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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be pissed off about this?

203 replies

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 11:23

TL:DR DH and I have same salary but get content comments about how lucky I am as there's an assumption that DH is the one paying/funding everything!

My DH and I both have decent jobs and decent salaries however I am sick to death about people commenting about our life in relation to how well DH must be doing so we can afford XYZ and how lucky I am 🤣
Both of our families are very working class and have similar, traditional values about gender roles I suppose.
DH and I never disclose what we earn or discuss work in general with them but they both know that we both work full time.
My job is quite vague. Think Chandler Bing 'Transponster' 🤣, so none of them actually know exactly what I do for work.
I think it pisses me off because nothing has ever come easy and I've literally worked my backside off to achieve where I am in my career, as has DH and it's constantly reduced to 'lucky you, DH must be doing well'. People find it easier to believe that DH must be earning almost double his currently salary, rather than considering that we're fairly equal.

For example we've just purchased a new home. I actually earn slightly more than DH and have far more disposable income, and poured everything that I had spare into our previous mortgage to reduce the term, meaning we were in a good position to buy this one. All I have heard since, is how DH must be skint, buying that big house for us!
Nail in the coffin was at the family bbq where my uncle asked to see pics of the work that we have done (total reno. Listed building) to which he said loudly 'wow, incredible. Looks like you've been at DH's credit card again' 🙈

I don't know what I want here! I'm never going to correct them, neither of us are. Nor would I ever reply with 'hey, I pay my share' as it sounds petty and defensive and I know it's not meant to be hurtful but EFF me! Woman can also have successful careers too 🤣

OP posts:
godmum56 · 28/07/2024 13:43

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:18

Bahaahahaha love this.

oddly I am actually a nice person. Workmen who are here for longer than an hour or so get the offer of drinks or a drink station set up and they get the good biscuits.

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:20

@Shinyandnew1 yeah exactly. Between extended family and a new stream on builders every week, it's grinding my gears 🤣

OP posts:
startstopengine · 28/07/2024 13:18

God I've been the breadwinner for the whole of our married life and I feel your pain.

New car "oh did DH get a pay rise"
Holiday "nice of DH to treat you"

It's just ingrained in most older generations that the man earns more, go sub 50s and most of the women I know do earn equal or more than their DHs so I do think it will be a comment of the past.

I call it out every single time, I'm not sitting there like a good girl keeping my mouth shut to places their stupid opinions!!

Talk up get a voice and say actually we "both" have equal standing jobs"

It's not about money as much as your standing that being dismissed.

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:18

godmum56 · 28/07/2024 13:10

dealing with the tradies is easy. "Either discuss it with me or fuck off." I actually used this many many years ago with a double glazing firm in the middle of the installation and the bloke decided that perhaps he had better discuss it with me.

I am also not sure why you care about what a bunch of neanderthals think, related or not.

Edited

Bahaahahaha love this.

OP posts:
Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:16

NorthernGirlie · 28/07/2024 13:12

Me and dh work for the same (massive) company. Same ish job -.I earn £5k more than him because of an extra responsibility point

Ds was recently taught at school that "men always earn more than women" and it took me some time to convince him otherwise!

Bloody hell! And here's me defending them because of their generation!

OP posts:
NorthernGirlie · 28/07/2024 13:12

Me and dh work for the same (massive) company. Same ish job -.I earn £5k more than him because of an extra responsibility point

Ds was recently taught at school that "men always earn more than women" and it took me some time to convince him otherwise!

godmum56 · 28/07/2024 13:10

dealing with the tradies is easy. "Either discuss it with me or fuck off." I actually used this many many years ago with a double glazing firm in the middle of the installation and the bloke decided that perhaps he had better discuss it with me.

I am also not sure why you care about what a bunch of neanderthals think, related or not.

Shinyandnew1 · 28/07/2024 13:10

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:03

Very large family. Lots of stuff going on with us at the mo, so it's common knowledge that we're renovating etc. currently on the whole 'bbq' multiple 'wedding, 'christening' 'communion' circuit due to the time of year.
Also my short temper about it is probably fuelled by comments from multiple different trades, doing work and making comments about needing to speak to DH about x

Right, so it’s lots of different people who you haven’t previously told. I would just keep saying it. It clearly is really pissing you off!

StonwEd · 28/07/2024 13:09

It’s only happened to me once but I called it out straight away. I was going on a trip with my son and a bloke said to dh “blimey that must be costing you a bit, how long before she’s on the phone for the credit card” 🤯🤯🤯 thankfully dh stepped straight in as well to put him right. Neither of us are high earners 😅 but we do prioritise travel.
Weird thing is this mates wife is hugely successful, they both earn a fortune so not sure why he even thought that dh would be funding the trip 🫠

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:08

thursdaymurderclub · 28/07/2024 13:04

but why get pissed off about it? unless its every conversation you have everytime you meet with these people.. then i can understand it beign draining.

you've already said that these people have very old fashioned views towards gendar roles.. you know what they are like.. don't bring up the topic of money simple, its not worth getting all upset about.

we get it, you are equal.. move on

Currently on the whole summer bbq, wedding, anniversary, circuit due to the time of year. Mega large family. Very publicly renovating a listed property, in a fairly prominent position, where lots of family live/have connections. Think it's just compounding.

OP posts:
3CustardCreams · 28/07/2024 13:06

Once someone told me I was a lucky girl because of the Louis Vuitton bag I was carrying when out shopping with my dad- nodding at him and heavily implying it had been bought for me. I was a 26 year old adult at the time earning a good wage and had bought it myself for my birthday.
People will make assumptions because they’re jealous. Ignore the haters.

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:06

@letsjustdothis exactly. I'm usually not shy about coming forwards but can't bare questions about finances and the spiral it goes down. I am a 'rise above it' what do they know, girl usually but I think that it's compounded with the house at the mo and irritating me!

OP posts:
KissMyArt · 28/07/2024 13:05

That's a hell of a lot of people commenting on something so bland.

If it annoys you, just tell them you earn more.

If it annoys your husband, tell him to tell them he earns more.

Mountain/molehill really. None of them care as much as you 🤷‍♂️

thursdaymurderclub · 28/07/2024 13:04

but why get pissed off about it? unless its every conversation you have everytime you meet with these people.. then i can understand it beign draining.

you've already said that these people have very old fashioned views towards gendar roles.. you know what they are like.. don't bring up the topic of money simple, its not worth getting all upset about.

we get it, you are equal.. move on

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:03

Shinyandnew1 · 28/07/2024 12:54

It's all we, us etc and he's even said that I earn more.

So are they 1. forgetting and asking again or 2. different members of your family asking?

Very large family. Lots of stuff going on with us at the mo, so it's common knowledge that we're renovating etc. currently on the whole 'bbq' multiple 'wedding, 'christening' 'communion' circuit due to the time of year.
Also my short temper about it is probably fuelled by comments from multiple different trades, doing work and making comments about needing to speak to DH about x

OP posts:
whichfan · 28/07/2024 13:02

! I'm never going to correct them, neither of us are.

So your DH doesn’t correct them
just laps it up

Cherrysoup · 28/07/2024 13:02

I absolutely would not tolerate that. I’d have to say something about earning the same, we pay 50% each etc. I’d find it too annoying to let it slide! I’ve earned slightly more than my DH for years, I have no idea if anyone thinks or salaries are very different, they’re obviously aware that we’ve worked in the jobs for long enough to be at the top of the scales.

whichfan · 28/07/2024 13:01

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:00

@whichfan also didn't say the same person said it more than once did I?

you did not.

Multiple family members. poor thing

MauveLeader · 28/07/2024 13:01

It should say 6x 12 hr shifts extra

whichfan · 28/07/2024 13:01

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heavens

you sound lovely 😆

channel some of that feistiness at the next family event 💪

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:00

whichfan · 28/07/2024 12:51

Being from an “older generation “ doesn’t mean that you’re told once, twice, multiple times that it’s not the case and yet you still crack on, despite the person ie you, clearly not happy is thoughtless and rude

@whichfan also didn't say the same person said it more than once did I?

OP posts:
whichfan · 28/07/2024 13:00

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 11:56

It's easy isn't it after the event had passed, to think that you should have comeback with some quick witted, cutting remark 🤣

I also find similar scenarios weird. 'Actually he's the lucky one, I'm a catch too....' 🤣

it if this happens so often at family events

think of some witty comeback before the next family event

Newbie8918 · 28/07/2024 13:00

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MauveLeader · 28/07/2024 12:59

I totally get your frustration. A few years ago now my daughter was was going to uni. I arranged a night out at a bistro for my mum an Dad and sister and girls boyfriends. As we sat down I said I needed the loo and handed my card at the bar and asked that everything went on MY card. We ate the meal and my Dad asked for the bill and was told all 16 meals has been paid for. I am a nurse and worked 6 overtime 1w hr night shifts to pay for this treat. EVERYONE thanked my husband who hadn't done anything. He was very gracious and replied you are welcome.

Watchbue · 28/07/2024 12:56

We had the same situation and maybe people assumed he earned the money when he was alive, but I wasn't aware if it.

Since he died people are definitely assuming I'm living on "his" money, which is absolutely not the case and I find it really offensive.

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