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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to see this as a major breach of trust over spending?

106 replies

Darknightsdarkmoods · 14/04/2026 20:40

AIBU - my DH of 10 years (no DCs) has a fairly expensive Pokémon hobby and he collects lots of items related to this. He earns a mediocre wage, and has been paying off a decent sized debt for the past year, which is now nearly cleared. We have talked about a holiday in May to celebrate this. Our finances are completely separate and while I have historically out earned him, I am currently unemployed and living off savings.

He made a pre-order last night, which he frequently does, and are usually in the ballpark of £100. I don’t love this use of money, but have come to accept as long as bills, mortgage and other expenses are paid, his money is his to spend as he wishes.

This morning I opened the shared laptop and the last page left open showed the most recent purchase was £250. On his return from work, I asked what was the order last night, and he lied to me and said it was just the usual £100. I clarified, and he said again it was just the usual.

Later in the evening I confronted him, explained I had seen the purchase accidentally, and that I am extremely upset he lied to me. He doesn’t seem very remorseful at all, and is more focussed on my toxic ‘setting up a question trap’.

To me this is a huge breach of trust, irrelevant to how I feel about the choice of his spending, he lied directly to me when asked. I’m worried I can’t trust him and do feel he has probably lied about money in the past.

AIBU? And what would you do?

Y - It’s not that big a deal
N - It’s a huge betrayal

OP posts:
Overthebow · 14/04/2026 21:04

Might be missing the point here but you are celebrating finishing paying off debt by spending on a holiday, whilst you are unemployed and using savings to live?

Darknightsdarkmoods · 14/04/2026 21:04

That’s a valid point. Realistically, I ask because I worry he is spending more then he can afford. I accept that is a judgement from me which he unfair, but not unfounded, as a lot of the debt he built up originally was related to Pokémon card spending.

I also had a bad feeling he would lie about it, I have caught him in smaller lies before. I suppose I already have reduced trust.

Where does this leave me. In some ways it’s a small thing. But trust is everything. :(

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 14/04/2026 21:03

If you have separate finances surely he can spend what he wants as long as it’s out of “his” money?

WallaceinAnderland · 14/04/2026 21:02

He doesn’t seem very remorseful at all, and is more focussed on my toxic ‘setting up a question trap’.

He's right and I don't blame him for being annoyed with you.

He shouldn't have lied but it's his money to spend on whatever he wants. You have both agreed to this arrangement. He just senses your disapproval.

If you don't want him to have autonomy over his own money then split up.

If he was failing to meet his share of the bills and outgoings then you might have a point but he's not, you've said he is paying his fair share.

Credittocress · 14/04/2026 21:01

How may previous purchases has he lied about?

Minnie798 · 14/04/2026 20:57

We have separate finances ( there is a joint account for household costs). I'd never ask my dp how much something cost that he had bought from his own money and vice versa. I thought that was one of the purposes of keeping money separate.
Why did you even mention it to him ? Is there more to the story ?