Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to say women living with men don't own toolboxes

251 replies

54321nought · 23/08/2021 10:17

straw poll!

I don't really know if this is true, I just want to see what the response is on here!

YABU - I live with a man, and I own a toolbox, or share equal ownership of the household toolbox

YANBU - I live with a man, and the toolbox in our household is his property, or mostly viewed as his property

If you don't live with a man, please don't vote! Although, please comment as much as you like.

This is one YABU that I am hoping to "lose"!

Thank you

OP posts:
MangoBiscuit · 23/08/2021 10:28

DP moved in with me, and my toolbox! We actually have a tool cupboard, it has the decorating stuff, plastering tools, tile cutter, power tools etc. in it. Mostly it's my stuff, but he added a few bits when he moved in.

BaronessBomburst · 23/08/2021 10:28

The toolbox is mine, as are most of the tools in it. DH's tools are mostly scattered randomly throughout the garage.

PenCreed · 23/08/2021 10:29

DH owned a toolbox and a drill when we got married, but didn't ever use them. I think his dad bought them for him when he got his flat. I owned a few (screwdrivers, hammer), but it's basically all mine now. He doesn't do DIY!

ElephantOfRisk · 23/08/2021 10:29

We have a shared one plus I have my own. I like to keep one handyin the house with just everyday basics like screwdrivers, pliers, allan keys and a hammer. Main one is in the garage with a bigger variety of stuff but DH keeps robbing my basics and leaving them all over the place.

Mushtullo · 23/08/2021 10:29

We hire people for all DIY, but the toolbox is no more DH’s rather than mine than is the stepladder or vacuum cleaner — they’re just household implements.

Fernando072020 · 23/08/2021 10:29

Dh and I are equally useless when it comes to DIY. so all tools are shared.

His mum however is an expert at home repair and building stuff!

Flatdisco · 23/08/2021 10:29

Yabu it's just our joint tool box. Items bought together as needed. My fella did come with a tool box when I got him.

ThisBeTheName · 23/08/2021 10:29

YABU. When my DH moved in with me, he disbanded my toolbox and mixed my stuff in with his, in his toolbox.

When I discovered what he'd done, I went mad. I was very proud of my toolbox, I had created it myself as my mother had always had her own one and it was the first thing I did when I bought my own property.

As DH had even got rid of my physical toolbox Hmm I ripped him a new one, and bought myself a new tool kit.

QueenPeary · 23/08/2021 10:29

Haven't voted as I'm now single, but when I lived with ex it was considered "the" toolbox but it was actually mine. I bought it, I bought all the tools and knew what we had, and I was the only one who used them as he didn't do DIY (like much else he "didn't do" a la Mariah Carey Hmm).

I love having the right tool for the job and having cause to go shopping for a new one! My latest great buy was a magnetic DIY glove that you wear on one hand and it holds all the screws and washers etc so you're not always dropping them 😍

As a lot of people live alone or will do at some point, everyone should be on top of basic DIY skills and tool use. I teach it to both my DD and my DS.

Miniroofbox · 23/08/2021 10:30

When I lived with my ex the toolbox was mine. He was useless at any kind of diy.

cate16 · 23/08/2021 10:30

I have my own with smaller/lighter bits in, DH often borrows it when he need lightweight tools for difficult to reach jobs.

ThatSunnyCorner · 23/08/2021 10:30

Of course I've got a toolbox. I had more tools than DH when we met. He had never even heard of a bradawl.

ditalini · 23/08/2021 10:30

My toolbox, my tools. I do most of the fixing of things around here and the buying and storing of tools.

Miniroofbox · 23/08/2021 10:30

And you might want to give those of us who did live with a man but currently don’t an option to vote

hellcatspangle · 23/08/2021 10:30

I live with a man, and it's a household toolbox that I'm as likely to use as he is (actually probably more so!)

Hoppinggreen · 23/08/2021 10:30

We have a toolbox, most items in it were bought with joint money so I regard it as “ours”. The sander is mine though

MMMarmite · 23/08/2021 10:30

I have my own tool plastic bag 😁 we don't live together yet, but when we do there will be no point me buying tools as he owns every tool known to mankind.

Comedycook · 23/08/2021 10:31

When we moved in together he brought his toolbox with him...I was previously living alone and didn't have one. I don't go in there or do any diy or repairs really.

Wagglerock · 23/08/2021 10:31

We jointly brought and jointly use our toolbox.

QueenPeary · 23/08/2021 10:31

ThisBeTheName Shock

I would not be happy!

Comedycook · 23/08/2021 10:31

Oh and he calls it "HIS toolbox"

HawksAreRed · 23/08/2021 10:32

Me and DH have been together since we were teens. He works in a trade so has lots of tools, so I've never needed by own personal supply.

TheStarMachine · 23/08/2021 10:32

I brought my own toolbox to the marriage and my husband recently bought me a nice new one (at my request). It's only hammers and screwdrivers and a drill etc, no big power tools, but is is definitely my area, not his. He is constantly amazed that I know the names of various tools that he has no clue about.

Sirzy · 23/08/2021 10:32

I find it worrying that 26% of respondents at the moment don’t seem to have access to the toolbox!

Original poster
54321nought · 23/08/2021 10:33

@Miniroofbox

And you might want to give those of us who did live with a man but currently don’t an option to vote
Please feel free to vote about how it was when you did live with a man
OP posts: