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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

This isn't enough for Christmas....

290 replies

bridgeovertroubledwatrr · 13/12/2021 17:11

Strangely this is my first proper boyfriend at 29Confused
Anyway been together 7 months and I'm not sure if I have enough for him for Christmas
So far
Adidas tee
Vans tee
Adidas jogging bottoms
Backback
Pjs
Socks

Spent around £120
Do I get more bits or am I okay with that?
Don't want to come across stingy but then don't want to be ott
Is this okay ?

OP posts:
NameChange776543 · 15/12/2021 02:04

also he doesn’t ask me for it. He’s actually younger than me but comes from a very wealthy background so anything I could give on a small budget would be a bit disappointing. I’ve made crafty bits in the past but it always seems like not much. He wasn’t working for a while so I covered rent (we’ve lived together 2 years) which is why he owes me.. it wasn’t for frivolous things, just food, rent, petrol. His parents could have helped but he felt embarrassed. I’ll get it back and he’s now working and he sends me something every time he’s paid so my overdraft is getting smaller as the amount he owes me goes down. He’d already maxed his overdraft in year 1 of uni before we got together so couldn’t borrow more… I know it sounds like a lot but I know other students spend money on alcohol and taxis for nights out and it definitely amounts to more than what I’ve spent over the year. I don’t drink or eat meat (and I only eat 2 meals a day as I don’t crave anymore) so I can keep my food bill down to around £50 for the month. I don’t pay for the gym or any societies, don’t buy clothes really (maybe 1 pair of trousers every 18 months) and just generally keep my money for gifts. It would usually be 100% in budget if my boyfriend had been working the whole time.

Harmonypuss · 15/12/2021 02:26

My partner and I are 7yrs in and he's not spent £20 (yes, twenty) in TOTAL over all that time for all my birthdays, xmases and valentines days put together (and that includes cards)!

Dibbydoos · 15/12/2021 07:22

That sounds like a lovely stash of stuff. I think it's enough tbh and unlike others on here I'd probably spend that amount on a bf. IME, once you get married, what is spent typically gets reduced esp if you have kids!

I hope he lives his pressies!

LaDamaDeElche · 15/12/2021 07:50

@NameChange776543

also he doesn’t ask me for it. He’s actually younger than me but comes from a very wealthy background so anything I could give on a small budget would be a bit disappointing. I’ve made crafty bits in the past but it always seems like not much. He wasn’t working for a while so I covered rent (we’ve lived together 2 years) which is why he owes me.. it wasn’t for frivolous things, just food, rent, petrol. His parents could have helped but he felt embarrassed. I’ll get it back and he’s now working and he sends me something every time he’s paid so my overdraft is getting smaller as the amount he owes me goes down. He’d already maxed his overdraft in year 1 of uni before we got together so couldn’t borrow more… I know it sounds like a lot but I know other students spend money on alcohol and taxis for nights out and it definitely amounts to more than what I’ve spent over the year. I don’t drink or eat meat (and I only eat 2 meals a day as I don’t crave anymore) so I can keep my food bill down to around £50 for the month. I don’t pay for the gym or any societies, don’t buy clothes really (maybe 1 pair of trousers every 18 months) and just generally keep my money for gifts. It would usually be 100% in budget if my boyfriend had been working the whole time.
You sound generous to a fault. I really hope you don't end up getting taken advantage of. What does he buy for you and how does he help you out when you need it? From your posts it sounds like very one-sided giving on your part. Someone who at such a young age would borrow from their student girlfriend when they have a very wealthy family to help them doesn't sound like a particularly good person. He's embarrassed to ask his family for money, but has no shame in being fully supported by you!
LaDamaDeElche · 15/12/2021 07:57

@BurbageBrook

Can't believe people on here are so tight. If you've said 'I love you', over £100 is totally normal.
I think a lot of the posters saying this are married or in long term relationships. Unless you're well off, once you have kids most of the budget goes on them. I think it's normal when you're in a relationship when you're younger to spend more. I had an ex boyfriend who used to spend obscene amounts on me on special occasions and I spent more than I could really afford on him too.
FrancescaContini · 15/12/2021 08:01

“If you’ve said I love you, over £100 is totally normal” - seriously?? There’s a rule? When you’re given a gift, do you work out how much it cost?

That’s so depressing. Give me a lovely bunch of flowers or a good book or bottle of wine - just one single thing that has been chosen with thought - over a mass of stuff that happens to cost an arbitrary amount of money any day.

Contactmap · 15/12/2021 08:02

I think he is bullshiting you about the wealthy background. Have you met his family?

CSJobseeker · 15/12/2021 08:31

He’s actually younger than me but comes from a very wealthy background so anything I could give on a small budget would be a bit disappointing.

This is so, so wrong. Wealth does not diminish the value of a small personal present which was made/purchased with thought by the giver.

If he is the one who's given you this impression, bin him. Greed and snobbery is really unattractive.

CSJobseeker · 15/12/2021 08:35

[quote NameChange776543]@ConfusedAhhh
Not to derail thread but I’ve been with him since 19. I do have an overdraft that I’ve used (a few grand) but it’s a student overdraft so no interest… I have until 1 year post graduation to pay it off. I graduate in 2023 as I’m doing a 6 year degree so I have the time to sort it. Boyfriend actually owes me just over £3k so I could have afforded the watch if he didn’t owe me money. I do have some money in a help fo buy ISA so not completely without money if needs be. I get no help from parents as they’re in their late 60s/70s now and both retired.[/quote]
He's wealthy but owes you £3k? What the actual fuck?

Seriously - wise up.

And your overdraft may be interest free for 1 year after graduating, but I can guarantee that you will find it tough to pay it off in that year. You'll have work expenses, rental deposit, new work clothes etc. I took longer than a year to pay off my student overdraft and so did most people I knew.

hotmeatymilk · 15/12/2021 08:45

Can't believe people on here are so tight. If you've said 'I love you', over £100 is totally normal.
Grin Oh, is THAT the rule! First Christmas with DP, around 7 months together and madly in love, think I got him a cookbook and a bottle of Hendo’s. Six years in he’s getting a saaucepan set and I’m getting a pillow – we’re going “shall we just get stuff we need, and wrap it” instead of treats and fripperies.

Fluffy20 · 15/12/2021 08:53

Ive been with my husband 11 years and i spend around £200 on him xx

Ragwort · 15/12/2021 09:12

confused you have bought your boyfriend an Apple Watch even though he owes you £3k? Hmm . Have I read that right?

You need to seriously sort your finances out, my DS is a Uni student and has to manage on his loan, part time work, savings etc and has a managed to save and wouldn't dream of spending so much on non essentials.

Kate0902900908 · 15/12/2021 09:26

I think those gifts sound lovely and enough. I would add a few token small gifts to bulk it out, chocolates an small aftershave ect. I always go big at birthday and Christmas with my OH. We don’t have children and I do love spoiling him because he’s such a good guy. This year I’ve spent about £500 but we’re married and 8 years in.

SavoyCabbage · 15/12/2021 09:45

@NameChange776543

I genuinely woke up in the night thinking about your first post, and that was before the three thousand pounds debt update. If you were my daughter I'd be giving you a shake.

Nobody here knows the ins and outs of your relationship but to many of us here have life experiences that make us feel wary of the situation that you are in.

Maybe you are being taken advantage and maybe you aren't but for me that is almost irrelevant.

Lending someone three thousand pounds when he wasn't working and you are twenty three and at university and at the very start of your life is reckless.

He was in his overdraft because he's bad with money. Now you are in overdraft too because he's bad with money.

The difference is that he has his parents to fall back on (when he's not falling back on you) but you don't have this luxury.

He has absolutely no right whatsoever to feel any sort of disappointment that the gifts you may buy him aren't expensive because he's the one that's got no money.

QuillBill · 15/12/2021 09:46

I would add a few token small gifts to bulk it out.

What! Confused it's already abounding with bulk and token gifts. They have only been together a few months!

Storminamu · 15/12/2021 10:20

He comes from a very wealthy family but you are buying him loads of clothes? And he owes you money? What the hell? Buy him a nice token gift that you think he will like - eg a book or some nice ornament from a vintage shop, or a nice tie or something. I wouldn't spend more than £25 in these circumstances. Why is he leaching off you?

LouBan · 15/12/2021 11:06

I think that is more than enough. What my DH and I have always done with regards to our Christmas gifts for each other, is set an amount for the main present. It is different every year depending what we feel we can afford. Then we also do stockings for each other. The budget for the stocking is £25 and there must be a minimum of 5 gifts in it. This is to ensure they are all small things and the whole £25 isn't spent on one things.
Some people, like me, like lots of things to open so my DH usually uses the budget to buy two or three things. I know he would prefer me to spend the whole budget on one big thing.
Just an idea for future Christmases.

NameChange776543 · 15/12/2021 11:59

@CSJobseeker
He spends a lot on me, as do his parents, but they give him the money. They all always tell me it’s too much. I spend Christmas with them (my parents live over 7 hours from his and I prefer his family to my dad who is not nice) and I don’t want to look like I’m using them. I grew up in a 2 bedroom house for 6 of us whilst his house has more bedrooms than people who live there on the south coast.

If I told his parents he owed me money I’d get it back within the hour from them and he’d be ripped to shreds by them for letting me pay his way. They genuinely are very good and he and his parents provide a lot of support. They would cover it before it hit the point of me having to pay interest. I appreciate this is a very privileged position to be in but I’m only in the position due to him in the first place. It wasn’t really his fault, probably more mine. I just covered full rent and expenses for 4 months and what he owed mounted up. I should have something at the start, even if I just dropped his parents a text myself. The presents budget was set aside before the debt also as gift giving is important to me and in my mind I’m technically not in debt as it’s his.. but I do know it’s legally mine.

He’s working now after being badly depressed due to lockdown (hence the shame and embarrassment aspect) and I’ve received some money each month (Well, we actually have a joint account since we rent a house and have other joint expenses which he is paid into but I add a portion each month to my personal account). He also isn’t doing a medical based degree and should have graduated (he’s younger but same year as me) now but has taken a year out. Hopefully by 2023 he’ll have a graduate job and will have paid off what he owes me whilst I finish my final year.

Also if the worst comes I have enough in my help to buy ISA to transfer it out to cover it but I’d absolutely hate to do that as it was mostly saved from birthday money (from friends, aunts, sometimes parents). I actually wasn’t terrible with money until the last few months when he’s been ill. I am young and I’m aware posters think I’m stupid and we won’t last another 4 years but I genuinely think this is just a blip (although no promises we will last, I'm absolutely aware of that). It’s been difficult seeing someone you love lose themselves when they’ve done their bit by getting medication and it just wasn’t helping despite increasing dosage etc. I didn’t want to be another source of pressure when I was already worried I’d come back from placement to find him dead. It sounds dramatic but the pandemic has taken a huge toll on pretty much everyone I know mentally.

I’m hoping by next Christmas it will have been cleared. I’ve considered ‘accidentally’ saying something at Christmas in front of his parents (e.g. “thanks for sending that across, you now owe X”). It might take the pressure off both of us.

But anyway, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t derail the thread..

CSJobseeker · 15/12/2021 12:17

You come from a poor background; you are a student so you are living on borrowed money; you don't get given money by your parents; but you are lending money to a man who has access to plenty of money - all he needs to do is ask. And you're also getting into debt to buy him gifts.

I bet you didn't have the luxury of taking a year out, do you? You don't have the luxury of knowing that you can ask your parents to bail you out, do you? This man has a huge cushion that will protect him throughout his life - you don't. You need to wise up to that fact and protect yourself.

his parents provide a lot of support. They would cover it before it hit the point of me having to pay interest.

If you split up with him in the meantime, his parents won't cover anything.

This whole situation is so dysfunctional and wrong. When his parents say you've spent too much - they mean it

CSJobseeker · 15/12/2021 12:28

Also, his parents didn't get rich by giving away more than they can afford. I can guarantee you that they (and he) can fully afford the gifts they give you.

You need to stick to what you can afford as well. No-one who is worth knowing would get offended or upset about receiving an inexpensive gift from a skint student.

NameChange776543 · 15/12/2021 12:29

I guess you’re right that I don’t have those luxuries. It’s difficult to navigate when I have accepted things from them I probably shouldn’t have. They recently helped me to seek private health care, they’ve taken me on multiple holidays, completely covered a hugely expensive birthday meal for me. They insist that I’m family.

I know it’s all relative and I could bake or cook a meal but I tend to do those things anyway. I think if we split up they’d still send the money across but I know I can’t rely on that.

DynamiteFilledRadish · 15/12/2021 12:32

@MistyGreenAndBlue

7 months? I'd probably have hit him a card and some beer Grin
Same.
LaDamaDeElche · 15/12/2021 13:02

@NameChange776543

I guess you’re right that I don’t have those luxuries. It’s difficult to navigate when I have accepted things from them I probably shouldn’t have. They recently helped me to seek private health care, they’ve taken me on multiple holidays, completely covered a hugely expensive birthday meal for me. They insist that I’m family.

I know it’s all relative and I could bake or cook a meal but I tend to do those things anyway. I think if we split up they’d still send the money across but I know I can’t rely on that.

They wouldn't keep giving you money if you split up, certainly not long term. Imagine if he had another girlfriend, she wouldn't be happy about that. I was with my ex husband from when I was very young and we split after nearly 10 years together. I loved his family and he loved mine, but we don't stay in touch as life moves on, the break up was a bit messy, we went on to have other partners and children etc, as you probably will.

You can be grateful to people for the care and love they show you without showering them with unaffordable gifts. If they measure your appreciation in monetary terms, then they don't love you like you believe they do. It's something you should think about, as you don't want to pass this mindset on to any kids you have - the feeling that you have to give things to people for them to feel valued or to love you.

Christmas, valentines, birthdays etc, they are just days and of course it's lovely to mark them and give a gift, but the most important days are all the other normal days of the year, and that's where you get to show people, and them to you, how you feel about them by small acts of love and kindness. These things go so much further than grand gestures or expensive gifts.

NameChange776543 · 15/12/2021 13:09

@LaDamaDeElche

I’m confused by what another girlfriend would have to do with it? If I was a new girlfriend and found out my partner owed someone £3,000+ I’d want her to get her money back. It would show to me that he hadn’t financially used her intentionally and could leave a relationship amicably. I’d only hope for what he owes me back.. we have it all in a spreadsheet.

If I ever borrowed money from friends as a child and my mother found out (I’m talking 50p for a bag of penny sweets) she would always return it even if it came to light after we’d had an argument with said child and even if it meant she would be in difficulty. I didn’t do it often, I might add.

LaDamaDeElche · 15/12/2021 13:13

[quote NameChange776543]@LaDamaDeElche

I’m confused by what another girlfriend would have to do with it? If I was a new girlfriend and found out my partner owed someone £3,000+ I’d want her to get her money back. It would show to me that he hadn’t financially used her intentionally and could leave a relationship amicably. I’d only hope for what he owes me back.. we have it all in a spreadsheet.

If I ever borrowed money from friends as a child and my mother found out (I’m talking 50p for a bag of penny sweets) she would always return it even if it came to light after we’d had an argument with said child and even if it meant she would be in difficulty. I didn’t do it often, I might add.[/quote]
Sorry, I misunderstood what you meant, as I read in your other posts that they don't know about the loan. I didn't realise you were talking about that. I thought you meant money in general, to help you cover costs or whatever if you split up.

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