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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel short changed and resentful?

216 replies

SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 07:45

So originally we were going to my boyfriend’s parents’ for Christmas dinner. I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately they fell out with his brother and therefore made alternative plans (uninvited everyone) and decided to spend it on their own. I therefore hosted the big day at my house for myself, boyfriend and my ds. Just the 3 of us. My boyfriend and myself do not live together and he earns a substantial amount more money than me. We used to earn the exact same but I have recently started a new job. As it was decided we’d have Christmas dinner at my house, I went out and bought all the food and alcohol to see us through Christmas and to the new year. I didn’t go mad, I spent about £100. My problem is that I have had no offer of money towards this and when I asked, he didn’t say or do anything. As it has bugged me since I raised it again yesterday as he said he didn’t want it to become about a whataboutery. In my mind I only think it’s fair we split the cost of this food as not only did I pay for everything, I’m the one who spent Christmas in the kitchen. Originally had plans not changed, his parents were hosting and I would have taken a token gift with me as I never go anywhere empty handed. My bf knows I am short of money. My ds has just finished college and starting working, his first pay cheque is due in January. On top of this and I don’t want to sound petty, my ds’s gf came round to my house in the evening. I had bought chocolates (as well as other gifts) for everyone and when we each opened our chocolates, we offered them around to each other. I brought my son up to do this. We all did this accept my bf. He took chocolates from each of us, but did not even open his. His chocolates were the most expensive out of them all, and the biggest box.

AIBU to feel disappointed and resentful?

OP posts:
SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:58

Whowhenwhat · 29/12/2025 16:49

The whataboutery comment is actually him projecting what he was doing onto you. He was trying to dodge the issue and distract from it.

Thanks yes, once I learned what it meant I realised this and this has made it worse.

OP posts:
Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 29/12/2025 16:56

SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:40

So I asked him if he thought it was fair that I pay for everything in relation to the Christmas food, and reminded him about the fact I’d lost my job, now earn a lot less money and asked him outright why when his parents had invited us and then cancelled last minute why when I offered to have dinner at my house he didn’t see to offer to contribute. He genuinely just looked at me and had nothing to say. I told him I had an issue with that and that the hot chocolate the other day (he’d referred to as a treat) was a drop in the ocean compared to the expense I’d gone to buying all the Christmas food and that I’d bought the drinks last time. He then said he didn’t want it to become a ‘whataboutery’ so I didn’t say anything further. Hence my post on MN and it’s still annoying me. I feel I want people’s viewpoints before I either raise it again or just monitor things but I have a really bad taste in my mouth.

Edited

so I didn’t say anything further

I don’t understand this. Why? Because he’d said some nonsense to you? ‘I don’t want it to become a whataboutery’ is an utterly nonsensical response. He clearly doesn’t even know what the term means.

He’s being cheap and selfish. There is absolutely no rational response to what you asked, so he’s dodging the questions. Require that he explain himself.

I personally wouldn’t want to be with someone who behaves like this, but I’m not one to whip out the MN LTB. I do, however, think you need to learn to assert yourself and stand your ground considerably more.

SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:56

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 29/12/2025 07:57

Is this part of a bigger issue? Posting about your bf ‘owing’ you £33 seems a bit lame unless he is generally mean. I wouldn’t be counting chocolates but I might have expected him to bring a bottle or two. Did he get you something nice for Christmas?

I’ve posted about it as there have been a few occasions where he hasn’t followed through. I want him to know that I listen to what he says and that he needs to be accountable. We spent about the same amount of money on each other which was more than I could afford but he sent me links to the items he wanted. My ds paid towards one of them to bring the cost down and because he didn’t know what to buy him. We spent the same amount on each other present wise.

OP posts:
Whowhenwhat · 29/12/2025 16:49

SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:20

I had never heard of whataboutery either - I had to google it. When I learned what it meant, I realised it isn’t even a relevant word as he was clearly just not wanting to talk about it.

The whataboutery comment is actually him projecting what he was doing onto you. He was trying to dodge the issue and distract from it.

SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:49

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 29/12/2025 07:57

Is this part of a bigger issue? Posting about your bf ‘owing’ you £33 seems a bit lame unless he is generally mean. I wouldn’t be counting chocolates but I might have expected him to bring a bottle or two. Did he get you something nice for Christmas?

We roughly spent the same amount of money on each other. He had asked what the ‘budget’ was for presents and I’d said to spend what he was happy to spend as obviously I had restricted finances. I hoped he’d realise that without having to ask me. For me it’s not the amount of money spent, it’s the thought that counts.

OP posts:
SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:40

Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 29/12/2025 08:58

when I asked, he didn’t say or do anything. As it has bugged me since I raised it again yesterday as he said he didn’t want it to become about a whataboutery.

I’m having genuine difficulty understanding how these conversations went. Could you explain, please? The idea of you directly asking someone to chip in and then just ignoring you - to your face - or refusing (for a reason that makes no sense) is fascinating to me. As that is simply not how people generally behave.

And when he’s doing/saying these things, you just sit there?

So I asked him if he thought it was fair that I pay for everything in relation to the Christmas food, and reminded him about the fact I’d lost my job, now earn a lot less money and asked him outright why when his parents had invited us and then cancelled last minute why when I offered to have dinner at my house he didn’t see to offer to contribute. He genuinely just looked at me and had nothing to say. I told him I had an issue with that and that the hot chocolate the other day (he’d referred to as a treat) was a drop in the ocean compared to the expense I’d gone to buying all the Christmas food and that I’d bought the drinks last time. He then said he didn’t want it to become a ‘whataboutery’ so I didn’t say anything further. Hence my post on MN and it’s still annoying me. I feel I want people’s viewpoints before I either raise it again or just monitor things but I have a really bad taste in my mouth.

OP posts:
SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:20

Whowhenwhat · 29/12/2025 12:53

💯 this. he never had intention of paying. What decent human being, when reminded to pay, calls the conversation 'whataboutery'?

I had never heard of whataboutery either - I had to google it. When I learned what it meant, I realised it isn’t even a relevant word as he was clearly just not wanting to talk about it.

OP posts:
SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:12

iconbaby123 · 29/12/2025 12:36

Oh come on. Shelves are easy to get

Photo was taken of the oven type months ago but no shelves ordered. Despite lots of reminders it had never got done.

OP posts:
SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:04

sweeneytoddsrazor · 29/12/2025 14:06

Well how much should he contribute? You said you spent £100 to cover food for Xmas up until New Year. Is he staying there that long? Or was he just there for Xmas day. At the most his share would be a third, further complicated by how long he is staying, who else is visiting and eating the food, so it could be anything from £35 downwards. The chocolate thing is bizarre. I would not .expect someone to open a present and share it around. If they wanted to open it and eat it straight away then yes it's polite to offer but if they don't want to open it there and then equally acceptable

He was supposed to be staying until the new year apart from the days we both work.

OP posts:
SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:02

PersephonePomegranate · 29/12/2025 09:52

Presumably, you invited him to spend Christmas with you and your son?

You don't live together as a family, so I'm guessing your bf took this an invitation - I wouldn't assume I'd need to pay either, just bring a bottle of something or whatever. If you needed him to contribute, you should have said.

The chocolate thing is so nitpicky - are you sure you haven't just gone off him and are looking for reasons to dump him?

Originally we were going to his parents but they cancelled.

OP posts:
SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 16:01

scotlands · 29/12/2025 09:58

He should have offered to pay, however…

when you were invited to boyfriend’s parents, you intended to bring a token gift. You didn’t offer to contribute to the cost.

so when the tables were turned and you had to host instead, by the same reasoning, you should expect guests to bring a token gift.

I did offer and was told it wasn’t necessary. I then offered to help prepare the food or wash up and was told this wasn’t necessary either. Because of this I took it on myself to buy some Christmas crackers for the table for the whole family.

OP posts:
grumpygrape · 29/12/2025 15:01

sweeneytoddsrazor · 29/12/2025 14:43

But they don't live together @grumpygrape
would you expect OP to help him out if it meant reducing the amount she was saving or having for bills. Or like most posters would you advise her to keep her own independence until they are actually married and it is family money.

Sorry, I didn’t realise it was a race to the bottom. He didn’t reduce his savings, he increased them. He spent less than he had been.

It doesn’t mean she has to relinquish her independence if he says instead of going out for a meal each week and paying 50:50, I’ll get a take away every week while you’re earning less. It won’t cost me any more or less and we’ll still have meals together.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 29/12/2025 14:43

But they don't live together @grumpygrape
would you expect OP to help him out if it meant reducing the amount she was saving or having for bills. Or like most posters would you advise her to keep her own independence until they are actually married and it is family money.

grumpygrape · 29/12/2025 14:31

When your income was reduced he cut his cloth to match yours and saved more. Didn't help you out ? didn't treat you more ? Nope just spent less and saved more for himself.
Speaks volumes.

Workingonweekendssuck · 29/12/2025 14:29

I find this so weird. If you were cooking dinner for you and your son, how much more did it cost for a slightly larger turkey/veg that you need to accommodate one more person. Quibbling over £33 seems OTT. You asked him to bring wine. Did he do that? If so, is that not equivalent to what you were bringing to the original meal planned?

there is no need to expect him to open chocolates, especially if there were two open boxes already being shared around. What did he buy you for Christmas? What did you buy him - was it just chocolate?

also, if you live separately why would you expect him to pay for half a mattress? Would you pay half for a new oven for him if he asked?

if it’s always this transactional, and he never puts his hand in his pocket then it is probably time to move on.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 29/12/2025 14:06

Well how much should he contribute? You said you spent £100 to cover food for Xmas up until New Year. Is he staying there that long? Or was he just there for Xmas day. At the most his share would be a third, further complicated by how long he is staying, who else is visiting and eating the food, so it could be anything from £35 downwards. The chocolate thing is bizarre. I would not .expect someone to open a present and share it around. If they wanted to open it and eat it straight away then yes it's polite to offer but if they don't want to open it there and then equally acceptable

Pineapplewaves · 29/12/2025 14:00

Are you hard up for money? Has paying £100.00 for a Christmas dinner you weren’t expecting left you struggling? If so you should explain this to your DP and ask if he could pay his share (1/3 of the cost). Otherwise it’s mean to expect him to pay, he’s your partner, Have you asked your DS and his GF to pay for what they had?

Maybe he wanted to take his chocolates home to eat later. You don’t buy someone a box of chocolates as a gift then expect them to open them and share them with you (the giver of the gift) and the other guests, you buy separate chocolates for that.

aLFIESMA · 29/12/2025 13:41

LadyBlakeneysHanky · 29/12/2025 10:34

Sounds like BF is unable to recognise basic social cues and needs to be parented - which will make him a selfish, unreliable and not fully adult partner in a relationship. He sounds to me as though he’s stuck at the developmental stage of a 13 year old boy, for whatever reason.

The normal thing to do in the Xmas circumstances would have been to go shopping together, or at least ask what part of the meal he should have provided.

Not helping with the cooking suggests he assumes he will be cared for -‘parented’- and does not recognise the responsible, adult, participatory role he is called on to play as an adult in a relationship.

Not having oven shelves suggests he doesn’t look after himself & doesn’t see the need to.

Keeping his box of chocs unopened while everyone else offered theirs is failing to see & react to a really obvious social cue.

The unreliability about the mattress suggests he does not understand that people will remember & rely on what he says. The rudeness about it (the cat comment) suggests lack of maturity. Really not an adult’s response - this is a 13 year old’s comment.

The grandiose promises about the future without any serious planning similarly sound like something a young teen or child would say - without any real thought or detail - without realising in the adult world this will lead to reliance.

The framing of the hot chocolate as a ‘treat’ is childlike & not something you’d expect in an adult relationship.

I would say there is something more significant going on here, about his social & emotional capacity & development, & that unless he’s willing to address his difficulty with social cues, & immaturity, and unless you are willing to take on the (possibly very unrewarding) task of helping him do so, it’s time to end things.

And the idea that ‘love keeps no score’- the mantra of abusive & exploitative men everywhere. Don’t fall for that crap 🤢.

My goodness, I wish I'd had someone to point out these sorts of things to me when I was younger. It's so easy to deceive yourself that you are in the right relationship. Look after yourself OP x

outerspacepotato · 29/12/2025 13:02

I see your point.

Usually, the host pays. But this was an extremely last minute cancellation and you filled in rather than the 3 of you go without. I think you should have asked him to contribute to the cost when you were deciding to make the dinner. If he refused, then that's that, he's not having a dinner you can't really afford at yours.

You can ask him now, but he sounds stingy. He talks a big game, but doesn't follow through. I doubt you'll see money out of him for this unless you get really insistant that you fed him and he needs to contribute.

Whowhenwhat · 29/12/2025 12:53

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 29/12/2025 11:12

The problem with this approach is that any man who is conflict-averse will agree to whatever you are saying, nod along - and just never cough up.

It's very easy to say yes to everything being suggested just to shut the other person up, if you have no intention of paying. Then whenever the subject is raised again it's 'just not a good time.'

I think he's leading OP up the garden path. There seems to be a lot of promising, and not a lot of doing, which also leads me to believe that he wouldn't pay up even if asked directly.

💯 this. he never had intention of paying. What decent human being, when reminded to pay, calls the conversation 'whataboutery'?

iconbaby123 · 29/12/2025 12:36

SantaHatCat · 29/12/2025 07:56

It was decided I’d host as my bf has no shelves in his oven (so can’t cook turkey or roasties) and as my ds still lives at home we’d stay at mine.

Edited

Oh come on. Shelves are easy to get

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 29/12/2025 12:35

I agree with you, OP. When I’ve been invited anywhere for Christmas I always ask what I can contribute. Usually it’s not money but hosts are always pleased to receive champagne & other drinks. I’d never expect someone to get all of the Christmas food and host it and for me to contribute zero! Such bad manners.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 29/12/2025 11:12

SBGM247 · 29/12/2025 10:05

@SantaHatCat have you tried being direct? For example, “I want you to pay £50 towards the Christmas dinner. The total was £100. I’m happy to pay half too. Would you have any objections to that?”

In my example I am direct. I’m expressing objective outcomes that resolve the matter. And at the end I’m asking if he has any objections. You’ll find that this:

• Signals this is a proposal, not a rant
• Flushes out the real blocker
• Preserves agency without surrendering control
• Narrows the response space
• Keeps the position reasonable if it goes further

As a Man, this would land very well with me.

The problem with this approach is that any man who is conflict-averse will agree to whatever you are saying, nod along - and just never cough up.

It's very easy to say yes to everything being suggested just to shut the other person up, if you have no intention of paying. Then whenever the subject is raised again it's 'just not a good time.'

I think he's leading OP up the garden path. There seems to be a lot of promising, and not a lot of doing, which also leads me to believe that he wouldn't pay up even if asked directly.

Isayitasitis · 29/12/2025 11:11

LancashireButterPie · 29/12/2025 07:56

Love keeps no scores.
I think if you really loved him you'd stop counting. You sound quite transactional and arbitrary, stop giving things and then becoming aggrieved when people take them.

I wouldn't dare embarrass myself by not contributing!

Shinyandnew1 · 29/12/2025 11:10

It sounds like you are very aware that he offers things and doesn't actually pay for it in the end and buys you a hot chocolate as a 'treat'. Knowing that, I would have said

'As we are no longer going to your mums, I could do a Christmas dinner here but obviously I had no job and not much money-what would you suggest is fair here?'

It's you and your son anyway though so it's only actually one more person for dinner.