My Husband Gave Me Just $100 for Christmas Food, Gifts & Decorations, So I Made Him Livid by Refusing to Do Anything

A stay-at-home mom with three kids was suprised when her husband, who is the breadwinner, gave her a $100 Christmas budget to cover everything from necessities to decorations. While he was away, she discovered a note he had left and, feeling betrayed, devised a plan for revenge.

On November 21, 2022, the stay-at-home mom with three children, found herself in a tight financial situation and turned to Reddit for opinions.

Her husband, who worked full-time and earned an okay salary, had restricted their spending for the past four months to save up for a football event overseas. He was deeply passionate about football, and his dedication to this interest led him to prioritize the trip. Despite her concerns, she refrained from judging him, understanding his longing for personal enjoyment.

The Argument

The couple discussed their Christmas plans, and the original poster's husband informed her that she had to handle everything since he wouldn't be back until December 20. He mentioned he had set aside $100 for Christmas decorations, food, gifts, and the children's needs.

On November 20, a day before sharing her story online, she stumbled upon an envelope while cleaning the house and decided to check what was inside.

She was utterly shocked at the meager amount. Expressing her dismay, she pointed out that $100 for the entire family's Christmas celebration was woefully insufficient. He nonchalantly shrugged, stating it was all he had.

The woman countered, highlighting how he was spending on travel expenses. Her husband insisted she should just "take it," but she stood her ground, declaring that if he left her with just $100, she wouldn't be organizing anything for Christmas. Despite numerous arguments, they couldn't resolve the issue.

What Did the Woman Discover in Her Husband's Absence?

The later part of the woman's Reddit post revealed that her husband had left for Qatar days ago. On November 20, a day before sharing her story online, she stumbled upon an envelope while cleaning the house and decided to check what was inside.

Considering all that had unfolded, she couldn't shake the feeling that she might have been at fault for refusing to do anything for Christmas and making her husband livid.

To her astonishment, it contained $100 and a little note from her spouse, instructing her "to make it work." In response, the woman messaged him, firmly stating her decision not to organize anything for Christmas with such a limited budget. She recalled her husband's reaction to her text in these words:

"He was livid[;] he just kept sending an angry message after another calling me "spoiled" and telling me to stop expecting to live like I was still living in my [parents'] house and to stop trying to "rob" the kids of enjoying the holidays like the other kids."

The woman chose not to respond, but her husband continued to express his fury, accusing her of penalizing him for his trip and attempting to manipulate him by referencing his own money. Considering all that had unfolded, she couldn't shake the feeling that she might have been at fault for refusing to do anything for Christmas and making her husband livid.

Netizens React

The woman's Reddit story stirred an overwhelming response from people, with the majority deeming her "NTA." Commenters expressed deep concern about what they saw as financial abuse. Many questioned the fairness of her husband's actions, criticizing his prioritization of personal interests over family needs. They encouraged his wife to stand up for herself, suggesting ultimatums and even divorce if necessary.

Several commenters emphasized that it was not just his money but family money, highlighting the importance of equality in financial decisions within a marriage. People sympathized with the woman's situation, pointing out the husband's selfish behavior, financial control, and lack of respect for her and their children.

Some even recommended taking legal action, urging OP to secure her and her children's future independently. Overall, the consensus among the commenters was that she deserved better treatment and should not tolerate such behavior.

What do you think about this story? Do you feel OP did the right thing by refusing to do anything for Christmas, or should she have adopted a different approach? Click here to read another story about a husband who bought first-class tickets for himself and his friend but booked his wife in economy class.