For background H and I separated last year, we are reasonably amicable although my main issues with him are his sense of entitlement/lack of budgeting ability/him not seeing the children as his responsibility.
I booked a Christmas related activity back in September for the 4 of us, he said he would pay his share. He's just messaged me this morning saying he can't afford it so won't come.
I suspect this is is lack of ability to budget ( i know he is going out on dates etc so it's not like he is totally skint) but also obviously christmas is an expensive time and i know he will be genuinely gutted if he can't come as it's a tradition thing we've done every year for about 4 years now. I'm tempted to let him come anyway, i have already paid and i doubt i can get a refund for one ticket. BUT he has a history of taking advantage of me and i don't want to set a precedence. I am not totally skint and can afford to absorb the cost of his ticket.
WWYD?
YANBU - let him come, it's good for the kids, you can afford it
YABU - don't let him take the piss out of you, take someone else instead