Man Leaves Wife Tiny Budget To Organize Christmas, Furious To Learn She Won’t Be Doing Anything

Divvying up family responsibilities can be tricky, which is why some couples end up splitting things between working and managing the household. However, this is not a surefire way to avoid conflicts because ultimately, there are things that have to be done that need both partners to actually participate one way or another.

A woman asked if she was wrong to not plan and organize a family Christmas party after her husband left her with an insultingly tiny budget. We reached out to the mom who made the post via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.

In some households, planning Christmas all falls on one person

Man angry at wife while discussing Christmas budget on the couch.

Image credits: prostock-studio / freepik (not the actual photo)

But a SAHM decided to call it off when she was given a tiny budget

Text discussing a husband's anger over Christmas budgeting while he vacations overseas.

Text about a man obsessed with football, mentioning his rare indulgence and financial priorities.

Text highlighting a man's plan for wife to organize Christmas with $100; she argues it's insufficient.

Text showing a disagreement over holiday planning and budget differences, with emphasis on a $100 limit for Christmas.

Text from man instructs wife to plan Christmas with $100 while he vacations overseas.

Hand holding hundred-dollar bills, symbolizing a budget challenge for Christmas planning.

Image credits: Jonathan Borba / pexels (not the actual photo)

Text screenshot about man's anger over wife's refusal to plan Christmas on a $100 budget.

Text exchange about a husband being upset over Christmas planning budget issues.

Image credits: NoChristmas2022

Financial abuse is very real and more common than one might think

Woman in a patterned shirt sitting at a table with coins and an open wallet, appearing thoughtful.

Image credits: AlexFotolabs / freepik (not the actual photo)

As many comments note, what this husband seems to be doing is a form of financial abuse. It’s important to remember that just because there isn’t physical violence, doesn’t mean that there isn’t some degree of abuse going on. Controlling a person’s resources and using it to manipulate them is very clearly a significant method of domination.

One of the main “uses” of this sort of financial control is to limit the victims ability to leave. Many comments were telling the woman to just walk out with her kids, but she is a SAHM with, presumably, very limited resources. While we don’t know the full details, it does seem like this $100 was truly make or break, so she probably can’t just pack her bags and leave.

Blaming and manipulating is a very clear and unfortunately common part of this sort of abuse. Because it is “his money,” he acts like he can dictate terms whenever he feels like it. This means she lives in constant fear that at any point, he can “change the rules” because who is going to stop him>

Cutting household income for months just to pay for flights to a football game, presumably, based on the date of the post, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Qatar. He seems to have made this decision unilaterally, literally limiting the money for his wife and kids. Yes, this is “his money,” but the entire idea of a SAHM is that the person with a regular job actually provides for everyone else.

This man ignored his part of the bargain

Man arguing with woman over Christmas budget issues while planning overseas vacation.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

But providing for just himself is a clear sign he wants his cake and to eat it as well. He chose to spend his money on Qatar, he also chose to leave his wife with $100. As a person who “controls the money” should know, if you want something, you pay for it. His abusive rhetoric just shows that he is a bad partner.

Just the fact that she even has to “ask the internet” about his behavior is evidence that he has gaslit her into thinking she might be at fault. Again, in a relationship like this, he has to literally provide the funds for what he wants. While it might seem like a great solution to get out of childcare, being the one with a job in a situation like this means you have to have the money, as you are the solo source of income at the end of the day. This is just entitlement, coupled with the knowledge that he can “get away” with it.

Hopefully, she took some of these ideas to heart, because financial abuse really is often cited as a reason people don’t leave. Many commenters left suggestions for what to do, including screenshots, as if this goes to court, it could be useful. Ideally, she would end up out of this relationship, while still getting some income from him to cover for the multiple children she has to still raise.

Most folks sided with the mom

Reddit comments discussing a man's anger over his wife's refusal to plan Christmas with a tight budget while he travels.

Reddit comment discussing financial abuse in marriage concerning Christmas budgeting and vacation spending.

Reddit comment discussing financial abuse, income, and family budgeting dynamics.

Online comment discussing a man's refusal to plan Christmas with $100 while vacationing overseas.

Comment criticizing a man's decision to pay for friends on a trip while expecting a $100 Christmas plan from his wife.

Reddit comment discussing financial control in a relationship.

Text exchange discussing a wife's refusal to plan Christmas with $100 while her husband vacations overseas.

Online forum comment criticizing a husband's financial decisions and priorities for Christmas.

Comment discussing a husband's priorities as he vacations overseas while his wife handles Christmas planning alone.

Reddit comment about holiday costs, stating $100 is insufficient for a family meal.

Comment discussing relationship issues and financial independence with reference to a $100 Christmas budget.

Reddit comment discussing financial fairness and planning Christmas expenses.

Comment criticizing a husband for leaving his wife with $100 for Christmas planning while he vacations overseas.

Text post discussing travel expenses and questioning financial decisions.

Reddit comment criticizing a husband for leaving his wife with $100 while he vacations overseas.

Social media post criticizing a husband for spending on vacation while limiting Christmas budget.

Comment suggesting financial abuse due to husband's Christmas budget while vacationing overseas.

Reddit comment about family's money and selfishness in planning Christmas while husband vacations overseas.

Text comment on a forum questioning how $100 suffices for Christmas planning.

Reddit comment discussing a wife's struggle with a $100 Christmas plan while the husband vacations overseas.

Reddit comment discussing budgeting $100 for Christmas while husband vacations overseas.

Reddit comment discussing holiday budgeting and relationship advice.

A few readers pointed out some nuances

Online comment criticizing a man for leaving $100 for his family's Christmas while vacationing overseas.

Comment discussing a husband's behavior and wishing the family a good Christmas.

Text discussing financial priorities in a marriage, focusing on Christmas budget and overseas vacation expenses.

Text discussing family holiday plans and possible impacts on children during Christmas.

Comment on marital issues and holiday planning challenges.

Reddit comment criticizing financial fairness in a relationship where a spouse is a stay-at-home parent.

Comment criticizing a stay-at-home mom for complaining about a $100 Christmas budget while her husband vacations overseas.

Comment discussing Christmas budget issues and responsibilities.

Reddit comment critiquing a husband's selfishness in holiday planning.

Reddit comment suggesting job for financial stability, mentioning stay-at-home wife affordability in modern times.

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