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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to step back from my husband’s hobby event after all this?

134 replies

CitrusWhite · 20/11/2025 20:48

DH recently became chairman of his hobby group, which means he now has to organise the annual fundraising event. So far it has put us nearly £1,500 out of pocket. I gave him money from my annual bonus for a room deposit of £500 and allowed him to use family money, so about £1,000 has come from me personally.

This is his hobby and, frankly, his ego boost as chair. I’ve kept quiet, avoided taking over and being the default organiser like I did with our wedding, kids’ christenings, birthdays etc. and told myself that if he wants the title and the praise, he can do the legwork!

Still, I’ve sourced and paid for a few bits to make it look good because he’d happily settle for the cheapest, most basic options.

One of the decorations is a balloon arrangement we need to make 15 of. We needed to test one last night or tonight so I can make the rest the day before the event. Yesterday I’d done a 13-hour day and had a long drive to and from the office. He invited a friend round to discuss event plans without asking me, even though I needed to be part of it. I sucked it up and got on with it, even though I was exhausted.

Tonight I told him he needed to do a test balloon arrangement so I know what I’m doing when I make the bulk of them. He couldn’t find a suitable pump, kicked off, and said I was being BU and “lazy”. He gave a nasty tirade about how awful I was being and then texted me 10 minutes later asking if I’d “reflected on how awful” I’d been. His argument being that he has had a busy day and looking for a lump is physical whereas last night I just had to talk - as though his physical exhaustion is worse than my mental exhaustion.

All I actually said was that we should’ve done the balloons last night, and that I’ve already put in a lot of effort and money for his hobby event, not mine and we need to do this test run as we wont get anither chance then it will be done last minute and we will bith be stressed. He insists he’s had a long day and it’s apparently fine for me to sit with a glass of wine while he looks for a pump, but he’s completely dismissing the work I’ve put in sourcing favours, raffle prizes and decorations of which I am sorting during wfh days around housework and school pick ups too (his job is FT office).

Right now I’m thinking: leave him to it. Let him run his event however he likes and remove myself from it entirely. In my head that’s the sensible option, but deep down I know it would be a huge blow to him and it would be embarrassing for him if I didn’t attend - the point I am making maybe not worth the fall out.

I also don’t want to show up to an event full of tacky Temu centrepieces and have people assume I played a part in that.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Bestwishes23 · 20/11/2025 22:24

ChaChaChaChanges · 20/11/2025 20:54

WTF? Why do you care so much?

I was wondering the same.

I wouldn't micromanage someone for an event I have no stake in. If he'll be embarrassed by his event being a flop, then he shouldn't be so lazy.

Purplecatshopaholic · 20/11/2025 22:22

WTAF op. You have spent your own money on this? FFS it’s not your circus and not your monkeys, and never has been. Step TF away from the (possible) shit show and (probable) damp squib and let him get on with it! Relax with a glass of wine - you’ll feel better.

ChachaIntheLongrun · 20/11/2025 22:18

Blueskystoday · 20/11/2025 22:11

OP,
You're a complete mug.
He sounds like a nasty narcissist abusing and using his mug partner for personal glory.
You are years with this twat.
He's using joint money for his ego and you get verbally abused.

I'm married 30 years and this type of bullshit only happens on MN.

No one in real life would tolerate it.

Find some self respect and down tools, permanently.

rich people are rich because they are stingy. Wondering how proverbial these 1000 frittered on balloons are

MermaidMummy06 · 20/11/2025 22:18

Why are you even helping? DH has a hobby, all men, mostly older. I made it clear straight up I wasn't joining the wives' supper roster for their weekly meetups, helping with their annual fundraising events or the background grunt work the women did, or even doing everything at home to leave him free to do it all and get the kudos on being so brilliant.

What I've learned is DH is capable, when pushed, of managing things (and likes the status). He's also learned how hard it is trying to juggle so much & no longer comments on how our life admin/cleaning /meals etc is easy & I'm just complaining about nothing.

I'll add that more & more falls to him - people say they'll help, but don't. I'd never allow our own money to be spent, though!!

ChachaIntheLongrun · 20/11/2025 22:16

fancying reading something more solid and sturdier, grittier on this website 🤔

Blueskystoday · 20/11/2025 22:11

OP,
You're a complete mug.
He sounds like a nasty narcissist abusing and using his mug partner for personal glory.
You are years with this twat.
He's using joint money for his ego and you get verbally abused.

I'm married 30 years and this type of bullshit only happens on MN.

No one in real life would tolerate it.

Find some self respect and down tools, permanently.

Obeseandashamed · 20/11/2025 22:09

This is a vanity project for your husband OP. Let him realise it and don’t give any more time/effort to it than you already have because he clearly doesn’t appreciate it. I do understand where you’re coming from with the worry about assumptions that you had a role to play in it.

Whaleandsnail6 · 20/11/2025 22:07

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 20/11/2025 21:13

I also don’t want to show up to an event full of tacky Temu centrepieces and have people assume I played a part in that

Looks like this is the crux of the argument.

It's his event
It's his tonareange and decide the level of tackiness

But you seem to feel its your event
And that you don't want to be judged for it.

Walk away. Let him sink or swim.

Stop trying to organise and just help him if he asks and if the ask is reasonable like we all donwith our partners.

It's NOT your event

This...I can't believe you have spent this micn of your own money as a couple on this event!

You should have let him get on with it his way

Ilovehighlandcows · 20/11/2025 22:05

"DH, I've had time to reflect and you're right, I'm no help at all. I'm so sorry. I will make sure I don't interfere whatsoever, I'll step back completely so you can take all the initiative yourself."

MeridianB · 20/11/2025 22:04

He sounds ghastly. Verbally abusive and completely focused on appearances. The event is the least of it.

FuzzyWolf · 20/11/2025 22:04

I think you should leave him to it but that means actually leaving him to sort out whatever decorations he wants, regardless of the cost and regardless of any embarrassment you feel over it.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 20/11/2025 22:00

YANBU at all but do you realise he’s setting you up to take the blame for anything that goes wrong? He sounds like a pompous twat to me.

MissBattleaxe · 20/11/2025 21:59

I voted YABU because you've already helped much more than you should have. Asking if you have reflected on your behaviour is the kind of thing that would ruin a relationship for me. It's beyond condescending.

Gazelda · 20/11/2025 21:57

Do you have A contact at the charity? Are they promoting the event too? Do they have social media where they can promote it? Are they aware that you’ve spent so much personal money?

your DH is obviously completely out of his comfort zone and burying his head in the sand. You are taking over and he’s taking the easy way out by letting you. He’s behaved like a shit. It’s time you told him.

Franjipanl8r · 20/11/2025 21:57

Everyone’s going to be critical because it’s an easy thing to do online…. But… the money’s spent now so you and DH need to both put your all into it to pull it off. Then reflect on all of this afterwards when some time has passed. You’re completely within your rights to feel unappreciated but have that conversation after the event. Just focus on getting as many people there as possible! Good luck!

BartholemewTheCat · 20/11/2025 21:57

I’ve said YABU because he’s being a dick and you should leave him to it, quite frankly. Who cares if he’s embarrassed? That’s on him.

21ZIGGY · 20/11/2025 21:53

So you've given £1500 to charity? I'd call it a day there

Icecreamisthebest · 20/11/2025 21:47

The whole thing sounds ridiculous. Yes I would walk away from it.

And i would be more concerned that club members will think he is cooking the books to have spent so much money. Make sure you keep all receipts and evidence of payment.

WatchThisGladys · 20/11/2025 21:43

DH recently became chairman of his hobby group, which means he now has to organise the annual fundraising event. So far it has put us nearly £1,500 out of pocket. I gave him money from my annual bonus for a room deposit of £500 and allowed him to use family money, so about £1,000 has come from me personally.*

This is his hobby and, frankly, his ego boost as chair.

Being chairman involves forking out £1,500 a year? No wonder they were happy to let your DH to have the role. That isn't an ego boost, it's a mug's game. Run far, far away from this club.

babyproblems · 20/11/2025 21:40

God no way would I be going!!!!

ThisBeTheVersePL · 20/11/2025 21:39

Sanctimonious twat. (Your H, not you.)

LucyLoo1972 · 20/11/2025 21:39

you are a saint. my husabnd doesnt help with very much even if its not a hobby/ego thing but soemthing really important. it was always all on me and I had a terribel breakdown. im only sorry I didnt insist sooner. please look after yourself and dont take responsibility for him

KirstieKaren · 20/11/2025 21:38

Your first mistake was getting involved at all.
why would you do the balloons?
As for paying for it.. are you a complete mug ?

heartofsunshine · 20/11/2025 21:38

This thread has blown my mind. How on earth did this happen? £1500 is so much money, like a months wage money and it wasn't even a gift aided donation to the Charity! 😑

CryMyEyesViolet · 20/11/2025 21:35

You lost me when you said it was his thing for his ego and so he can sort it out… then you sorted it all for him? And you’ve funded it.

You should’ve donated the £1.5k to the club and left it at that.