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Is this stingy or am I being unreasonable?

75 replies

Warriorbadass · 17/02/2024 12:30

I have been dating a man for about four months. We have come on a ski trip together with my teenage son. I have paid for all my expenses and my son's expenses, but something feels a bit off around the money thing. He has been coming here (it's a freebie for him) for many years and I had to pay his friend in cash (which I was fine about). On the first day I had a ski accident and ended up in hospital and now I am on crutches so sadly can't ski. Yesterday the BF took my son skiing which he offered to do and seemed really happy about, but whilst they were out all day, he made my son buy all his drinks for him using my bank card which I gave to my son for his expenses. He came back and made a joke saying that my son had bought him all his drinks on my card because he had mentioned that ski lessons are usually really expensive. I just felt that my son might have felt like he had to do it and I don't know any other adult (even if joking) who would have accepted a kid paying for them. It just feels so petty and transactional. It's not about the money (as it was a small amount) and I know my son would have offered to buy him a drink, it's just that it felt engineered. It's not the first time he seems to have this hyper-focus around money and what he is owed. I just am unsure how to handle it as it is my first time of experiencing someone who tells me how much everything costs and when I should pay for things. I keep coming back to the word transactional. I am more than happy to pay my way (which I do), but I never feel the need to keep stating what I have paid for, how much etc. I am just wondering if others have experienced this, or is it just I have a different value system around money.

OP posts:
badhappenings · 17/02/2024 14:42

That's just awful for a fully grown man to do.

I wouldn't like anyone putting my own DS17 in that position.

If it was me, I would keep schtum and make sure my DS had a great time and made the most of the opportunity, and I would definitely dump him when I got home.

aitchteeaitch · 17/02/2024 14:47

Lampslights · 17/02/2024 12:59

Then why wasn’t he off with the other kids, instead of spending all day with this random?

im sorry but where’s your boundaries.

He's seventeen, not a child. Young people that age do not go off and play with the other kids. They'd rather spend time with other adults, since that's what they practically are.

ColdButSunny · 17/02/2024 14:51

I think this is really awful of him OP. I hate the idea of him putting pressure on your son to pay, just for the sake of a few quid. I would find this incredibly distasteful.

SamW98 · 17/02/2024 14:53

@Opentooffers

I did the same, within holiday with someone I’d only been seeing a few months and it really highlighted his different we were. He started drinking straight after breakfast and was ready for bed soon as we’d had dinner whereas I one have one beer with lunch and want to go out for cocktails and late nights.

Though the clues were probably there when we were both suggesting where to go - his were Benidorm and Salou mine were Santorini and Skiathos 🤣 we compromised on Rhodes Town

HotChocolateNotCocoa · 17/02/2024 14:59

PegasusReturns · 17/02/2024 12:57

Taking a 17 year old away on a group skiing holiday with a bloke you’ve been seeing is hardly the horror posters are implying it is.

Except most posters didn’t know he was 17 or that there was a wider group when they reacted. Apart from that, your point was flawlessly expressed.

OldTinHat · 17/02/2024 15:01

No. Get home with your DS and get rid of him.

Only four months and you're in this position? No. Just no.

TheGreatGherkin · 17/02/2024 15:02

Always talking about money and how much things cost would be a major turn off for me. Agree with other PP, 4 months is a too soon to be going away with someone.

PegasusReturns · 17/02/2024 15:36

HotChocolateNotCocoa · 17/02/2024 14:59

Except most posters didn’t know he was 17 or that there was a wider group when they reacted. Apart from that, your point was flawlessly expressed.

Except that anyone who read the OP knew the the son was a teenager and there was at least one other friend present Hmm Posters reacted as if the OP had taken a 5 yr old away 1:1 with a new boyfriend

FinallyHere · 17/02/2024 15:59

Agree with others who say there is no right or wrong about people being this careful with money, hut it is important to be with people who are likeminded. An acquaintance is perfectly happy with an equally careful partner. I need generosity in the people to whom I am close

Throw this one back m, he's not right for you.

Bananalanacake · 17/02/2024 16:04

If he angles to move in with you say no.

Trulyme · 17/02/2024 16:24

This has got to be a joke surely?

You’ve only been together 4 months and you’ve already introduced him to your son, invited him on your family holiday and paying for everything for him?!

softsummerrain · 17/02/2024 16:38

No great advice from me but I would try and enjoy the rest of the trip as much as I could and then address it when you get home.

It does sound transactional though.

Emptyheadlock · 17/02/2024 19:06

Ewww...he's a scruffy leech.

Lavenderandbrown · 17/02/2024 20:16

There is an alternative view (the comedian Steve Harvey wrote about) that you introduce children earlier. Don’t fall in love with someone your children don’t like and won’t accept or if you see behaviors you don’t like around your DS. At 17 I don’t think it was too soon. It’s not clear did BF pay for a ski lesson or was he required to ski on lessor runs because you were not there? Skiers absolutely pair off based on skills and run selection. I’m older op and I hate the 50/50
thing. I get it and I see why it works for people but I refused to date the 50/50 guy. With friends my siblings I’m fine with a equal
split but not a BFor DP or DH. Tight is not attractive. And while I can accept him having your son pay for himself…still tight but not his child…your son paying for him seems like extortion. He’s the adult. You already paid all the other expenses he can’t treat? I would get rid when you get home. Every party every life event every Christmas every every is going to be a 50/50 talk or worse you paying more. And he will get tighter is my opinion. I know dating when older is the dregs but marrying a no shame extortionist who feels you paying for it all is just fine is not good

Valtine2 · 17/02/2024 20:29

Has he ever taken you out and paid for nice dinners? Don't holiday with a new man and your Son OP in the nicest possible way!

The man is TIGHT and these people do not change.... get rid.

Turning · 17/02/2024 21:36

Tight with money tight with love.
shameful way to behave on his part.
my ex could be really tight at times and it really put me off him, one time we went away to stay with my friends for a couple of days and stayed in a hotel the on the way, I paid for that and a couple of other treats, when we got to friends place he wouldn’t even go to the bar and buy us drinks because it was too expensive.
it was an expensive place but we’re on holiday and he earns more than twice what I do.
other times he could be very generous, maybe a control thing I’m not sure but I didn’t like it.

Shadowonasun · 18/02/2024 00:26

What?? Nah..

All the decent adult men (or women) I know would never accept a child/teen paying for them. In fact, they'd buy said child/teen a drink/snack/meal. Even if the 'child' is 17. I'd do it myself, and I'm not rich by any means, but there's not a chance in hell I'd let my boyfriend's children pay for me with their dad's card, even if they would be 17, so almost adult. I'd rather buy them something.

It's just not a done thing. He sounds horrible. Tricking a young inexperienced guy into spending his mum's money on his drinks and boasting about it as if it's some sort of a joke. Dump pronto and don't look back.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 18/02/2024 07:14

I wouldn't let a 17 year old buy me drinks under any circumstances.
I think your bf might've in debt or living off rich family /friends

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 18/02/2024 07:17

Op has he ever taken you out for a meal or are all dates 50:50 or 100% you paying?

HotChocolateNotCocoa · 18/02/2024 14:12

PegasusReturns · 17/02/2024 15:36

Except that anyone who read the OP knew the the son was a teenager and there was at least one other friend present Hmm Posters reacted as if the OP had taken a 5 yr old away 1:1 with a new boyfriend

Roll your eyes all you like, but a teenager could be a vulnerable 13 year-old struggling with his mum having a new boyfriend. A 17 year-old who could be off to uni this autumn is an entirely different prospect.

samestyle · 18/02/2024 14:27

This is really awful, getting your son to pay for his drinks and not spending a penny himself, if he wanted everything paid separately he should of made that example himself, very bad manners!

AhNowTed · 18/02/2024 15:36

Major turn off OP.

I cannot stand tightness in anyone, and certainly not a 4 month old BF.

Imagine gleefully getting a teenager to pay for you. Grim.

ReliableAlice · 19/02/2024 08:56

I just got a real uh oh feeling about him when you said about him making your son pay for his drinks. Who does that and then laughs about it? There shouldn't be pay offs in a relationship for doing things for people. I'd be seriously considering if this guy is worth continuing with. Trust your gut.

PaulineMccormack · 08/08/2024 07:07

Get rid, & next time have a luxury holiday with yr son.
& I like what another person said, check yr bank account. & take this as a warning. Of meaness.

Eviebeans · 08/08/2024 07:12

Bear in mind that this is a new relationship and you’re seeing him at his best - it’s downhill from now 🤔

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