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“I Just Cried”: Man Wants A Custom Halloween Costume For $1.5K, GF Can’t Take It Anymore
Young woman with tear-streaked face, reflecting on a man with debt asking her to take a loan for a Spider-Man costume.
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“I Just Cried”: Man Wants A Custom Halloween Costume For $1.5K, GF Can’t Take It Anymore

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Nobody should ever find themselves stuck in a toxic relationship that sucks out their very soul. You deserve happiness, emotional fulfilment, and stability, and should settle for nothing less. But that’s easier said than done. Getting away from a manipulative, violent partner is incredibly difficult and scary.

Internet user u/AlexisDrake1354 turned to the ‘Relationship Advice’ community for help with her parasitic boyfriend, who was in debt and asked her for a jaw-dropping sum of money for his Halloween costume. What turned out to be an argument over money soon evolved into something far more frightening.

Scroll down for the full story, including two very important updates. A note of warning, the story is intense and might trigger you if you’ve ever been in a violent relationship.

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    One woman, who felt stuck in a relationship with a parasite, shared how he tried to pressure her into taking out a massive personal loan under her name

    Image credits: Juan Pablo Serrano/Pexels (not the actual photo)

    What seemed at first to be a clear-cut argument about money actually turned out to be much more toxic and disturbing

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    Image credits: Ron Lach/Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Nobody should have to be a victim of violence and manipulation at home. And yet, leaving this sort of relationship is far from easy. Escaping requires lots of careful planning

    Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)

    According to the author, her (now ex) boyfriend was in debt to the tune of around $5,000. Seeing as he was financially unreliable, he asked u/AlexisDrake1354 for a large personal loan in her name.

    This was just the tip of the iceberg, however. The man was also unemployed, fully dependent on his girlfriend and the government financially, and dealing with a host of mental health issues.

    On top of that, he was physically and emotionally violent, manipulative, and controlling toward his partner, trying to cheat on her, and threatening to brutally harm her and her loved ones.

    In an update around a year after her original post online, the woman shared that after breaking up with her boyfriend, then getting back together, and the relationship falling apart, she is finally in a healthy situation.

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    “Please know I am happy, safe, and doing well now. I have regular therapy sessions and live away from my [violent] family and with friends who love and care for me, who have become like an adoptive family to me. Things are really well, and thank you for checking in,” she wrote in October 2024.

    Meanwhile, Bored Panda has reached out to the author for comment, and we’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from her.

    To be very clear: leaving a toxic and violent relationship is incredibly difficult to do.

    The Stepping Stones Crisis Society explains that things aren’t as simple as simply packing up your things and physically leaving your partner’s home.

    Your partner might “have systems of control around you, you may feel guilty or blame yourself, have children involved, be physically threatened, or be financially controlled.”

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    Your priority should be your safety at all times. You are most at risk when you leave a toxic relationship, and for a long time afterward, so you have to plan ahead

    Image credits: MART PRODUCTION/Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    According to the organization, your safety is paramount. So, you have to ensure that you are protected not only when leaving the relationship, but afterward as well.

    The Stepping Stones Crisis Society stresses that the majority of violence occurs after the survivor ends the relationship, and 18 months afterward.

    Some of the steps that you can take to leave the relationship are the following:

    • Communicate with a trusted, non-judgmental third party, like a friend, relative, coworker, or institution, so they can guide you and help you escape.
    • Find safe areas in your home and outside, and avoid small spaces, so that you’re not cornered.
    • Establish a safe communication line, like buying an emergency phone to call the authorities, using a safe computer for research (e.g., in public, at work, or at a friend’s home), and creating fake social media accounts, and avoid using credit and debit cards so your partner doesn’t have a record of your purchases.
    • Know your partner’s red flags, triggers, and tendencies. Plan accordingly, and seize opportunities during periods of peace to leave permanently.
    • Identify any surveillance and recording devices your partner may have set up. However, don’t disable them before making your escape because it will tip your partner off about your plans.
    • Be ready to escape quickly and leave immediately. Have an escape bag with your documents, cash, emergency phone, contact list, medication, etc., and keep it at a trusted third party’s home.
    • Memorize any important information, like phone numbers and addresses.
    • Practice escaping so you know how to adjust your plan.
    • Seek help from shelters and organizations after escaping to start a new life safely.
    • Keep your new home location secret, change your routine, and consider getting a restraining order against your partner.

    What do you think, Pandas? What advice would you give anyone who feels powerless and stuck in a truly toxic relationship? How can they get out? What would you do if you were the breadwinner and your partner suddenly asked for a massive loan for something frivolous? Let us know in the comments below.

    The internet soon weighed in with some brutally honest advice

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    Soon afterward, the author shared an update about her toxic relationship

    Image credits: RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Image credits: Marcial Comeron/Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    A year after her original post, the woman came back to share a massive update about how her life has changed

    Image credits: Shukhrat Umarov/Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Image credits: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Image credits: AlexisDrake1354

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    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, Senior Writer

    Read more »

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real.At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design.In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle.I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Read less »
    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, Senior Writer

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real.At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design.In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle.I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Jonas Žvilius

    Jonas Žvilius

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    In my spare time, I enjoy creating art - both in traditional and digital form, mainly in the form of painting and animation. Other interests include gaming and music. Favorite bands include Swans, The Strokes, The Beatles.

    Read less »

    Jonas Žvilius

    Jonas Žvilius

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    In my spare time, I enjoy creating art - both in traditional and digital form, mainly in the form of painting and animation. Other interests include gaming and music. Favorite bands include Swans, The Strokes, The Beatles.

    What do you think ?
    KatSaidWhat
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cops should have been notified as well - no mention of that though, sadly.

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If they’d shown up, they’d have thrown him into juvenile detention because that boy’s not old enough to date! She needs an actual MAN and not a son crying because he can’t get the cereal with the toy inside. Poor girl didn’t even believe she deserved an actual man. 😞 I really hope she picks the next one with actual care and concern for HER well-being this time, one who can take care of himself!

    Load More Replies...
    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dear Pandas. If you find yourself in OP's situation - as in: people tell you that you are in a bad relationship but you "can't find the strength to leave": First of all: you're not bad, worthless, weak or whatever for that. the human psyche, especially our subconscious, is tricky. And the brain doesn't care about you being happy, it only wants to to be alive. Second: get help. There are organisations to provide help, yes, even for the first step to get over "I could never leave him/her". If you have friends or family you trust: tell them. Ask for help. You are a human being, and entitled to live in a good way.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ^ THIS. Because OP was me, for a relationship that lasted for 24 years. It is NEVER "too late" to get away from an ábusive relationship. You are NEVER "stuck with them" just because you've "been together for so long".

    Load More Replies...
    Emilu
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... I'm so glad you got away from that, even if it was because 'he got bored'. I hope that both you and your ex get what you both deserve in life. (Hint: very different things.)

    Load More Comments
    KatSaidWhat
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cops should have been notified as well - no mention of that though, sadly.

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If they’d shown up, they’d have thrown him into juvenile detention because that boy’s not old enough to date! She needs an actual MAN and not a son crying because he can’t get the cereal with the toy inside. Poor girl didn’t even believe she deserved an actual man. 😞 I really hope she picks the next one with actual care and concern for HER well-being this time, one who can take care of himself!

    Load More Replies...
    Earonn -
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dear Pandas. If you find yourself in OP's situation - as in: people tell you that you are in a bad relationship but you "can't find the strength to leave": First of all: you're not bad, worthless, weak or whatever for that. the human psyche, especially our subconscious, is tricky. And the brain doesn't care about you being happy, it only wants to to be alive. Second: get help. There are organisations to provide help, yes, even for the first step to get over "I could never leave him/her". If you have friends or family you trust: tell them. Ask for help. You are a human being, and entitled to live in a good way.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ^ THIS. Because OP was me, for a relationship that lasted for 24 years. It is NEVER "too late" to get away from an ábusive relationship. You are NEVER "stuck with them" just because you've "been together for so long".

    Load More Replies...
    Emilu
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... I'm so glad you got away from that, even if it was because 'he got bored'. I hope that both you and your ex get what you both deserve in life. (Hint: very different things.)

    Load More Comments
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