Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Argument with husband tonight

87 replies

colourPink · 23/11/2022 20:35

So my husband and I have a joint bank account where both of our wages go into the same account each month. We essentially earn the same (I do earn slightly more but my pension outtake is so high we take home about the same).

Today, my sister text me and asked me to borrow some money (£50) and I agreed. My husband is now fuming that I didn't check in with him about it and that I lent her money in the first place. He's super anti (and always has been) lending money and we've had a row about it as it's "our money". He's not wrong and we always check in before big purchases but this wasn't that to me.

I feel that I don't need his permission to spend my money. Of course it's our money but I should be able to do this without having to ask first. I also think that she is paying us back on Friday, so two days time. We will not miss that £50 in the next two days. I tried to explain to him that IF we were struggling or needed that money he would have a right to be annoyed but as long as she pays it back when it's due - what's the problem?

He feels that my sister has got herself in a financial mess and she's not our responsibility. She owes my other sister quite a substantial amount which she's paying back monthly. I told him that agreement is between the two of them and nothing to do with us. My sister is 45 and we're both 27 so he also feels like shes built this kind of life for herself and shouldn't even be asking us. I've always had the impression he doesn't particularly like her.

She's a single mum that wanted to go for dinner and drinks with her friends tonight - she doesn't go out much and I didn't want her to miss out. He doesn't know why I lent the money as he didn't ask but I know if I tell him he'll just be angrier as it wasn't even essential.

I hate that he's kicked off and stomped around like a toddler and I don't feel like I can back down as I genuinely didn't mind lending the money. We've had quite a heated argument about it so I'm feeling rubbish now.

But AIBU?

OP posts:
4thdegree · 23/11/2022 20:36

this is why it’s foolish to pool money (other than a joint account you both pay a set amount into that covers the mortgage and bills etc)

LongStoryShorty · 23/11/2022 20:40

My husband wouldn’t even know about something like that.

Heartsofstone · 23/11/2022 20:46

He’s being ridiculous, it’s joint money yes but does he always expect to know what you spend and on what ? That would be controlling.

Speakingofdinosaurs · 23/11/2022 20:46

He does have some very valid points - a 45 yr old borrowing from her 27yr old sister, whilst owing another sister a ‘substantial amount’.
If he doesn’t like her that would make it more of an issue for him and he could also be worried that you’ll become the go-to bail out person - which actually is very likely as she seems unable to get her finances in order.

However, having said all that, I agree with the previous poster that you should each have your own accounts and use the joint account for bills etc plus an agreed amount put in savings each month.
All women should always have their own account!

Zanatdy · 23/11/2022 20:49

Is he like this about any other purchases you make?

StarlingC · 23/11/2022 20:50

He does have some very valid points - a 45 yr old borrowing from her 27yr old sister, whilst owing another sister a ‘substantial amount’.

I thought this too.

FantasticButtocks · 23/11/2022 20:52

Can you say to him -

look, I need to be able to either give or lend the odd £50 to someone if I want to. Or buy a silly hat for myself... For this reason I will now be keeping back X amount of my salary every month to spend as I like. You should do the same. It's called autonomy.

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/11/2022 20:52

4thdegree · 23/11/2022 20:36

this is why it’s foolish to pool money (other than a joint account you both pay a set amount into that covers the mortgage and bills etc)

Agreed. That's what we do and I do what I want with my own money. I couldn't stand it any other way.

DashboardConfessional · 23/11/2022 20:54

4thdegree · 23/11/2022 20:36

this is why it’s foolish to pool money (other than a joint account you both pay a set amount into that covers the mortgage and bills etc)

It's why we don't have a joint account! If after bills and saving I want to lend £50, buy 10 scratchcards or a pair of shoes I don't need, that's my business.

colourPink · 23/11/2022 20:54

Zanatdy · 23/11/2022 20:49

Is he like this about any other purchases you make?

No he's not. I could go to the shops tomorrow and buy myself whatever and he wouldn't care and vice versa. You can't have a joint account if you're going to worry about purchases the other person might make. He is only like this about lending money.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/11/2022 20:56

Why are you subsidising your sister's drinking and undermining your other sister who has obviously said 'no way' to being tapped for yet more money?

Loics · 23/11/2022 20:58

I think he has a point. £50 for dinner and drinks is very different to £50 for food for the week.
DP has a brother like this, also asks for money and also owes other family members quite a lot of money. He knows what his brother is like so won't lend money anyway, but I would be annoyed if he did. It doesn't sound like you're guaranteed to get the money back on time, if at all.

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/11/2022 20:59

I wouldn't lend the money either but I'd make my own decision about it and not be told by DH.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/11/2022 21:04

I suspect the plan would be repay the first amount (and probably stir you up about how dare DH tell you what to do with your money) and then ask for more next time.

She's run out of funds from her latest mug (wonder if she's borrowed from other family or her own friends as well?) And she's now moved on to you.

sheepdogdelight · 23/11/2022 21:09

I wouldn't be keen if DH lent money for non-essentials to a family member who already owed money to another family money. If she can pay it back in 2 days, why not wait until then to go out?

But I suggest you each need some money that isn't joint money, and then you can spend it how you each wish.

CrystalCoco · 23/11/2022 21:10

You both earn and you both should be able to spend (within reason) on things of value to you - each will have different values and should essentially 'butt out' on each other's purchases / spends / whatever.

I suspect the dislike of your sister is what's causing this argument rather than the principle of lending 50 quid to be repaid in two days time.

Flamingogirl08 · 23/11/2022 21:10

Yanbu and I disagree with other posters who are sitting in judgement about the reason for needing the money. £50 for 2 days so your sister can have a bit of downtime with friends. No issue with that at all

beAsensible1 · 23/11/2022 21:11

If she is reliable and will pay you back then thats fine.
A bit weird that he's questioning why you transferred £50 for anything really, i would start separating some of your money for yourself.

I also don't think its fair to judge your sister, if she's taken out a family loan (because thats what it is really, same as bank but no interest ) and is making payment weekly that is proving responsible behaviour. Maybe she's come up short at the end of the month and would like to participate with her mates for once.

Probably feeling really shitty that she has to ask her 27 year old sister for money as well. Help your family and tell him find something else to do other than judging your family.

bigfamilygrowingupfast · 23/11/2022 21:12

I'd be absolutely furious if my DH had lent someone, family or not, money without talking to me first about it. Whether it was £10 or £10,000! It would be the same the other way round too. We have a joint account for bills etc, and then our own separate accounts for savings etc, but most purchases we discuss with each other

NoSquirrels · 23/11/2022 21:12

I think having a ‘no lending from joint funds’ policy is OK.

I also think if you want to lend your sister money you should be able to do so, so you should each have some discretionary money every month that’s yours alone.

colourPink · 23/11/2022 21:16

Just to clarify - he wasn't checking up on what I was spending, we have a joint account and when discussing what bills we still had to come out he noticed it as well as me telling him that had happened (we are very honest with each other).

I can assure you I am 100% my own woman and have 100% freedom to spend my money as I wish. The joint account is not the issue here.

We've had a joint account for 6 years and it's never been a problem. It's what works for us so each to their own.

His only issue is lending the money to my sister - nothing else. I'm not asking for opinions on how we distribute and store our money just on whether you think I should have checked in with him first. She's always skint and struggling FYI - this is not uncommon behaviour for her. I just don't usually lend her anything.

OP posts:
ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 23/11/2022 21:16

This is a major wake-up call.

It would be a cold day in hell before I'd ask anyone's permission to spend, lend or squander my own earnings.

You need to set up your own account. Each contribute X to the household account each month to cover outgoings, and then use the surplus as she/he sees fit.

colourPink · 23/11/2022 21:18

@bigfamilygrowingupfast interesting as this is how he feels. I'm just trying to take a step back and not let emotions take over!

If it was anything more than £50 I think I would have had a chat with him out of respect but as it'll be in our account in 48 hrs (hopefully lol) I didn't even think about it.

OP posts:
AllotmentTime · 23/11/2022 21:20

Who else has he been anti you loaning money to?
Because tbh his judgement sounds better than yours when it comes to this sister. Already in debt and trying to borrow more for non essentials does not exactly scream reliability and it’s understandable that he’s worried you might be the next cash cow.

redflowerbluethorns · 23/11/2022 21:21

I'd be unhappy if my DH lent joint money to somebidy without checking with me first, especially if it was for non-essentials.
You should have separate accounts so that you can keep a small amount of spending money per month rather than use money from the joint account.