A bit of me was upset as we have talked about getting married and 5 years in, I’m starting to wonder what is going on. He has frequently told me he wanted to get married but nothing ever happened, and I realised that if he was buying me this ring then he was unlikely to be buying an engagement ring any time soon. I need to point out that this ring is as far away from an engagement ring as it is possible to be. The designer does make engagement rings as well but are obviously more money. They are stunning! I admit that if we ever got engaged, I was hoping to get rings from there. To be in perspective it is still less then 1/10 of his monthly after-tax income. <br /> <br /> Both rings arrived and it was very funny. I did not open mine as I thought it was so lovely of him to have bought it and wanted to wear his. He was out last night with work and rolled in absolutely hammered. I had spent the evening kid wrestling and was just ready for bed. After telling me about his evening he said oh let’s check out the rings and ripped open the box. He then just asked me to marry him… it was unexpected to say the least. Sitting in my pyjamas in the kitchen. He could barely stand up. He was lovely and said lovely things, but it felt so completely random and un thought through. He has been out having loads of fun drinking cocktails all night and Id been sat at home. To say we were on different wavelengths does not really cover it! I said yes as I do want to marry him. I was completely shocked by it all. He then fell asleep and I was awake thinking how the whole thing had felt so ridiculously un-special. I couldn’t imagine going to work the next day and suddenly being engaged. Calling my family... Honestly, I know its childish but we go hiking, we go to the beach, we climb mountains. Why he couldn’t have waited for something, anything, that could be even a little bit special. A massive issue in our lives is how fucked up he is by his ex-wife. I can’t help thinking about all the amazing holidays etc he took her on and I get a kitchen proposal. It really hurts. Especially the 100 quid ring which was 20% off. If he was a changed man and since paying off his debt, he had stopped spending them it wouldn’t sting so much but he spends 1000s every month on his hobbies. He continues to pay for his ex-wife’s expenses (separate from child support. A LOT more then 100 quid Wink ) I dunno, just this once I wanted to feel a bit special. Have some romance.

I know I`m being ridiculous. I lost it a bit the next morning and told him I didn’t want to get engaged like that. I said I was over the moon that he wanted to marry me and I definitely wanted to marry him but I wanted to have some better memories around it and make it special. I also want all the lawyer stuff to be over so that for once its about me and him and not him and his ex. He was understandably confused by it all and upset by my mixed messages. Arg I messed up fairly royally. Give me a talking to mumsnet. I’ve read all the other posts around this. Getting married - Its not a fairly story etc etc. I get all that. I’m def not looking for 20k rings and flash mobs! Just a bit of thought. Maybe a river or something? A scenic hill. Fuck even a glass of wine in the garden! A ring that is a bit more special than one I buy as a treat for myself. Am I being totally unreasonable? Or do I have a bit of a point? I literally don’t know!
I’m rereading my massive essay (sorry!) and am even judging myself. So basically, you are pissed off that he spends money on himself and exwife and you don’t get any. I guess that is a massive part of it! Still would have liked a beach or something

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Am I being unreasonable?

696 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
16%
You are NOT being unreasonable
84%
Bitchinkitchen · 07/08/2020 04:03

OP he's a selfish twat who isn't going to change. Get rid, you deserve better.

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Watdafark · 07/08/2020 04:06

Could be worse.

My fella informed me "You might as well have this", and chucked my ring to me across my mother's kitchen while he was cooking our Christmas meal.

It was three sizes too big.

Confused

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liaun · 07/08/2020 04:07

Look, if you were happy and he was right for you, you would've been happy with this proposal, you may have even be charmed by it. He's obviously a dick, you know the answer here

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minny80 · 07/08/2020 04:23

I think you are far too aware of the things that don't sound right in the relationship. He is unlikely to chance. Do you want to spend the rest of your life with him?

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Durgasarrow · 07/08/2020 04:26

This man will not make you happy. You know this is all wrong. You aren't crazy. Get out of this relationship before he drains you of everything.

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Notwiththeseknees · 07/08/2020 04:31

I can't believe you said yes! Why would you want to marry this guy? He sounds awful and it will be you in court with him in a few years if you do marry him Sad

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zoemum2006 · 07/08/2020 04:32

The rubbish proposal is the least of your worries.

You have some serious relationship issues to tackle before you even think about marriage.

You don't sound like you're on the same page as each other at all in ways that will plague your marriage.

I have similar attitudes to money/ life as you and I would come to despise your finance.

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Aquamarine1029 · 07/08/2020 04:36

Forget the ring and the shit proposal because they are irrelevant. You shouldn't marry this man, period. Your relationship and all of the other issues involved make this a recipe for disaster. I don't understand why you're even still with him, frankly.

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PaulinePetrovaPosey · 07/08/2020 04:40

You argue constantly and have totally different approaches to money?

The proposal isn't the issue, the relationship is.

You'd be mad to marry him.

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Boomerwang · 07/08/2020 04:46

You are heading for a big fall. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who can envisage your life in five years time if you stick with this guy. Loads of people have been there, done that and are wiser for it. He's living his life for himself and thinks little of yours. Things like that just don't change. It will be you in court if you continue. I wish you all the best.

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hammie46i · 07/08/2020 04:48

I think your feelings about the proposal are extension and a symptom of what is going wrong in the relationship.

I wouldn't want to be with a spendthrift (I'm a saver too.) Nor would I want to be with someone thoughtless.

I don't think you're ready for marriage and that you should tell him this and talk about the reasons why.

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Travelledtheworld · 07/08/2020 04:49

Don't marry him. Get out of the relationship, it's not going to work.

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jessstan2 · 07/08/2020 04:50

How does he spend thousands every month on random things?

You'd be completely mad to marry this man. Get rid quick.

(What is 'kid wrestling'?)

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SenorPeabodyEsq · 07/08/2020 04:50

The proposal is not the problem.

You'll find lots of people who had cosy informal proposals and felt they were perfect. The reason yours isn't is because you already have so much awful baggage and discontent with the relationship.

"Massive problems" "Argue constantly" "Worries me for the future". These are NOT phrases that bode well for a happy marriage.

It just sounds like he's not someone who'll make you happy long term. He's already putting himself first in so many ways.

Please disentangle yourself now while you can.

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GoingtotheWinchester · 07/08/2020 04:54

As all other PPs have said, his proposal is the least of your worries..

Why are you excited about marrying this guy? He sounds like all kinds of wrong - have more self respect. You deserve better than this.

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whywhywhy6 · 07/08/2020 04:54

This relationship isn’t right for you. It’s not about the ring or proposal.

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Iloveyoutothefridgeandback · 07/08/2020 04:54

He sounds completely wrong for you. You deserve so much better than this.

I would definitely forget the marriage idea for now. If you're still considering a future with him then I would wait until everything with his ex is well and truly settled.

Don't share finances with him.

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SteelyPanther · 07/08/2020 06:04

I didn’t get any kind of proposal, it was just decided in bed after sex that we would get married.
No getting down on one knee, no being lovely and saying lovely things.
I absolutely do not think you should get married. There are far too many warning flags in what you have written.
You don’t say whether you rent or own a house, have children together etc but I really think you should not entangled yourself with this man as one day you’re going to end it.

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tara66 · 07/08/2020 06:06

No romance really is there?

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Cincoperros · 07/08/2020 06:12

One part of me thinks its quite sweet that you chose the same ring... He obviously knows your taste. Some women hate the rings their partners pick... At least you like yours even if its not "wow"
The joint finances conversation was maybe a hint towards a step up in seriousness... And juuust maybe (in his logic) he picked a cheapish ring because he didn't want to be lavish or silly with money. Was he trying to impress you with his frugality?! (I agree this was probably THE worst time to try that tactic on, it would have been better to do that with his expensive hobby and splash out a bit on a ring!!)
All that said though I think you're within your rights to be anoyed the conversation happened when he was drunk, without even going into the other issues around finances and his ex.
I dont think you're being unreasonable.
You would probably have felt good about a slightly crappy proposal with an amazing suprise ring, or a very sweet lovely proposal with this ring or another ok nothing special one, but the fact that both elements were a bit crap.... Well its understandable you're disapointed so don't be hard on yourself.

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Fidgetthefluffer · 07/08/2020 06:15

Thanks everyone. I really expected different answers ie life is not a fairy tale. Its not about the money spent or the proposal its about the life together. I thought that he had managed to choose the same ring as me would override the amount it cost? We have had a bloody tough time with his ex and it has overshadowed a lot of our relationship. Its been very hard to move forward when they have had so many issues. Again Ive read lots of other peoples posts and agree with the general Mumsnet consensus that the issue is never the ex wife but the DP inability to deal with these issues well. Doesnt help when you are in the middle of it! I guess I am just hoping for a new beginning.. With him out of debt. Boundaries with his ex.. Seemed like a really shit start to it though. I just hoped after such a rough time he would be also be hoping for a amazing day. In his defense he said all the right wonderful things that you would hope for. Hes not a total prat! I wish I had just shut it down there and then rather than saying yes but he was so earnest ( drunk Grin)

OP posts:
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Fidgetthefluffer · 07/08/2020 06:19

Ahh Cinocoperros posted same time as me. Yes thats the feeling i was getting from it all. I do think its lovely he chose the same ring as me. I do absolutely love it. I love all this guys jewelry so a non brainer for DP to choose one of his rings... I just wish it looked a bit more engagement ringy

OP posts:
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chatterbugmegastar · 07/08/2020 06:22

Forget the ring and the shit proposal because they are irrelevant. You shouldn't marry this man, period. Your relationship and all of the other issues involved make this a recipe for disaster. I don't understand why you're even still with him, frankly.

This with bloody bells on. Give your head a wobble, OP and run

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chatterbugmegastar · 07/08/2020 06:23

The ring and engagement are irrelevant

He is wrong for you - leave him

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goatley · 07/08/2020 06:24

I don't think you should marry this man.

Marry someone who will improve you. He won't.

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