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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you be happy with this? Birthday present

128 replies

Tiredandflabby1 · 08/07/2024 21:45

Say your live-in partner plans a surprise for your birthday, which is also your gift.
This turns out to be a meal at a lovely restaurant which you rarely eat at as it's quite expensive.
We enjoy the meal, we only ordered a starter to share, a main each and a diet coke each, no dessert.

When the bill came, he asked me if I could pay £10 towards it as it was a little expensive.
I did, but he was the one who planned it and also said it was my present. Not sure what to think?

OP posts:
TheRealSlimShandy · 08/07/2024 21:49

Obviously I don’t know your financial situation- but honestly - to ask for a tennner sounds ridiculous. I could more understand being caught out by pricing and saying “can you lend me £50” than just £10.

DeadbeatYoda · 08/07/2024 21:49

It depends on your financial relationship. I'd never ask someone to contribute to a meal I had arranged as a birthday gift. No way. Dud they ask because they were taken by surprise by the dust and genuinely didn't have enough available or were they charging you because they didn't want to spend that much?

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 08/07/2024 21:49

Sounds like a control thing.

He needs to know he can make you pay, even though it’s a present.