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7am and DH arguing with me already

237 replies

NeverGetADayOff · 09/05/2026 07:33

My DH has just left in a massive huff. He is going out for the day with DC2.

Context: I have 2 jobs, have DC to look after, a needy elderly relative and am studying at the moment. I am very busy and very tired. I've had a very rough 6 months.

Today, I sort of have a day off. I have some errands to run, and I have to do some studying, but it should be OK. I was lying in bed watching the news and DH came in and reminded me that there is a workman coming over today to mock up some plans. He wants to do this and that in the house and I have to decide what I want etc. He wants wooden floors in the bedroom and it renovated. I told my DH I do not want to spend 25K renovating a couple of bedrooms.

My reasons are: We put our house on the market before covid and it had not appreciated in value at all after 7 years as it was clearly an overpriced new build when we bought it. Also, we like our house, but it is not everyone's cup of tea. First time round, no one was interested. Secondly, my youngest is going to uni next year, and I don't see a long term future in this massive house. Finally, I have moved around a lot in my life (moved up and down the country and abroad a few times) and I have no attachment to this area or this house. It is not my home town, and if I was asked to leave the day after my DC2 went to uni, either in the UK or abroad, I would. This is not what I said to my DH, I just said I don't want to spend 25K on a couple of bedrooms until I was sure the house had appreciated and it wasn't money down the toilet.

So I am standing in the kitchen at 0700 on my day off trying to get a cup of coffee and he comes in the kitchen and starts ranting that he will cancel the workman and he's all agitated. I didn't raise my voice but I did say something like "OMG, it is 7am and you are on my case already. I said I will talk to the workman, I will do it and see what he says. It is just that I want to see where our house is at before we spend that". He carried on so I said "OMG you have literally ruined my day. I was looking forward to getting some stuff done and a bit of chilling on a rare day off and you are on my back at the crack of dawn".

Honestly, it is like having a stroppy manager who is on your back the second you walk through the door at work with you standing there with sleep in your eyes and a Starbucks in your hand.

Also, he presents things as a joint decision, but if I say hmm, what about this, he gets annoyed as really, he wants his own way.

It wasn't a shouting match or anything, but I was so looking forward to today, and now he has made me feel anxious, stressed and I want to cry.

Who IBU

OP posts:
tiramisugelato · 09/05/2026 07:52

From the sounds of your update, it sounds like you shouldn’t really be married at all. What a mess. Your poor kids living in this.

NoelEdmondsHairGel · 09/05/2026 07:51

I agree with you about the use of money. But I also wonder whether you listen to your DH’s point of view at all? Maybe he does like the house/area, etc? Maybe he has valid reasons for wanting to do the place up? That’s not to say that you should spend £25k on it but perhaps you could find a compromise.

In any case your reaction was childish and turned the temperature up needlessly. He really didn’t “ruin your day” but it is possible that you did that yourself.

Blueyelloworange · 09/05/2026 07:50

You both sound a bit unreasonable- probably as others have said you are burnt out a bit. Perhaps you could carve out time for a bit of a date night to reconnect?

NeverGetADayOff · 09/05/2026 07:50

I know this all sounds like a storm in a tea cup, but it has really upset me. I usually just go along with whatever he wants to keep the peace, which obviously is not a good thing. We don't argue.

There is a reason for this. There have been a couple of times in our marriage where he has said "I don't want to be married anymore" and it was pretty awful when this happened. It usually follows me pushing back on something I don't like. Both times I was devastated and scared as I was a SAHM and it went on for a few months. We had small DC, then tweens. This is why I have 2 jobs, and study. I never want to feel that vulnerable again.

I'm sitting here thinking that I should have just gone "yes dear" as I don't need the stress of him being in a mood or pulling out the "not sure if I want to be married card" right now. I did tell myself that he has done this twice, and on the 3rd time I will 100% take him at his word and end it.

That is quite a jump from bedroom renovation to marriage issues.

OP posts:
Shoxfordian · 09/05/2026 07:49

Why isn't he there to see the workman if he's so keen on it? Yanbu

DangerQuakeRhinoSnake · 09/05/2026 07:46

First off, who wants wooden floors in a bedroom? Cold in winter, and if upstairs they will be noisy downstairs.

Also the phrase "you have ruined my day" is one frequently used by my 9yo in the most ridiculous of situations and we find quite amusing. I cant imagine a grown adult using it seriously in this context. I think in these circumstances you should be grey rocking your husband and just enjoy your coffee.

tiramisugelato · 09/05/2026 07:45

You sound incredibly stressed and burnt out and I think you snapped at your DH because he happened to be the straw that broke the camels back.

BarbiesDreamHome · 09/05/2026 07:44

The biggest problem is why workmen are even booked to come over when you don't both agree you want the work done.

Shedmistress · 09/05/2026 07:41

Let him cancel the workmen. That is a waste of money.

Starzinsky · 09/05/2026 07:41

You both sound over dramatic to be honest.

NeverGetADayOff · 09/05/2026 07:41

It will make no difference to the resale value of the house either

This is my point. I don't think we will stay here long term, maybe another 5 years max. It is not a house I will grow old in.

I have 2 p/t jobs. We are financially OK, we can afford it, but I think it is stupid money putting cupboards and a wooden floor in a bedroom. I would like to paint the room, and tweak it a bit. Any spare money we have I would like to keep and invest for the future.

OP posts:
Nosleepagain34 · 09/05/2026 07:37

There are clearly multiple issues here but there is no point in spending£25k on flooring for two rooms when you have two jobs and are studying. It clearly shows money is tight as you can’t afford one job and studying.
It will make no difference to the resale value of the house either.