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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Royal Mail delivery man just warned DH I'm spending his money!!

384 replies

VitalsStable · 26/09/2021 10:42

I know not a huge issue in the grand scheme of things but just had a parcel delivered. DH opened door as I was busy heeding the call of nature.

The delivery man handed over the parcel to my husband and then mentioned in a strange voice that it had my name on it and he needed warning that I'm spending his money.

DH was a bit WTF and didn't say anything but was quite cross when he shut the door and said it was completely inappropriate.

The delivery was Christmas presents which I actually paid for from money I earned and although DH is the higher earner in our household the bloody Royal Mail guy wasn't aware of that. DH could have been my brother, a SAHD or had bought something on an account with my name on, I could be the higher earner and DH could be blowing my hard earned cash on frivolities.

Gggrrrr, sad that this idea of women still prevails in 2021.

OP posts:
NewlyGranny · 28/09/2021 11:19

Mummadeze, the "lady of leisure" comment to you WFH deserved a reply of, "Must be nice to have time to stroll around the neighbourhood, admiring the gardens and dropping off a few bundles of happiness!"

See how that goes down next time. 😉

HopeHappy · 28/09/2021 12:04

Agreed - someone's trying to be funny but failing miserably. My DP would have said "well she earns more than me, but whatever!".

Talking to a sexist idiot near us one day - never met the bloke before, he'd never met me and my DP and the first thing he says to me is "What do you do? Are you a housewife?".

To which I truthfully replied, "No I run a £1m turnover business in London actually" and listed out my qualifications. In fairness, he did look suitably embarrassed! Funnily enough he doesn't talk to me any more! No loss as far as I'm concerned!

JonSnowIsALoser · 28/09/2021 12:49

In such situations I say something along the lines of "Did you grow up in the 1950s? You don't look thaaat old." Usually shuts them up.

Mirw · 28/09/2021 14:45

Report it to Royal Mail. If your DH was someone who resorts to domestic abuse, this sort of comment could cost a woman her life. It is not innocent and needs stopping.

BobISMyUncle · 28/09/2021 16:21

Sorry. I'm not reading this thread in the right frame of mind. Not all men are bad. Some are Morris Dancers.

SunshineCake1 · 28/09/2021 16:25

@Mollymoostoo

My husband and in laws say this all the time. I don't waste my time justifying my full time salary, I just tell him if he doesn't want to support his family we can split up. He soon shuts up.
But how many times have you had to say it?
BobISMyUncle · 28/09/2021 17:00

When was it, that we got the vote? It's 2021 FFS! I can't believe we're STILL having to fight this shit!
It's our responsibility right? We're the mums, who bring up our children. Why aren't we doing more to educate our children? The buck stops here. My mother was hopeless. 5 girls and 1 son. My brother was given every opportunity available. Good for him. My dad, was of the mind that if I wore a short (ish) skirt, I was "asking for it". I asked him what "it" was. And he showed me, exactly what "it" was. And then I had him convicted and put inside. And then, he became "it".

Nsmum14 · 28/09/2021 17:54

Our lollipop man is the same. He once said to me, as I was walking home with my then 8 month old, "quick cup of tea, straight to the housework". I'm back at work now, both DP and i are WFH while looking after baby. When DP does the school run lollipop ma invariably comments "She has you well trained".
I find it funny, because I know the guy has good intentions. Very sexist though.

thedarkling · 28/09/2021 18:21

Pathetic. I'd laugh and say actually I earn and spend my own money thanks.

VanGoSunflowers · 28/09/2021 18:29

As long as women allow things like this to blissfully float above their head hmm then nothing will change for them and their sisters, daughters, nieces, stepdaughters etc etc

Completely agree. I saw this on another thread but think it’s quite fitting. It was something like ‘we should be teaching women and girls to be boundaried, not agreeable’

Hell fucking yes we should. I’m sick of ‘smiling sweetly’ and laughing at sexist jokes.

Newkitchen123 · 28/09/2021 18:45

I can honestly say I've never had this! No one has ever spoken to my husband when I was buying a car. Plumbers and electricians etc have never done it either. If they did my husband would have no hesitation in putting them straight.
I can't say it would bother me if the postie made a comment like that. I couldn't get worked up about it

OrangeJuiceAndNoodles · 28/09/2021 19:37

As long as women allow things like this to blissfully float above their head hmm then nothing will change for them and their sisters, daughters, nieces, stepdaughters etc

Yeah, but... postmen are not exactly the most influential people in society. I'd call it out with politicians, influential corporate people, academics etc. Can I be arsed to educate a postman? No.

Same as if a woman on the till at Tesco joked to my DH that I'm 'keeping him in line' or whatever. It's just mindless chatter.

Backwaterjunction · 29/09/2021 13:32

Mumsnet middle class problems, god this place is a whiny shithole

RosesAndHellebores · 29/09/2021 14:47

Completely disagree @Backwaterjunction. It's an equality issue. It isn't a joke, it's a patriarchal minor aggression. If a postie wouldn't say it to a man they shouldn't say it to a woman.

I have a hospital apt next week. I know I will hear men called in as Mr Bob Smith and women as Jane Smith. Another patriarchal minor aggression. If a human respects a man enough to afford him a title that human may exercise the same level of respect towards women.

FuckingFabulous · 29/09/2021 16:35

I've also had one tell me it must be nice to be home all the time, I don't know how good I've got it. Mate, you don't even know why I'm here! The reasons could be tragic. Shut up and deliver my post. Your observations on my life aren't part of the service.

toconclude · 29/09/2021 17:05

@Backwaterjunction

Mumsnet middle class problems, god this place is a whiny shithole
Door's that way->
SunshineCake1 · 29/09/2021 17:17

@Nsmum14

Our lollipop man is the same. He once said to me, as I was walking home with my then 8 month old, "quick cup of tea, straight to the housework". I'm back at work now, both DP and i are WFH while looking after baby. When DP does the school run lollipop ma invariably comments "She has you well trained". I find it funny, because I know the guy has good intentions. Very sexist though.
What are the good intentions?Hmm
MaenadsJustWannaHaveFun · 29/09/2021 17:20

What a fucking moron.

I wouldn't report, but I'd tell him to go fuck himself without even thinking about it. Fuckwit men provoke these Pavlovian responses.

ellyeth · 29/09/2021 17:40

I think it's inappropriate even if a woman with children isn't working outside the home or is earning less money than her partner - she is still working and contributing in many ways and shouldn't be seen as some sort encumbrance.

Even though the remark was obviously meant to be good humoured, it isn't petty or "overthinking" to be annoyed by it. It's the sort of attitude I think most people would not find amusing if applied to their own daughters and granddaughters.

If a woman accepted a parcel addressed to a man, would a similar comment be made - i.e. that he was spending her money - I think not.

MyPatronusIsACat · 29/09/2021 18:41

@VitalsStable Utterly infuriating, and yep, even in 2021 this shit still fucking happens. Men say 'spending his money eh?' but I get women saying it too.

'Spending his money are ya?' a checkout operator will say? I always say (usually fairly cheerily,) 'we both earn money and it goes into our joint account, so I'm spending our money.' Smile

Sometimes they say 'oh right' and look baffled, (a husband pooling money with his wife is probably alien to them.) And other times, they go 'ooooh' Wink like I am offended.

Not offended, just a bit baffled that in 2021, men AND women, think that a woman can't/doesn't earn her OWN money. Weird also, that it's women on checkouts - and in shops (ergo working women,) - who say it. THEY are working and earning money, so why assume I am spending my DH's money?

It's never young people either, always 45+.

Maybe it's some half-arsed attempt to make conversation. Like when my DH bumps into this one man he used to work with, he ALWAYS says 'what's this? Carrying twins?' whilst prodding his belly. Fat shaming him, even when he is only about 13 and a half stone, and 5 ft 10, and on some occasions, slimmer than them.

Some people just have useless social skills, but I do agree that the 'spending his money are ya?' line is super annoying!!!

And like another poster, DH has also had rude comments from random men AND random women, if they see him doing anything for me. Comments like 'got YOU well trained ain't she?' I do say 'he doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do, and neither do I. We do stuff for each other because we want to.'

Some people don't like it when you fire back, and often frown and look annoyed that you gave an answer to their cunty comment. Some don't know how to react and just look blank.. Basically, I am not going to stand there and take that shit.

PeachyPeachTrees · 29/09/2021 19:39

I just bought a new car. It's my name on everything, I'm the only one who's organised everything and the bank transfer came from my account.
When it was delivered to my house the last thing the guy who dropped it off said to me was "don't forget to say thank you to your husband".
WTF! It's my car that I bought with my wages.

Tevion28 · 29/09/2021 20:12

Run of the mill jokey comments i wouldn't get worked up about it.

MyPatronusIsACat · 29/09/2021 20:30

@Tevion28

Run of the mill jokey comments i wouldn't get worked up about it.
It's not a 'jokey comment' though is it? It's everyday sexism. No way would anyone assume a woman had bought a car for her husband, or that the MAN was spending his wife's money. Hmm

These 'jokey comments' usually come from the same numpties who 'joke' about women drivers, and say 'men give orders, and wives nag.' And have the mindset that women shouldn't be promoted at work because they will probably just leave to have babies.

MyPatronusIsACat · 29/09/2021 20:30

@ellyeth

I think it's inappropriate even if a woman with children isn't working outside the home or is earning less money than her partner - she is still working and contributing in many ways and shouldn't be seen as some sort encumbrance.

Even though the remark was obviously meant to be good humoured, it isn't petty or "overthinking" to be annoyed by it. It's the sort of attitude I think most people would not find amusing if applied to their own daughters and granddaughters.

If a woman accepted a parcel addressed to a man, would a similar comment be made - i.e. that he was spending her money - I think not.

This. ^
MyPatronusIsACat · 29/09/2021 20:33

@PeachyPeachTrees

I just bought a new car. It's my name on everything, I'm the only one who's organised everything and the bank transfer came from my account. When it was delivered to my house the last thing the guy who dropped it off said to me was "don't forget to say thank you to your husband". WTF! It's my car that I bought with my wages.
WTF, what a cheek!

This sort of shit happens to me occasionally. Me and DH share a car (don't need 2 fortunately,) and on quite a FEW occasions, I have been subjected to 'you let HER drive your car?!'' It's OUR car, we both pay equally towards it, and this boils my piss. I put them straight immediately. I'm not having that! Hmm Damn nerve!

Again, this comes from women too, but moreso men. And AGAIN, older people, like 45-50+. I am in my 50s !!! So I am not being ageist. I am just stating a fact. It's always middle aged and older people who make these cunty comments.

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