Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel guilty after matching my husband’s birthday present budget?

117 replies

Iliveforglitter · Today 07:15

Me and DH have birthdays a few days apart, I had my 30th and he had his 33rd last week.

I got him a new travel mug, his broke a few weeks ago and he has never left for work without a cup of coffee in hand so he’s been taking an actual mug in the car. I also got him some clothes for our upcoming holiday as he’s not got many shorts.

The night of his birthday he told me he thought is brought him a new game that he wanted, the game is £80.

it did cross my mind a while back, so I feel a bit guilty now.. but I specifically didn’t spend that much because he brought me an £15 throw (one I had looked at to go in our lounge) for my 30th. he asked me for ideas ages ago, he spoke about potentially organising a trip to Florence for a weekend. and I’ve been directly saying “if you want an idea for my birthday I would love a..”

So I just feel I was trying to be equal, but now I feel guilty that he’s disappointed.. AIBU and should I just buy the game? 😫

OP posts:
Bishbashbush · Today 10:07

Do not buy the game! He can buy it himself with the money he saved on your birthday gift/the trip to Florence that hasn’t materialised.

The fact that he questioned your gift to him after buying you a £15 throw for your 30th birthday, makes him sound really selfish and thoughtless.

I think you both should have a chat about birthdays and expectations around gifts and effort. Birthdays are really important to me and while DP and I don’t do material gifts, effort is very much expected and appreciated by both of us. You deserve better.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · Today 10:10

NovaF · Today 09:35

I think there are bigger issues at play here such as

  • he deemed it acceptable to get you £15 throw for your lounge for your 30th
  • He talked about organising a trip to Florence but didn't bother doing anything. I wonder what you did for him on his 30th, I bet it was thoughtful and you spent a lot.
  • Even when you matched the value of the gift yours was actually thoughtful as it was something he needed for himself.
  • On that how lazy is he that he could not be bothered to replace a travel mug.
  • He had the audacity to feel disappointed you didn't get his grown 33 year old man self a game. Let me guess he games and you do not?
  • You feel guilty when you have nothing to feel guilty about.

👏👏

Freakyfriday777 · Today 10:25

Wow, what a tight arse he is! For my 30th I got a 5 day trip to New York with my oh, all spending money, activities etc and perfume, clothes, all meals out to celebrate with family and friends etc. and we are by no means rich, or even what would be deemed “very comfortable” financially, he just saved up and worked extra hours! If he is going to buy you a £15 throw for a milestone birthday he can buy the game himself! Cheeky fucker.

MaMaMalenka · Today 10:27

Sorry! I pressed YABU but obvs you are NOT! Wrong button ...Ignore my statistics sliver

BIossomtoes · Today 10:30

Freakyfriday777 · Today 10:25

Wow, what a tight arse he is! For my 30th I got a 5 day trip to New York with my oh, all spending money, activities etc and perfume, clothes, all meals out to celebrate with family and friends etc. and we are by no means rich, or even what would be deemed “very comfortable” financially, he just saved up and worked extra hours! If he is going to buy you a £15 throw for a milestone birthday he can buy the game himself! Cheeky fucker.

That’s completely over the top. I’d be bloody furious with my bloke if he thought that was a sensible use of money. But then I’m not a princess.

banmusk · Today 10:31

DON'T YOU DARE BUY HIM THAT GAME!
Why does he think he can get away with treating you like that?
I'll tell you why, it's because he knows it's easy to manipulate you and make you feel guilty.
You have to stop being such a pushover. Stop feeling guilty and if you can't stop then 'fake it till you make it'.

Ophy83 · Today 10:34

You've already spent far more on him than he did on you, despite his birthday being a run-of-the-mill birthday (a throw! In a heatwave!!)

If anything, buy yourself something nice.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · Today 10:34

Id just ask him:
Why do you expect £100 spent on your 33rd birthday when you bought me a £15 throw for the house for my milestone 30th birthday?

This isnt a relationship i envy....

Naunet · Today 10:44

jeomeollibyeoldul · Today 09:52

i think you're both being unreasonable. you for looking up the exact value of a gift he bought you and purposely matching it monetarily, i think that's taking all of the joy out of gift giving. and him for ignoring your hints and getting something so low effort for your 30th birthday, and also for trying to make you feel bad and buy a game for him after the fact!! that's not how gifts work, you cant just demand something else after someone already got you things!

but i think you just need to have an honest chat around expectations for gift giving.

A. She didn't look up the price, she was there.
B. Where did she say she matched the £15? She got him a travel mug AND clothes
C. She told him her expectations when she was giving him ideas for what she'd like.

Katflapkit · Today 10:47

GimmieABreakOr3 · Today 07:18

He bought you a £15 throw for your 30th birthday………….?

A throw is what you buy your ageing Aunt or Granny, not your hot wife's milestone birthday

namethisbird · Today 10:48

A throw for your 30th birthday? Wow that is disgraceful, is he not embarrassed??

Do not buy him the game.

You should have said ‘yes but I thought you would have bought me XYZ and instead I received a throw so I’m matching your gift giving 🙂’

God if you weren’t married I would say dump him.

GimmieABreakOr3 · Today 10:56

Katflapkit · Today 10:47

A throw is what you buy your ageing Aunt or Granny, not your hot wife's milestone birthday

Precisely. That would’ve been the end of the line for me!

GimmieABreakOr3 · Today 10:57

Honestly the bar is so low for men, but women do need to take some accountability too - why would you choose to stay with such a low effort man?

MyDeftDuck · Today 11:11

Hang on a minute……..he bought you a throw costing £15 as a birthday gift FOR YOU HOME?? Tight fisted bugger! And your 30th too……bloody insult!

GimmieABreakOr3 · Today 11:15

Are you both low earners or are there financial difficulties? Do you have kids? Im just a bit surprised that a throw and a travel mug are acceptable gifts for man & wife in early 30s. That’s what I’d gift a mate, or a stocking filler for a relative at Christmas.

Katflapkit · Today 11:18

I think the travel mug was perfectly acceptable gift in response to the throw. The OP says she matched his gift spend.

Lindy2 · Today 11:18

A £15 throw that will go in the lounge for your 30th birthday?

Why the hell would you then spend £70 on a game for him!

Is he always so mean with his money but generous with yours?

I'd not be feeling bad about the gifts you have bought him. I would however, be deciding if this is really a relationship I wanted to stay in.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page