'It's Xmas, deal with it': Husband's shock at wife's credit card splurge

"She thinks putting everything on the card means we can afford it. Not so." 

I almost died when I saw the credit card bill in December last year.

It was easily three times what it normally is, and it was thanks to Christmas.

Well actually, thanks to my wife.

When I asked her about it, she said, "It's Christmas, deal with it."

But as the sole breadwinner in the home, it took me months to financially recover - and I can see it's happening again this year.

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"We agreed for me to be the breadwinner"

It's my duty to support my family, and normally, I don't have an issue with it.

My wife and I have three kids under six, and she's an amazing mum. So I'm happy for her to be at home.

I'm a grown up, I get that there will be blowouts for birthdays... but my wife just won't accept that her Christmas spending is out of control.

She just takes the credit card and selects the 'no interest until February' option that so many stores offer at Christmas, and then thinks everything is a "bargain". But it's not a bargain at all - because the interest kicks in on the balance I haven't managed to pay off, and any savings she made in discounts comes back to bite me.

I want to spoil the kids, too. I love my family and want the absolute best for them. But is it in their best interests that I spend months budgeting for the financial impact of Christmas?

"It's my private burden"

As my wife and I agreed, I take care of the finances, so I pay the bills. I'm not saying it's my money - it's our money, obviously.

But when it comes to Christmas, I have no say in what we are spending money on. We don't need to spend thousands of dollars on gifts for everyone, or consume only expensive Champagne. Can't we do a balance with budget items?

So it sounds like I am 'controlling' my wife, but to be honest, the pressure is entirely on me. If I don't give in, it looks like I'm being a Grinch, and that's not fair.

Image: iStock

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"She says I should 'get over it'... it's not that simple"

I can see the spending starting already this year. It's not even Halloween yet but there are Christmas sales in so many stores, offering "bargains". I look in the guest bedroom, where the bed is already covered with gifts ready to be wrapped.

The sight of it makes me feel I am being strangled.

Already we've had to make some sacrifices because of the cost-of-living increases. And I didn't get the bonus this year that I was expecting.

Yes, I know my wife not working is our choice. But it would be so much easier to manage if Christmas didn't ruin the budget every year. 

I don't want to stand there again on NYE and be thinking about the thousands I need to pay off our credit card, if I don't want to pay thousands in interest.

For once, I'd like to feel the joy of Christmas, too.

Originally published as 'It's Xmas, deal with it': Husband's shock at wife's credit card splurge