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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to step back from my husband’s hobby event after all this?

134 replies

CitrusWhite · 20/11/2025 20:48

DH recently became chairman of his hobby group, which means he now has to organise the annual fundraising event. So far it has put us nearly £1,500 out of pocket. I gave him money from my annual bonus for a room deposit of £500 and allowed him to use family money, so about £1,000 has come from me personally.

This is his hobby and, frankly, his ego boost as chair. I’ve kept quiet, avoided taking over and being the default organiser like I did with our wedding, kids’ christenings, birthdays etc. and told myself that if he wants the title and the praise, he can do the legwork!

Still, I’ve sourced and paid for a few bits to make it look good because he’d happily settle for the cheapest, most basic options.

One of the decorations is a balloon arrangement we need to make 15 of. We needed to test one last night or tonight so I can make the rest the day before the event. Yesterday I’d done a 13-hour day and had a long drive to and from the office. He invited a friend round to discuss event plans without asking me, even though I needed to be part of it. I sucked it up and got on with it, even though I was exhausted.

Tonight I told him he needed to do a test balloon arrangement so I know what I’m doing when I make the bulk of them. He couldn’t find a suitable pump, kicked off, and said I was being BU and “lazy”. He gave a nasty tirade about how awful I was being and then texted me 10 minutes later asking if I’d “reflected on how awful” I’d been. His argument being that he has had a busy day and looking for a lump is physical whereas last night I just had to talk - as though his physical exhaustion is worse than my mental exhaustion.

All I actually said was that we should’ve done the balloons last night, and that I’ve already put in a lot of effort and money for his hobby event, not mine and we need to do this test run as we wont get anither chance then it will be done last minute and we will bith be stressed. He insists he’s had a long day and it’s apparently fine for me to sit with a glass of wine while he looks for a pump, but he’s completely dismissing the work I’ve put in sourcing favours, raffle prizes and decorations of which I am sorting during wfh days around housework and school pick ups too (his job is FT office).

Right now I’m thinking: leave him to it. Let him run his event however he likes and remove myself from it entirely. In my head that’s the sensible option, but deep down I know it would be a huge blow to him and it would be embarrassing for him if I didn’t attend - the point I am making maybe not worth the fall out.

I also don’t want to show up to an event full of tacky Temu centrepieces and have people assume I played a part in that.

AIBU?

OP posts:
moderndilemma · 21/11/2025 15:58

CitrusWhite · 20/11/2025 21:10

Our spend isnt recouped against the takings. 100% of the money raised on the night will go to the charity so the money we spent is disregarded.

I have no idea why there is no support fund but its how its always been, with people paying for their food as their ticket to the event.

We booked a big, lavish room because he was convinced lots more people would come to his event than usual and he wanted to put on a good show. He would never admit it but as much as he pretends he is a "take me as you find me" guy, he actually wants people to.look up to him.

Disappointingly, he has not had the extra support he expected he would have had over his predecessors so numbers are as low as ever and no, its not been worth it.

This is so wrong! Everything spent upfront should have come from the charity, agreed by their committee/board. If you wanted to make a £1,500 donation (which is what you seem to have done) the spend of that donation should have been agreed by the committee/board.

Your dh cannot use his own money on a vanity project in the name of the charity.

Irrespective of the money you have lost, if your dh does not understand the above, he should not be the chairman / trustee of a charity.

Zempy · 21/11/2025 16:20

Christ! Are you not completely exhausted and drained by him yet?

VickyEadieofThigh · 21/11/2025 16:32

OP, how much money are you expecting to raise at this "fundraiser"? Because the £1500 you've shovelled at what is essentially a subsidised party might as well have been donated directly to whichever 'cause' the fundraising is meant to support!

And how are funds supposed to be raised? You mentioned that people "pay for their food" via the ticket - so, there's no profit from each ticket?

BillieWiper · 21/11/2025 16:37

It sounds absurd he's having to pay and you're helping at all. It's his hobby, nothing to do with you. I'd be pissed off he's wasting our joint money on this dross anyway. Never mind wanting to spend more and do loads of work to make it look fancy.

GlasgowGal2014 · 21/11/2025 16:46

Agapornis · 21/11/2025 10:03

If there is nothing in the charity's bank account, then claim it from what the event raises. There is a treasurer, and a bank account, right?...
What is the charity's reserve policy amount?

If there's no budget for a fundraiser you can't go and spend £1500 and then claim it back. As the chair the husband should be aware what (if any) budget there is for this event and should have stuck to it.

AGirlCalledJohnny · 21/11/2025 17:51

So basically, he’s a Disney dad to this charity while you do all the hard graft to make it functional. Nah. Glad to hear you’ve taken a step back OP but, if I were you, I’d also book myself in for a hairdo/nails/whatever etc that afternoon, otherwise - and you know I’m right - you’re going to get roped in to getting it all set up. Then he’ll wander in last minute, refreshed and raring to go, and ready to take all the credit. Let those petards hoist themselves Grin

RampantIvy · 21/11/2025 17:54

I can't believe he didn't get sponsors for a fund raiser. We do a beer festival every year. We get the venue for nothing as the owners benefit from the extra footfall and we get all the beers sponsored. Our layout is minimal.

Smartiepants79 · 21/11/2025 18:29

So you’ve currently donated £1500 to this fundraiser??
What a farce.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 22/11/2025 13:15

Feelingsunny · 20/11/2025 21:14

I've organised several charity balls. Didn't put any of my own money in. Blagged great venues, decorations and entertainment free or at discount. Sold tickets, had auctions, made between 1.5-3k per event for the charities. When short of ticket sales the event was cancelled. No balloon extravaganzas needed.

Same here.

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