My husband is obsessed with buying costly 'big boy toys'

"He's happy to spend most of our disposable income on things like $5k e-bikes."

My husband's face lights up while he’s scrolling through Facebook Marketplace.

"Babe, there are two second-hand e-bikes for sale for $5,000!" he exclaims excitedly.

I look at him and raise an eyebrow.

I’m not a massive fan of e-bikes to start with, given some of the recent incidents involving them. 

But also... $5k?!

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"It's more than a safety concern"

I remember ending up in tears last year reading about how a nine-year-old boy on the Gold Coast tragically died, and his father was left fighting for his life, after the e-bike they were riding collided with a Honda Odyssey.

We have a son the same age.

E-bike and e-scooter accident deaths have become increasingly common in recent years - they make headlines regularly.

But other than the safety factor, there’s something else about my husband’s comment that gets my blood boiling. 

"Bargain," I reply sarcastically. "Let’s buy them - right after we win the Lotto."

It's an ongoing issue in our marriage - our different appetites for spending money.

Image: Supplied/iStock

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"He spends most of our disposable income on toys"

I seem to be the conservative one in the equation, always erring on the side of caution when it comes to buying something new.  My husband, on the other hand, is quite happy to spend most of our disposable income on toys if it means having an amazing lifestyle. 

At the moment he owns not one but three different types of bikes – two of which he never rides.

He has a brand new set of golf clubs.

A virtual simulator gaming machine.

A 2024 model truck.

My car, on the other hand, is six years old, and I am perfectly happy with it. I told him recently that I plan to drive it until it packs it in, because I love the car and don’t need to keep up with the Joneses by buying the latest model.

Frankly, I cringe at the thought of all the STUFF that’s on my husband’s bucket list.

Top of the list is a caravan to cruise around Australia in with the kids (with what money, I have no idea). Oh, and of course a new motorbike to go riding with his buddies.

When the e-bike conversation came up, I was aware my son was watching us like a hawk. 

I explained to my husband that if he really wanted an e-bike, we should set ourselves a goal to work towards and budget until we reach that goal. 

My husband replied jokingly that I was being "a scrooge" and I glared at him. 

The truth is, I’m also sick of being the financial Grinch. The one that says 'no' all the time. 

I know that I’m becoming just like my mum, who always had to bring my dad into line with his spending habits, and I don’t want to go down that road.

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Since the e-bikes chat, it’s come up again at dinner parties in front of his mates, as recently as last night. 

“Oh, the wife won’t let me buy one,” he says, rolling his eyes towards his friend.

“Go for it, babe. Maybe you can sell your kidney to finance it,” I shoot back. 

And perhaps find yourself a new wife at the same time.

Originally published as My husband is obsessed with buying costly 'big boy toys'