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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be upset he forgot the holiday payment then shouted at me for paying it?

107 replies

MarilynSays · 07/08/2026 08:30

Can I get some perspective on a situation as I'm feeling a bit shocked.
Family holiday booked, think UK based and cost approx £500 for accommodation. Travel and food still would need paying for at the time of the holiday for family of 4.
Reason I am feeling shocked is that we paid the deposit (myself and DH) months ago, and at that time he said "don't worry, I will pay the rest". I politely and in a nice tone reminded him earlier this week to pay, and he just said "oh", like he'd forgotten. Reminded again two days ago, and he barely responded. So yesterday I paid the balance (due date or we would lose our booking) and told him I did feel irritated as he'd said he was going to pay it. He got very cross and shouted "well thanks for making me feel like the bad guy and a complete c*nt!!" I was so shocked as we've been together for a long time think 15 years, and have barely argued about things like this!
I've woken up this morning, he's gone to work, but I'm thinking I will ask him to cover all food and transport as that will be around the same cost that I covered yesterday. It's not really about the money though, I am annoyed he couldn't shoulder the responsibility for paying the final balance, leaving it to me, then shouting at me when I dared say I was upset about it? Am I being unreasonable? We have a joint account and he does earn more than me and contribute more usually without me ever needing to ask, which is why last night shocked me so much. Not sure if I am acting like a spoiled princess. For context I work part time and look after/arrange childcare when I work for our two DC.

OP posts:
Rainallnight · 07/08/2026 08:31

Is this really completely out of character for him?

gamerchick · 07/08/2026 08:31

Does he want to go on holiday? Sounds like he doesn't.

gamerchick · 07/08/2026 08:33

Or money worries you don't know about?

There will be something you're not aware of yet I'd hazard a guess.

Tel12 · 07/08/2026 08:33

Sounds like he doesn't actually want to go. You need to talk.

Sparkletastic · 07/08/2026 08:34

Might he be hiding a cash flow problem?

Mangetouts · 07/08/2026 08:35

If course you're not behaving like a spoiled princess. He's behaving like a brat though. He either couldn't be bothered or was too lazy.

I take it that he did actually want to go on holiday and this wasn't a PA way of getting it cancelled, even if he lost the deposit?

KrazyKatty · 07/08/2026 08:37

Tell him that you won’t be spoken to like that and you expect an apology and an explanation for why he hadn’t paid the balance when he agreed to.

backformoreofthesame · 07/08/2026 08:41

I would be worried about a deeper problem - worried about his job, very busy at work , less cash than he thought he had, dreading the holiday , health ….because it sounds out of character

RazzleDazz1e · 07/08/2026 08:44

Hmmm, and I bet if you didnt do it he would’ve shouted at you for not booking. Think very carefully, OP- have there been any other instances of this? Even on a mucb smaller scale?

MarilynSays · 07/08/2026 08:59

No other instances, which is why I am shocked. I'm not a wallflower either, but because I was shocked I didn't respond in the moment. When he gets home I will discuss with him further in case there's something else going on money wise? Or maybe he's stressed at work? Just so out of character for him to speak to me like that. Thanks for your replies as I don't want to be stewing on this all day! If he doesn't want to go I will take our children on my own!

OP posts:
Ohshitiveturnedintomymother · 07/08/2026 09:06

I suppose it depends if you were planning on contributing to the costs of the holiday or expected your husband to pay for everything else. The way you have said he needs to pay the costs of food etc suggest you didn’t expect to pay for the trip.
I’d be annoyed too if you expected everything to be paid for you. Working part time should mean you still contribute.

Moonnstarz · 07/08/2026 09:08

Do you always have separate money and pay for things separately?

Mooselander · 07/08/2026 09:10

You’re a family. Why do you not have a joint account?

LizandDerekGoals · 07/08/2026 09:12

I dont think he had any intention of going. Dont pay for anything while there. Pretend you have left your cards at home.

LizandDerekGoals · 07/08/2026 09:13

If he doesn't want to go I will take our children on my own!
And then he gets a nice week off from parenting.

gillefc82 · 07/08/2026 09:14

I’d have told him the words he was looking for were “thank you”. Ungrateful swine. I know it’s not really about the money, but if it had been agreed that he would be paying the balance for the accommodation and you were covering the food costs, then it’s perfectly reasonable to flip that around.

But first things first is an apology for the way he spoke to you. Stressed or not, there’s no need.

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 07/08/2026 09:14

LizandDerekGoals · 07/08/2026 09:12

I dont think he had any intention of going. Dont pay for anything while there. Pretend you have left your cards at home.

And if the dh does the same going forward?

watchingthishtread · 07/08/2026 09:16

There is more to this story. There's a reason he didn't pay it despite being reminded and there's a reason he got so angry. Reserve judgement until you find out what's behind it.

TheOnlyWayIsIlford · 07/08/2026 09:32

Did you pay from your joint account? Woukd the spending during the holiday usually come from the joint account? Had he not put enough money in the joint account?

But yes, just say you were surprised and upset about the way he talked to you and is he ok.

Nessiesfoodprovider · 07/08/2026 09:59

The one tiny instance where you were perhaps unreasonable was not reminding him again yesterday that he needed to pay the balance. I suspect strongly though that his reaction would have been similar.
It's unsupportable that he spoke to you in that manner. Completely unacceptable.
Is there something that's worrying him, though, if this is outwith his usual character? That's the only instance in which it could be explained.

MarilynSays · 07/08/2026 10:10

We have a joint account for bills, food shopping, household things etc. things like this we usually share costs 50/50 which I am happy to do even though he does earn more. Thanks for the advice everyone. I will discuss calmly with him later and hopefully he is happy to cover transport and food costs when we actually do go. But I'm going to check he's not got worries of another kind as well, and ask for an apology as I don't want to ever be spoken to like that again!

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 07/08/2026 10:18

I couldn’t live like this. I’d just pay from our money (pooled) and then it really doesn’t matter who paid it, would be more who had capacity, not this fluffing around and angst.

Balloonhearts · 07/08/2026 10:19

I think I'd have shouted back at him Well thanks for acting like a complete cunt! By the way, you're fucking welcome!

ToKittyornottoKitty · 07/08/2026 10:22

Sounds like he’s got money worries, I’d guess he forgot and didn’t have the money available for it. His reaction was out of order

30DegreesHighAndRising · 07/08/2026 10:41

Crikey you're being very passive here and looking for ways to excuse his behaviour. I don't understand what you mean by
"hopefully he is happy to cover transport and food costs when we actually do go"

Why isn't the holiday coming from the joint account?
Also, he doesn't join you unless he properly apologises.