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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Stingy boyfriend - help me see reason

95 replies

NewUserNamePostedBefore · 06/02/2019 10:19

New name as I have posted before and I was accused of being a gold digger.

I have been seeing a guy for 4 months. He's only recently become my boyfriend.

My concern is him being tight when it comes time to pay and him not coming to events I invite him to.

In respect to paying for dates - from the very beginning we have taken it in turns. This is despite him earning double my income (possibly more) and me having to move in with a relative after I had a falling out with my friend/housemate (over him).

One day we are at his place and he randomly states to me that we should take it in turns with paying for dates from here on. I thought about what he said and a while later said "we have been taking it in turns to pay since the beginning". He responded "oh, I said that ages ago."

I have now thought about it and I don't actually think that is correct. I have paid for nights out where he contributed absolutely nothing the entire evening, I have also paid for multiple dates in a row. He has paid for some very cheap places or where movie tickets were discounted or free, he also paid for a couple of lunches.

He has never taken me to an expensive restaurant. Nor have I asked him to. We go to cheap places and a lot of Asian restaurants. He has promised to take me out to an expensive restaurant for my birthday (after him mentioning it multiple times and also stating that he wanted to eat there himself), then he said he will take me out somewhere (cheap) instead.

I have found that on occasion he makes no attempt to pay. We often share food because I can only eat limited amounts, basically I am paying for him to eat. I eat a quarter of what he generally eats.

I don't know how to bring up that I think it's unequitable. I think it would be cheaper for me to pay for my own food and drinks and then I could just order an entrée or one drink when I go out.

He jokes that I am a 'cheap date' because I don't eat much. It's even cheaper for him when you factor in that I am paying most of the time.

It makes me feel really bad, like he doesn't want to treat me well.

Him going on about the expensive place for my birthday, then saying "oh, I found out it's expensive" and later suggesting somewhere cheap has really hurt my feelings because I had been looking for a new dress to wear. I had told people he was taking me there for my birthday and now he wants to take me to a cheap Asian restaurant. He hasn't asked me for present suggestions, so I assumed the birthday dinner was the present because he said he wanted to 'treat' me.

I have been getting stressed sometimes when we are out because it bothers me when I know he will expect me to pay at the end of it and I know he had eaten most of the food. Often it's just small amounts for me to pay, but it's regularly and if it was just me, I wouldn't be paying anything and just eating at home.

I can't stand him saying how much of a 'cheap date' I am!! It happens with such regularity I am on edge waiting for him to say it again.

Lately he has been talking about buying a new car (there's nothing wrong with his current car), as well as taking a trip somewhere either by himself or with a friend (knowing I can't afford it).

I have brought up that I am concerned about our income disparity and he said it's ok because he has money. It's ok for him, that's his money! For the record, I have a good job - however, I have been sick and had to take a drop in pay.

Recently he has asked me to pick up tea bags to 'contribute'.

This guy is on double my income - likely much more.... and it's tea bags!!! I would be too embarrassed to ask.

I haven't introduced him to my friends as I don't have massive friendship groups like he does and my best friend and I had a falling out when he came along (wasn't his fault). He had met my ex-friend and she wasn't very nice to him.

He has asked when he will meet my other friends. I work long hours (even with the pay reduction) and I don't hang out with them regularly and have been single so long I don't want to bring him along to meet my other friends as they would have nothing in common.

I recently asked him to come to a relatives birthday party, very small group of adults and children, held in a very casual setting and where I knew some of his friends would be there (he is friends with my relative's friends). He freaked. He said there would be too many people there and he wasn't comfortable. I said "fine" thinking perhaps it's too soon and it's not a big deal. I then didn't bring it up again. He has brought it up since and I said heaps of people are going and for him not to worry about coming and that I probably won't go either.

There is another family event coming up about 7 weeks time (which would be 6 months to the date that we have been together) and I have asked if he would like to come.

He said that there are too many people and he wasn't comfortable going. Again, I said I wouldn't press it (it's out of town anyway and I was going to fly).

He flies all the time so the flight and costs wouldn't be an issue, the issue is he doesn't want to go and is using the big group as a reason not to.

He has brought up meeting my family before. I am fine with it, it's choosing a time and place as my family is either busy or away plus they have children. The relatives birthday party was an ideal time. Small group of people, very casual and he even knew people there!!

I thought I could get over it - it's still early days. However, I think it's such a double standard when I have gone out and met all his friends and gone to the cost effort of making myself presentable to do so (think additional costs of hair/makeup/shoes/dress).

Whenever he has asked me to meet his friends, I have always said yes.

For context, I went to his Christmas party and been on quite a few nights out with his friends. It should be noted that the Christmas party was massive and he was the only person I knew. I have also gone to a big group friend event and was introduced to a lot of people.

He has now stated that he will meet my sister and her husband first.

I am thinking, I don't want him to meet my sister and my brother-in-law at all now. There are so many red flags and I am not happy right now. My sister has also noticed this and told me to have some time apart.

Recently, he brought up that I haven't given him oral sex in a while. I actually don't want to. I don't want to go to effort with him any more. He doesn't want to be my 'plus one' to family events and I don't want to pay for his food, hang out with his boring friends or give him BJ's. The time and money I am spending on him could go to things that actually make me happy.

My question is - AIBU or is he just wasting my time?

OP posts:
Panicwiththebisto · 06/02/2019 11:00

Your counting the spends and he's counting the blow jobs!

Where's the joy in that!

Madwithjealousy · 06/02/2019 11:01

What on earth are you with him for ? Please get out and just be on your own until you find someone worth being with.

mcmooberry · 06/02/2019 11:03

Meanness will never improve imo, he has a very ungenerous personality and I would finish this now so you don't have to fume every time he makes you pay for food HE has eaten!! He sounds awful. x

ContessaIsOnADietDammit · 06/02/2019 11:06

There is nothing good here. Dump and be happier!

letsdolunch321 · 06/02/2019 11:07

Get rid, a relationship shpuld be fun ..... reading your op it sounds like a bloody nightmare

SittingAround1 · 06/02/2019 11:15

It makes me feel really bad, like he doesn't want to treat me well.

This sentence just about sums it up. You're only a few months into a relationship and already feeling like this, imagine after a few years.

He's not the one for you.

Missingstreetlife · 06/02/2019 11:15

Let him go. He's not making you happy, it won't get better.

CaptainJaneway62 · 06/02/2019 11:16

The reason he is "stingy" is because that's who he is.
He is not going to change. You are not going to change him.
His behaviour has red flags all over it!
You are going to end up spending money you do not have to try and keep a relationship going with him.
What an absolute waste of your time and energy.

RoboticSealpup · 06/02/2019 11:18

You really don't need a particular reason to break up with him. He's clearly not a very good boyfriend. That's reason enough! If you feel like this in the honeymoon phase, just imagine being with him in five years... Shock

CoughLaughFart · 06/02/2019 11:18

You’re obviously not compatible. The resentment will only get worse. Pull out now while it’s still relatively new.

Belenus · 06/02/2019 11:18

It makes me feel really bad, like he doesn't want to treat me well.

You cannot fix this. Move on. Honestly, as someone who has spent years being single, it is far more fun than you're going through right now. And it will save you money and stress.

Mrskeats · 06/02/2019 11:18

Tight people are always mean in other ways too. My pet hate. I echo all the move on comments.

Sicario · 06/02/2019 11:21

DUMP!

NorthEndGal · 06/02/2019 11:21

Generosity is key for me, and it doesn't take lots of money. A person can be generous with even a little. He is not.

LuckyLou7 · 06/02/2019 11:22

Dump him. He sounds horrible. Why waste any more emotional energy on this twat? Get rid.

NewUserNamePostedBefore · 06/02/2019 11:23

@Mycathatesme

I didn't dislike him in the beginning. These are things that have crept up. I wanted some motivation to move on. I think I know it is dying a slow death and I wanted a push.

Or maybe I wanted people to say that I was unreasonable?

I don't know...

OP posts:
morningconstitutional2017 · 06/02/2019 11:24

Sorry, I haven't read every detail of your thread but as you say yourself there are so many red flags here. Quite apart from anything else it doesn't sound like a very kind or loving relationship.

Why do you stay with him? He isn't good for your self-esteem or happiness and I think you know in your heart that you should end this. Please stop seeing him - he is using you. There really are plenty more fish in the sea and even if you spend time alone it is better than being with this low level bully. You deserve better.

JamesBondFire · 06/02/2019 11:24

I had an ex like this. It will be hard at the time but so much better in the long run... leave him. You know all the reasons why you should as you've outlined them already. Good luck x

Dustyroad63 · 06/02/2019 11:24

Op he sounds horrendous and you deserve to be with someone who actually cares about you. He obviously cares only for himself.
This will only get worse if you leave it and waste more time on this loser.
Good luck and move on and don't look back.

Butterfly84 · 06/02/2019 11:25

Wow OP. You shouldn't be with him because you are unhappy with the relationship in too many ways.

I can't abide tight people. He's not making you feel loved or valued. No money isn't everything but you shouldn't dread going out with him because you've got to financially stretch yourself when he's loaded.

Regarding not wanting to come to the family party, that's strange. Again he's not making you feel valued and loved.

Just end it now.

MrsJane · 06/02/2019 11:26

The first 6 months of a relationship should be the best! All romance and love and amazing sex!

He sounds awful! I'd dump him faster than radioactive waste.

WhiteStuffAllAround · 06/02/2019 11:33

OMG OP, you deserve far better than this man. Give him the push and find someone who treats you properly. Do it now!

Lemontwist · 06/02/2019 11:35

Read your post back. You haven't listed one good thing about him.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/02/2019 11:37

Get rid of him now, while it is still early days.

You really deserve much better.

PenguinPjs · 06/02/2019 11:38

Wow he's a knob!

Tell him to fuck off and be done with it.

Seriously, delete and block and don't waste another second of your precious time stewing over it.