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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel about 2cms tall?

142 replies

Stuckinsilence · 29/08/2018 15:30

Last week was a special anniversary for DH and I. We had gone away for a few days and had a nice time. I had bought DH a special present (nothing expensive but special nonetheless and something he liked). He hadn't bought me anything, not even a card, but we had been away for a couple of nights so I was happy even so. On the way home, he appeared agitated and asked where I had bought his present from, and then said 'so I paid for it then'. I said no, I paid for it and would transfer the money later. I told him to stop being so spiteful and he apologised.

A few months ago for father's day i surprised him with a day out and took all his family out for dinner. It took so much effort to organise and keep it a surprise. All he could say on the way home was, when asked if he had enjoyed himself, 'yeah but I paid for it'. I told him no, I had worked a couple of days in my parents family business to pay for it. Again he apologised.

Last month i bought car insurance on our joint credit card. He was furious and said how dare I buy it without asking him. I told him i buy it every year and there's not a problem, how else did he think i was going to pay for it? He carried on and on until i said i was phoning my mum to loan me the money to give back to him. He all of sudden changed his tune and said to forget about it.

AIBU to feel about 2cm tall? I feel small and silly when he makes these comments. I feel like nothing and so embarrassed.

FWIW, I am a sahm to our three children (two with sn), do everything around the house and 99% of childcare. He would never make these comments in front of anyone else because he knows that they'd be appalled - it's only in private.

OP posts:
Stuckinsilence · 29/08/2018 15:33

I also asked him if i could buy the dc some school shoes today. He grilled me for about 20 mins on where i was buying them from, how much, did they really need them, why can't i buy them from a cheaper shop, etc.

I felt like saying 'you bought designer sunglasses last week - couldn't you have bought those for £5 from primark?' ....but i didn't.

OP posts:
ArialAnna · 29/08/2018 15:42

My initial thought was that perhaps he is stressed about money if things are tight, but if he's buying himself designer sunglasses then obviously not!!

YANBU - his attitude stinks. Perhaps suggest to him that you swap places, and he takes on full time care of the house and the kids, while you work and then analyse and criticise all his spending. Somehow I don't think he'll be keen.

Immigrantsong · 29/08/2018 15:45

He sounds financially controlling and unappreciative of all you do. Have you thought of upping your work hours so you get him to pick up the childcare? You deserve much more.

Theweasleytwins · 29/08/2018 15:47

He sounds like a dick

It's hardly like you are lounging around at home doing nothing- you have 3dc!! Hard enough without sn

Aprilshowersinaugust · 29/08/2018 15:47

Start writing lists of everything the dc need. Include a list of shops and leave him to it.
Twat.

sparklyandhungover · 29/08/2018 15:48

Frankly he's a twat ! If he's buying himself designer sub glasses and then questioning school shoes for kids

Are you frivolous with money do you spend a lot ?

If not and there's no issue here with you over spending on items that are not needed or just loads of them then he is a twat and he needs to understand your worth

Stop doing his washing and ironing for a week. Ask him to do a few school runs home work with kids clean the house

He's probably just a stupid man who doesn't realise half the stuff you do x he sounds a very ungreatful spoilt twat !

Shoxfordian · 29/08/2018 15:48

He's potentially financially abusive. He's definitely acting like an idiot. What's good about the relationship? He's an ungrateful arse.

Stuckinsilence · 29/08/2018 15:50

Sparkly, I don't buy anything for myself. Only if my mum has given me some money to treat myself. She knows that i don't like to spend money on myself.

OP posts:
GreatDuckCookery6211 · 29/08/2018 15:52

Urgh. Honestly this would put me right off being married to him. You're a team, you shouldn't have to ask the FATHER of your children for bloody shoes.

This is not right OP.

herworldoutsideit · 29/08/2018 15:52

Yup, financially controlling. Arsehole. For goodness sake, there is book by Blanche D 'Don'ts for wives' written at the turn of the 1900's and even there she tells wives that they earn their money from their husbands by virtue of their role as wives and mothers. Quite right. It is not 'his' money, it is family money and you are entitled to it as him. I suggest you agree that you both have a monthly allowance that you can spend as you choose to stop arguments such as these. And if he goes on about 'his' money, stop doing any domestic work that assists him. He can cook his own bloody food, wash his own bloody pants and so on if he wants to create divisions between 'yours' and 'his', instead of working on a principle of mutuality.

Stuckinsilence · 29/08/2018 15:55

herworld - I had thought of suggesting that we have a set budget each, so i knew how much i could spend on the children, etc. However, im scared of bringing it up as I'm worried he'll start going on about it being 'his' money and he can spend it how he likes... :(

OP posts:
HushabyeMountainGoat · 29/08/2018 15:55

He clearly sees all the family money as his money. Maybe you need to sit down and agree that you both get a set amount each month to spend how you please, on presents (unless from both of you such as for the children) or designer sunglasses or whatever. All other money is family money.

MongerTruffle · 29/08/2018 15:57

And if he goes on about 'his' money, stop doing any domestic work that assists him. He can cook his own bloody food, wash his own bloody pants and so on if he wants to create divisions between 'yours' and 'his', instead of working on a principle of mutuality.
Or just give him a bill for the cost.

herworldoutsideit · 29/08/2018 15:59

Why don't you like to spend money on yourself?
Has he got you into the mindset of thinking that you aren't entitled to?
That it is selfish? It isn't.

You shouldn't be having to 'ask' him for money for the kids, or anything.
You manage the household. That money is yours to manage. it should be given to you to control. That Blanche woman I mentioned specifically says that women should not have to ask their husbands for money for each thing they need to buy.
In terms of his attitude to his wife and marriage, your husband is behind a women writing over 100 years ago. He should be ashamed.

You need to have an overhaul of budget arrangements in your household.

And I agree wtih PP, financial abuse red markers in your OP.

kitkatsky · 29/08/2018 16:02

See it could be financial advice, but I wonder if he's struggling financially at the moment or has managed to get into some debt you don't know about, particularly if this is a new reaction to you spending money. I'd be digging a little deeper tbh- my initial thought is a gambling habit etc...

bettytaghetti · 29/08/2018 16:02

It won't be 'his' money when you divorce him. Think he'll be very disappointed in how the courts view 'his' money.

There is nothing more unattractive than a person who is extremely tight with money.

All I can say is, he better have some very good redeeming features that make him worth staying with. I sure as hell wouldn't put up with that crap.
You are married; assets are joint. End of.

ChilliPowderMild · 29/08/2018 16:03

I wouldn't have it. No jeffing way.
And I wonder if your family can see what you don't want to: they gave you 2 days work in their family business to pay for the dinner; you were going to ask your mum to loan you the insurance money; you don't buy anything for yourself unless your mum treats you....
He gets a kick out of these situations - something in his life is making him feel very small and these situations are how he makes himself feel very big.

herworldoutsideit · 29/08/2018 16:04

Cross post.

OK OP, Your reply sounds even more like financial abuse. 'His money??? That he can spend as he likes???? I genuinely find that disgusting.

In terms of budget, I think there should be a domestic household budget that you control (I break ours down into shopping, things for kids, fuel, car etc) and which is adequate for its purpose. And then there should be a personal budget for you, and one for you husband, which is for you spend as you wish on yourselves.

It is not 'his' money. If he is thinking like this, he does not see you as equals in the marriage. And he does not value your contribution to the marriage. He probably is hardly aware of what it is.

CaptSkippy · 29/08/2018 16:05

Op I am worried that he treats you like a child and giving you pocket money to spend. His attitude towards you, his partner, is unacceptable.
Controlling finances is a mayor red flag. It's even more a red flag that you don't feel safe discussing these issues with him without him belittling you.

You and your children deserve better.

thecatsthecats · 29/08/2018 16:07

Why don't you like to spend money on yourself?
Has he got you into the mindset of thinking that you aren't entitled to?

That really stood out to me too. It's not the same as not really wanting anything. OP, your mum knows there ARE things that you like to spend on. It's why she gives you money - because your arsehole husband keeps you short, and makes you think he's doing you a favour.

herworldoutsideit · 29/08/2018 16:08

What are your options for retraining OP? So that you can get a job and get some independence?

In your situation, I would be thinking like that. In fact, I am in that situation but with a husband who is an arse in other ways. And I am thinking like that.

00100001 · 29/08/2018 16:09

He sounds like a tosser. Divorce the bastard, get Maintnence from him, the tight fucker. Fancy denying your OWN kid a pair of decent fucking shoes? WHO FUCKING DOES THAT?

If not ready to divorce, say to him SAHM clearly isn't working, so your going to go to work, he needs to pay for at least 50% of the childcare now. (But ideally proportional to what each of you earn)

SandyY2K · 29/08/2018 16:09

He clearly sees it as his money. Tell him how these comments and questioning make you feel.

Discuss the fact that your ability to work is limited due to childcare and the costs/practicalities with 2 who have SN.

Would he rather be divorced and paying child support?

PenApple · 29/08/2018 16:10

Has he always been like this with money? You must have been together a while to have 3dc and a big anniversary.

I’m a SAHP, each month DH transfers money into my account (we don’t have joint account) and it’s mine to do what I want with, but also covers food shopping, dc clothes, shoes etc. If I need more I’ll say to him that I don’t have enough to cover XYZ. He’s never ever said you shouldn’t have bought that or buy something cheaper.

lowtide · 29/08/2018 16:12

I would bill him for all the childcare you do during the working day. if he's going to treat you like a skivvy you may as well get paid for it.

10£ p/h cleaning/childminding
pension contributions
fuel allowance
child related expenses

I'm being dead serious BTW
he thinks your value is NOTHING
ergo he thinks you're nothing