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Should I dump my boyfriend because he won't stop eating crisps?

609 replies

Spicyseniorita7 · 29/06/2026 23:26

I'm in a relatively new relationship (7 months) after over 2 years of being single with some dating disasters along the way. Everything seems great on paper, he is kind, has a good job that pays well, not bad looking, treats me well and never allows me to pay for anything. For context, I am 28F and he is 32M- we both live separately at present. I would like to settle down soon.

I'm unsure if I am self-sabotaging, but some of his eating/snacking habits disgust me, to the point that I think I've developed the ick. This came to light properly on our recent 2 week holiday-prior to this, the longest we had spent together was about 3 days. He eats at least 3 packets of crisps per day and not the sophisticated type i.e kettle chips, think more Skips/monster munch/Nik naks/cheesy wotsits/space raiders. He doesn't wash his hands after eating the crisps and requires prompting to do so. This often results in him having disgusting synthetic crisp dust all over his fingers and fingernails.

Even more disgustingly, after he's finished with a packet, he arches back his head and empties the remnants of the crisp crumbs into his mouth. It's almost as though he cannot bear for a single scrap to be wasted. But the most disgusting is sometimes, after finishing a packet, he will blow up the packet like a balloon and pop it. This has resulted in me being sprayed with crumbs. I've also found scrunched up crisp packets wedged behind his bed, almost as though he can't be bothered to walk to the bin.

We recently went on holiday to Spain and it was mortifying-he didn't try any local food and just wanted to eat British food, McDonald's and crisps. We went to the supermarket and he loaded up the trolley with crisps. I haven't said anything yet, he is keen to start looking for a flat to rent together, but I just can't help but thinking I would prefer a man who doesn't eat over 3 packets of crisps a day and doesn't smell like pickled onion Monster Munch or cheesy wotsits. Is eating all of those crisps a dumpable offence?

OP posts:
Anarchy99 · 01/07/2026 11:50

gamerchick · 01/07/2026 11:39

Oh dear, I think it's hit or miss of whether that would bother the rest of us. But you've got the ick, it's not going to work.

Time to say goodbye. You'll never be able to live with him.

And he will be much better off too!

Having read the OP’s comment about expecting a man to pay for everything, I think he deserves a partner who is prepared to give something to the relationship instead of just expecting everything.

Horsemadlady1234 · 01/07/2026 11:50

Sorry but this post gave me the ick. Set the poor lad free before he gets stuck with you! I thought I was picky

mumumental · 01/07/2026 11:49

In a similar vein, my dd says she is truly over men who are picky about food and who won’t touch vegetables.

nomas · 01/07/2026 11:47

I think you have the ick. Listen to that feeling and dump.

Crisp dust smell is gross.

ALJT · 01/07/2026 11:45

You sound like a snob, heaven forbid he enjoys his wotsits over kettle crisps!

TiredMummma · 01/07/2026 11:44

Dump him. You’ve been with him 7 months and haven’t mentioned your feelings? It’s not about ticking boxes, if crisps are annoying you this much will you ever love him? Don’t ‘settle’ for the sake of it.

Whatthefork1 · 01/07/2026 11:43

This sounds like my DH with the crisps (he isn’t a fussy eater though). Had I have known about his crisp habit at the start I would never have stayed with him for 12 years and had two children with him- my 4 year old now also tips the crumbs into her mouth too.

gamerchick · 01/07/2026 11:41

Although the sophisticated crisp thing did make me laugh. There are crisps snobs in the world Grin

gamerchick · 01/07/2026 11:39

Oh dear, I think it's hit or miss of whether that would bother the rest of us. But you've got the ick, it's not going to work.

Time to say goodbye. You'll never be able to live with him.

Anarchy99 · 01/07/2026 11:38

FudgeFudy · 01/07/2026 11:32

Hold on, isn't scrunching the crispy dregs up and pouring them into your gob a bog-standard part of eating a bag of crisps? I've seen a cabinet minister do that! I can't remember what sort they were though, doubtless very sophisticated ones indeed.

I thought so, although I do remember a friend driving along the dual carriageway doing it 🙈

OverTiredPanda · 01/07/2026 11:37

Tbh I thought you were being ludicrous at first but now Ive finished reading it - it sounds grim! Get your cheesey oniony fingers away from me ! My other half eats pizza etc from buffet on hols but it doesnt stop us going out and doesnt bother me. Sounds like you've got the ick....and once youve got the ick thats it for me !!

HandPulledNoodles · 01/07/2026 11:33

I have ick on his behalf for you.

Sure hed be happier scarfing down on some pickled onion monster munch than living in the 1950s. He should throw you back.

itsme189 · 01/07/2026 11:32

Hahaha Mumsnet is so funny this is exactly how my dad eats crisps let him live and enjoy his poor people crisps. Maybe bring up washing his hands though lol

FudgeFudy · 01/07/2026 11:32

Hold on, isn't scrunching the crispy dregs up and pouring them into your gob a bog-standard part of eating a bag of crisps? I've seen a cabinet minister do that! I can't remember what sort they were though, doubtless very sophisticated ones indeed.

Boreded · 01/07/2026 11:30

DannyDeever · 01/07/2026 11:24

Because I want the man I marry to be able to provide for me and our future family.

Yeah it took me a second, but then I got the ick on his behalf 🤣😆

UpDownAllAround1 · 01/07/2026 11:27

C’mon this isn’t about the crisps. Respect and romance absence more like

DannyDeever · 01/07/2026 11:24

Boreded · 01/07/2026 11:20

If he gives you the ick why be with him 🤦‍♀️

Because I want the man I marry to be able to provide for me and our future family.

PepsiBook · 01/07/2026 11:23

Whatever the reason, you don't want to be with him so don't be.

Boreded · 01/07/2026 11:22

Boreded · 01/07/2026 11:20

If he gives you the ick why be with him 🤦‍♀️

Oh wait…I read the rest of your comments and you gave me the ick.

Boreded · 01/07/2026 11:20

If he gives you the ick why be with him 🤦‍♀️

DannyDeever · 01/07/2026 11:20

I want the man I marry to be able to provide for me and our future family

So the problem with him is that he eats crisps. The problem with you is that you want to live a 1948 lifestyle.

Have you told him you aren't looking for an equal relationship, because you'll be wasting a lot less of each other's time if you tell him that clearly up front.

Anarchy99 · 01/07/2026 11:19

MickyMoonshine · 01/07/2026 07:48

If you expect him to pay for everything then surely he’s going to expect you to do all the cooking, cleaning and eventually childcare.

That’s what usually happens in these ‘traditional’ relationships. How do you feel about that?

There is nothing wrong with paying for your own meal on a date or that date consisting of going for a walk.

Exactly this. I truly despair sometimes.

Of course if someone is going to truly embrace the ‘traditional’ 1950s relationship, that includes a duty to provide sex every time their husband requires a shag.

Anarchy99 · 01/07/2026 11:16

Spicyseniorita7 · 30/06/2026 22:23

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with preferring a man to pay for me and having traditional values. I want the man I marry to be able to provide for me and our future family- I don't want to be penny pinching when I'm on maternity leave or begging him for pennies.

So many of my dates have consisted of men expecting that I pay for my own dinner and glass of wine or worse, wanting to go for a walk like I'm some sort of border collie. I don't make loads in my job in the public sector and it is nice to have someone look after me and treat me from time to time. His family are very well off too. But he has been incredibly mollycoddled his entire life, has never really cooked a meal for himself and I had to show him how to use the washing machine. His mum does it for him usually (I didn't realise this until recently).

Bloody hell it’s like the last 70 years didn’t happen.

If you expect a man to pay for everything from day one then you have to bring something to the situation as well.

Throw this one back, he doesn’t deserve to have someone be so disparaging about him. Or is the fact he has money a draw?

user67584329 · 01/07/2026 11:06

whereswilson · 30/06/2026 21:55

Is that bad? I keep them in the freezer for emergency dinners!

No, sorry, it was an attempt at a joke based on a very similar thread

Dozycuntlaters · 01/07/2026 09:29

Blimey, after your last update you def need to dump him.....so he can find someone who actually lives in 2026 and not 1955. Basically, you are seeking a perfect man, to look after you, pay for you, care for you, but not have any irritating habits and eats crisps of your preference. I would have thought after two years on the date sites you would have realised such man does not really exist. There is a world of difference between a man who pays for everything and your scenario of penny pinching whilst on maternity leave.

You sound very high maintenance. You do realise that woman kind want equality right? How can we achieve that and still expect the old fashioned values to stand as well.

Where do you stand on walkers squares, bloody love those. Now wondering if that is an acceptable crisp 😂 Although nothing will beat picked onion monster munches.