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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Stingy BF.. or is it me?!

131 replies

doctorlife · 10/02/2025 19:33

I (27) have been 'official' with my boyfriend (31) for 3 months. Prior to this, we dated for 6 months. I live at home and pay rent. He has his own house (about 30 min drive away). I spent the weekends there (friday - sunday). We don't see each other during the week very often as I have a busy job which I work until 7pm most evenings and he lives 30 mins away and I often need to be in a place nearer me early in the morning (I work in schools).

We have always split everything 50/50. I paid for us to have a night away together a few months ago, we still split the meal we had in the evening / next day, etc. I often buy him random nice things for the house every so often (lovely diffusers, candles, etc). Every time we do a food shop together (for the weekend etc) I pay half. I often pay for us to have coffee together (I always pay for the both of us) as I am mindful I spend a lot of time there.

Recently, I feel he is snappy and possibly resentful of me. Over Xmas, I offered to pay him some money as I essentially lived there for 12 days (I did my own food shop, etc) and he said don't worry just 'buy more food for us'.

On the weekend, I asked what was wrong as it's clear he feels I don't pull my weight (had made a few comments over the weekend). He noted that he feels i am not 'proactive enough' and that he wants me to take more of the lead which includes doing the food shops prior to going to his house, for us. This was the day after I had gone out with a friend, asked him if he wanted anything from M&S and bought everything he wanted, for his dinner (not mine!).

I fear he may be stingy. We have a Valentines meal booked and he has already said 'we'll split that'. He has also insinuated that I buy a chest of drawers for his house. I take everything back home with me after every weekend as he has no storage at all, this is getting a bit draining and difficult and I'm basically living out of my car which is not manageable.

My issue / thoughts here is that I pay rent at home, spend a lot of money on petrol going back and forth (I don't mind!) and often treat us / buy him nice things. He has never once paid for anything for us as a pair, nor ever treated me to anything (even the smallest of things).

AMIBU here? Should I be more 'proactive' or forthcoming? I am doing my best in all honesty and sometimes I perhaps don't take the lead as I feel like a guest in his house and don't want to piss him off (he likes things a certain way, etc).

Thoughts please!!!!!

OP posts:
PippaAB · 10/02/2025 19:34

I think he sounds awful.

Onlyvisiting · 10/02/2025 19:36

Are you costing him anything he wouldn't be paying for himself? Do you pay for 50% of groceries etc you eat (including what he has in, not just what you actively buy) does he pay all travel or anything?
On the face of it it seems you have been easily paying your way so I can't work out what he is wanting you to do more. Doesn't sound right to me!

holycrumpet · 10/02/2025 19:37

2 questions:

-what does 'take more of a lead' mean? He wants you to do a good shop for the both of you, before you get there (why can't you go together), but what else?

-what positives does he bring to the relationship?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/02/2025 19:37

He needs to become your ex boyfriend now.

He’s mean with money and mean with love.

BillyWind · 10/02/2025 19:39

Well, he doesn't sound kind or thoughtful. Both non negotiables ina relationship for me so it would give me that feeling (sometimes known as the 'ick') and make me want to run. Which is possibly what you're feeling now.

Game0fCrones · 10/02/2025 19:39

Get rid, honestly, this will drain any joy out of life if you let it continue.

Simply put, he's mean.

It's just as easy to fall for a generous man as it is to fall for a stingy one.

Semiramide · 10/02/2025 19:42

Try to imagine you had children with this....... person.

  • maternity leave/pay
  • going part-time/earning less than a FT salary
  • childcare/nursery fees
Need I go on?
Fouradayistoomuch · 10/02/2025 19:43

Really mean of him to say that you will split the cost of the valentine dinner. A lady needs to be wooed sometimes.

Snowmanscarf · 10/02/2025 19:43

I don’t think you’re stingy at all. He’s not making you very welcome at his house , is he.

Why should you buy drawers for his house?. If he wants you to stay, he should be buying them. You’ve only been going out a few months!

Regarding food shopping, he seems to have cast you in wife role, not girlfriend role.

This should be the honeymoon period where he’s trying to impress you. He soundss stingey not ever treating you.

DroppedOff · 10/02/2025 19:43

I don’t think it’s right to already tell you you will splitting the bill on Valentine’s. Sounds like he is very aware of the cost of everything and making it ‘fair.’

You mention he has never bought you anything. Did he get you anything for Christmas?

thistimelastweek · 10/02/2025 19:44

Yes be more proactive.

Proactively walk away. He's a tight git. Never a good bet for the future.

category12 · 10/02/2025 20:01

He has also insinuated that I buy a chest of drawers for his house

What the fuck? 🤓😂

Muffin777 · 10/02/2025 20:05

It’s always about ‘equality’ when it comes to women paying for stuff. Generally though, not so much…

TwistedWonder · 10/02/2025 20:06

He’s a tight arsed wanker - dump him and his clamped wallet asap.

Im all for equality but he’s virtually got a spreadsheet calculating every penny.

RubyRedBow · 10/02/2025 20:08

Well… You can’t live at his house part of the time for free. The expenses of another people saying in your house goes beyond food.

OverthinkingOlive · 10/02/2025 20:10

Wow he can't even take his girlfriend out for dinner on Valentine's Day?

Bin it.

smallsilvercloud · 10/02/2025 20:11

50/50 for valentines meal, no way, that's so mean, whatever next, go half for your birthday treat. You can find better

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 10/02/2025 20:12

Would pulling your weight also involve a bit of housework by any chance? DH and I had around a year of me staying at his flat at weekends etc. before we moved in together (I was living with my parents). I had a lot of travel time/cost too. I don’t recall ever doing the food shopping - it wasn’t my house, I was still a guest. But I’d bring wine and cheese or treats etc. And I would pay for things when we went out. He’d still buy me dinner and stuff though (he earned a lot more than me then).

AgnesX · 10/02/2025 20:13

He doesn't sound particularly kind and caring. Three months in and you're sharing Valentine's?
Bugger that for a game of soldiers.

That said, before you shut up shop, just check with him if he's struggling financially. Make sure it's not that he's having problems making ends meet. If he's truly being a tightwad you can exit with good reason.

Greenfencebrowntree · 10/02/2025 20:16

Is he stingy? Well, he kept you hanging for six months before deigning to deem you "official'. So yes, he's stingy to the core of his heart. And it sounds like "official" means "on the household chore rota at his house". This doesn't exactly sound like you're being swept off your feet.

AcquadiP · 10/02/2025 20:18

Let me get this right: he wants you to pay half of the cost of your meal on Valentine's day? Wow. If he can't be bothered to buy you a plate of food on this day of all days then yes, he is stingy. I would end it now. What a cheap skate!

TwistedWonder · 10/02/2025 20:18

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 10/02/2025 20:12

Would pulling your weight also involve a bit of housework by any chance? DH and I had around a year of me staying at his flat at weekends etc. before we moved in together (I was living with my parents). I had a lot of travel time/cost too. I don’t recall ever doing the food shopping - it wasn’t my house, I was still a guest. But I’d bring wine and cheese or treats etc. And I would pay for things when we went out. He’d still buy me dinner and stuff though (he earned a lot more than me then).

Edited

Agree. My now ex DB used to stay at mine Friday to Monday. I never asked fir a penny but he bought alcohol, snacks and always paid to take me out to eat even if it was just the pub at the top of the road.

Im happy to pay my way and take turns in treating each other but this whole spreadsheet to calculate who had paid and who owes who is deeply unattractive.

Notarsed · 10/02/2025 20:29

He's tighter than a fish's arse. You treat him but he doesn't treat you?! Fuck that for a game of soldiers. Next!

frozendaisy · 10/02/2025 20:31

It’s such an unattractive trait, counting the pennies, you spend money on petrol ask him if he wants to split that?

Just points out how fucking petty he actually is.

You sound thoughtful and generous OP, he sounds like a misery guts.

I would be tempted to say “forget Valentines” and spend a weekend at home. See what he does.

PoorMisgenderedPeteThePlumber · 10/02/2025 20:36

I don't like the sound of him. Is he really struggling financially?

Does he buy you flowers? A box of chocolates? Any little treats to show you he cares?

It's not about the money. It shows you what he is, how he thinks of you.