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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH upset that I'm getting a tattoo

304 replies

PoppyCornCob · 19/05/2025 10:34

So to put into perspective, I'm not only the breadwinner in the family but I'm also the one who does all the "traditional" things that wives do at home apart from the cooking because I suck at it. I only take on that role when my DH isn't at home.

I work 50+ hours a week, 5 full time night shifts on top of doing 2 part time HK jobs during the day (2 days at a hotel and another 2 days with the agency). I don't work weekends because I look after our DS and the house while DH is at work. DH is a chef and works 40-45hrs each week. When he gets home, he looks after our son and cooks but that is generally it. Very rarely does he tidy up/clean the house, does the chores, feed the cat, and do admin. I do all of that. When asked, he says he will do it but always prolongs things hence I do it in the end (then he gets annoyed that I didn't let him do it).

We have separate bank accounts. All the big bills comes out of my pocket and the smaller bills comes out of his. At the moment, we are saving up for a trip to America but I have also been setting money aside for a tattoo session to treat myself for working my ass off. When I told him about it, he got very annoyed and he said that he himself would like to get a tattoo but he isn't doing so because we are saving up for the trip to America.

I told him that I'm using my own personal money for this tattoo because quite frankly, it's deserve a break. However, i offered to give him my tattoo money to get his done but he said don't bother. I don't intend to cancel my tattoo session because my DH has gotten annoyed with me but is it unreasonable of me to not take a break? I'm purely running on adrenaline every week and im super exhausted each time I get home. Like, is it wrong for me to get this tattoo for myself?

OP posts:
Anonforeddiscussion · 19/05/2025 12:19

I'd ditch at least one of the jobs and the holiday plans and get some sleep.

Sherararara · 19/05/2025 12:20

I know how you feel OP - I work 27 hrs a day 8 days a week and wanted a lemon muffin at Costa and DH said No.

FigTreeInEurope · 19/05/2025 12:20

Are you getting a tattoo of your husband and kids names, so you don't forget them?

Feelingstrange2 · 19/05/2025 12:22

I think you are tired from working all the time and blowing something stupid out of proportion.

If you are arguing over a tattoo I dread to think what other minor stuff you are getting irritated by.

Get some sleep.

Doyouknowdanieltiger · 19/05/2025 12:22

So Mon to Fri you get 2 hours sleep per day? Worry less about the tattoo and more about the fact that you might well be dead by the end of the year?

This is spot on. You won't see your so grow up if you don't calm the fuck down.

No tattoos, holidays get some fucking sleep!

Butchyrestingface · 19/05/2025 12:22

What has any of this got to do with getting a tattoo? Confused

Get one or don't get one. Your 'working your ass off' is neither here nor there.

PinkFrogss · 19/05/2025 12:22

2 weeks ago you worked night shifts and 2 days during the week. Why did you start working another 2 days in the week? As others have said having that little sleep is incredibly dangerous and sorting out a healthy work life balance needs to be your priority over a tattoo or holiday

feelingbleh · 19/05/2025 12:23

A holiday is not worth it there is absolutely no reason to be working them sort of hours

ZoggyStirdust · 19/05/2025 12:24

fisherlong · 19/05/2025 12:13

People are being deliberately obtuse.Basically OP works her arse off and wants to treat herself to a tattoo out of her own well earned money.
Am certain if she said she wanted to go in a yoga retreat the tone of the replies would be very different!!
Ps am not a tattoo fan but everyone is different.

Edited

And I’m certain that if a husband came on here saying he was the major earner and he wanted to spend some of his money on a tattoo/golf trip/new bike despite them both saving towards something he’d be told it was family money…

Moveoverdarlin · 19/05/2025 12:24

Imagine working your backside off to the degree that OP does and spending the money on a tattoo of all things. God almighty. Even if you gave me the 5k you’ve saved for your US trip I wouldn’t have one.

PinkyFlamingo · 19/05/2025 12:26

Your hours and lack of sleep are simply unsustainable.

LeticiaMorales · 19/05/2025 12:27

I'm going to agree with pp. It's not about the tattoo.
Get a tattoo if you want to, it's your skin, but it does seem odd if you're saving for a trip to America, and you want some down time by having a painful procedure?
I think you need to reorganise your lives a bit better.

C152 · 19/05/2025 12:28

category12 · 19/05/2025 12:08

Presumably you weren't doing it so you could go on an expensive holiday.

No, I did it because I was a single parent and it was necessary to survive, but I haven't read anything to suggest that the OP has only just taken on these multiple jobs for the purpose of a holiday. She just says that 'at the moment, we are also saving for a trip to America'. In any event, I don't think the problem is the holiday or the tatoo; it's that she has a lazy spouse who doesn't appear able to take responsibility for anything, even saving for something he wants. He also wants to punish the OP for his own inaqequacies - he can't be arsed saving for both a holiday and something else he wants, like a tattoo; nor will he accept OP paying on his behalf (which she shouldn't have to).

LeticiaMorales · 19/05/2025 12:28

Doyouknowdanieltiger · 19/05/2025 12:22

So Mon to Fri you get 2 hours sleep per day? Worry less about the tattoo and more about the fact that you might well be dead by the end of the year?

This is spot on. You won't see your so grow up if you don't calm the fuck down.

No tattoos, holidays get some fucking sleep!

This, please ⬆️

Megifer · 19/05/2025 12:29

Just FYI, for those who feel its important that others are aware they dont like tattoos, its actually incredibly easy to not get a tattoo if you don't want.

Step 1 - don't walk into a tattoo parlour
Step 2 - repeat step 1 often

Just thought that might help!

LeticiaMorales · 19/05/2025 12:31

Rosscameasdoody · 19/05/2025 11:58

I can understand the irritation. AS is typical of MN OP has posted for advice on one thing and has ended up getting a pile on for something completely different. Margaret Thatcher famously had less than four hours sleep per night and she was much busier than OP.

She had a housekeeper. Her children were adults. Someone sorted out her wardrobe, her appointments, cooked and put food in front of her.
Oh and she slept most of the weekend.

LeticiaMorales · 19/05/2025 12:33

Lourdes12 · 19/05/2025 11:47

You need sleep not a tattoo

Yeah, and a sharp needle drawing a picture on the skin isn't going to be relaxing!

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 19/05/2025 12:33

If I only slept 2 hours a night I would be saving for botox not a tattoo.

FluentRedPoet · 19/05/2025 12:33

Another point making me doubt the authenticity of the OP is that her partner is a chef but he is apparently home each evening to take over child care before she starts work at 9pm? OK unless he works days in the week and only has to work evenings at the weekend?

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 19/05/2025 12:37

FluentRedPoet · 19/05/2025 12:33

Another point making me doubt the authenticity of the OP is that her partner is a chef but he is apparently home each evening to take over child care before she starts work at 9pm? OK unless he works days in the week and only has to work evenings at the weekend?

You've been out for breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea, right?

Meals other than late dinner are available, and require a chef in most restaurants to cook them.

TheCurious0range · 19/05/2025 12:39

A few weeks ago I was on call, I worked 8:30-6 came home did dinner put ds to bed, went to bed myself around 11:30pm. I got called out at 3am quickly showered and went in , finished there at 7:45am and drive straight into my day job until 5:30pm. Came home ate, DH put ds to bed and I went to sleep at 9pm and slept until 7:30am. I still felt groggy for the next two days. What you are doing isn't possible to sustain.

When I was young and child free.I used to work my main job full time over 4 days, on a Thursday I would work 9:30-9:30 , go home get changed into comfy clothes and go and do a night shift similar to prison/mh/care work so checks and paperwork to do but nothing too strenuous 11pm-7:30am. At 7:30 I would down a sugar free red bull and go to the gym, I'd get home after shower and a sauna around 10am and crash into bed and get up around 4pm, then go out for the evening. Then I'd have Saturday and Sunday off. I did that every week for about 2 years while we were saving for our house, but I was in my mid twenties with no DC and it was once a week.

A tattoo should be the least of your concerns

FluentRedPoet · 19/05/2025 12:43

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 19/05/2025 12:37

You've been out for breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea, right?

Meals other than late dinner are available, and require a chef in most restaurants to cook them.

Fair enough. Good point.

PurpleThistle7 · 19/05/2025 12:44

FluentRedPoet · 19/05/2025 12:33

Another point making me doubt the authenticity of the OP is that her partner is a chef but he is apparently home each evening to take over child care before she starts work at 9pm? OK unless he works days in the week and only has to work evenings at the weekend?

My friend's husband is a chef at a care home so works standard hours and picks their kids up every evening.

Sugargliderwombat · 19/05/2025 12:44

It depends, is he scrimping and saving every penny, given up every treat then you are doing a huge, expensive tattoo? Or is he a bit shit at saving?

FluentRedPoet · 19/05/2025 12:45

PurpleThistle7 · 19/05/2025 12:44

My friend's husband is a chef at a care home so works standard hours and picks their kids up every evening.

Yep totally agree. My mind went chef=work late evenings. You and another poster have put me straight on this.