WIBU to have bought these curtains?

[WallaceWindsock]

I know, such a riveting question

We rent. The house came with curtains, horrid flowery things which don't fit the windows at all and aren't lined. There are no nets. This is an ex military area and so there is only very small wire fencing between gardens making everyone's garden overlooked.

When it was colder and darker the curtains didn't cover all the windows and were draughty. Now in the summer with people in their gardens later, people can see in as the curtains do not cover all the window. So I bought two pairs of really thick, lined curtains from matalan as they were half price. £30 for two pairs of good quality curtains to enable me to sit in the living room without the neighbour being able to watch tv with me from the garden behind.

DP is not happy as we didn't "need" them. We aren't rolling in it ATM but we aren't exactly on the breadline either. I've boxed up huge amounts of stuff for a car boot where we can easily make this £30 back but he's adamant I'm being frivolous. I'm not though am I?

I apologise for dodgy grammar of title. It doesn't sound right but can't think how to correct it!

Not unreasonable at all. He's being an arse!

No - you're not. Tell him to leave you alone!

Thank you. I think he views curtains as decoration as opposed to serving purpose. I'm gritting me teeth and tolerating the awful ones in the kitchen that dip in the kitchen sink whenever I wash up, and th hideously flowery ones in the bedroom because whilst vile, they at least cover the window.

Well...even if they were just for decoration so what?
What's wrong with not wanting horrible curtains? He doesn't have to care about it, but you can.
I can tell you're hardly bashing the card in, on a regular occurance for fripperies, so I think he's a miserable git to carp at you over this.

Give him the vees.

Yanbu! But having said that, I buy my curtains second hand every time. Either charity shop finds or ebay. I've had some beauti Wioful ones and usually they are excellent quality which I could never buy new. I've had lovely liberty and Heals ones as well as William Morris prints.

I LOVE curtains which is why I don't buy them new! I'd be bankrupt! Do you earn too? DH must understand that you want to buy things for the house!

Don't tolerate the shitty ones in the kitchen and bedroom! Get on Ebay!

I lived in a house which had curtains which literally depressed me. One set was BROWN with the most awful pink zig zaggy splodgy pattern...nylon. They were like the 80s threw up on my windows.

Ohhhh now guess what. I've just put one set up and they're a bit long. We have weird sized windows and these were the right width but I knew they would be long. They look really long though. It sort of works, I mean when they're drawn you can't see the window can you so you can't tell. But I just know he'll get home (he's working away this week) on Friday and moan about having bought curtains that aren't even the right size.

Shall I send the bloody things back? I was going to get nice roman blinds. I should have done shouldn't I? At least if they are too big you can just chop a bit off.

I keep looking on free cycle etc for some nice ones for DCs room. That room is next on my to do list. I've also got some wall stickers off amazon for the DCs room. He won't huff about that though cos DD would cry at him

I bought cushions aswell. How can I argue that they are necessary? Maybe I could sneak them in one at a time over a week or something and pretend they've always been there

Just get some wonderweb hemming stuff, scissors and and iron and you'll soon get the curtains to the right length. If they are a heavy fabric you'll need to double up the wonderweb or maybe do a simple running stitch by hand to make sure the new hem holds.

Pretend you've always had those cushions! Works for me when my dh finally notices something new!

YANBU

I would have got them ages ago. DH always grunts when I buy things like curtains and cushions, I think he would make do with a sheet at the window. In fact if I recall his DB did have sheets at the window for about a year.

DH also moans like anything about cushions, he just isn't interested in that sort of thing. The thing is curtains is something you look at a lot so get something you like. I tend to get mine from John Lewis sale, the ready made ones as I have always been pleased with them.

I never have my curtains the "right" length. Mine are always longer...I think it looks less cosy if they skim the windowsill.

And Roman blinds..no! They have no place in a sitting room! Not without curtains anyway...

So he is annoyed because you are trying to make a pleasant home for your family! £ 30 for 2 pairs of curtains is a brilliant bargain. If you need to shorten them pdq, turn them inside out, unpick lining upto correct length, turn under, press with iron and stitch( easily done by hand ), repeat with actual curtain. Tell him the cushions were free with the curtains. My DH is the most unobservant fella on the planet, I bought a new TV, much bigger than our old one and he sat watching for two hours, it was only me and DCs bursting into laughter that alerted him to the fact that something was going on. I strongly believe in using the expression " happy wife, happy life".

Have a proper talk with him as my dh was like this but now he realises its important to see things from my perspective so we are both happy in the relationship. if that means not moaning about stuff I see as important then that's what he must do.
Even if your house is rented, its important to take pride in it - it's your home after all.

Making a fuss over a £30 pair of curtains when you're not on the breadline? Dear god, what a misery he is. My DH once complained when I spent £2.50 on a football from Wilkinsons for the kids, on the grounds that 'they already had one'. And he's much more of a spendthrift than I am. I think some people have a mental block on what they consider to be unnecessary spending. You'll just have to develop a mental block on his whinging.

Having said that, you really should shorten the curtains before Friday, even if you just pin them. And why haven't you shortened those in the kitchen if they're bugging you so much?

MsVestibule we moved in the day I went into labour with DS who is now just coming up to 5months so it's taken time to get organised and tbh shortening the kitchen curtains was not a priority!

I spoke to DP last night and he did a u-turn and said its fine. I think sometimes he forgets that we aren't 17 anymore and buying "nice" things with no concept of budgeting! Once I'd pointed out the stuff I'd put aside for a car boot and how much money that would potentially make I think he felt a bit silly moaning about curtains.

I think there's an element of guilt as well as he spends bits here and there on little things which then adds up.

Anyway, I've looked at them again this morning and I think they look quite good long. I'm going to make some tie backs and see if that makes a difference.

Should be grateful I have nothing more pressing to worry about than curtains really

I have lovely draw curtains in my bedroom which were included in the price of the house. Think they were 1st bought in the 70s.
They do drop to under the window sill and in the winter, as there is a convector radiator under the window, I have to put the hems on the window sill to stop the heat convecting up behind the curtains.
I keep meaning to shorten them, but can't be bothered.