Man Chooses To Purchase High-End Watch Over Repaying His Fiancee's Parents For Overseas Vacation

This couple needs to learn a thing or two about finances.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• September 12, 2022

Ask any experienced matrimonial lawyer or counselor and they'll tell you that money ranks as one of the top reasons why couples fight.

More often than not, it's not about the money itself but rather how it's being spent or saved. Financial disagreements can quickly escalate into full-blown arguments that threaten the stability of the relationship.

For couples just starting out, it's important to learn how to manage money together. This means setting up a budget and sticking to it. It also means being honest with each other about your financial goals and expectations.

It's great to have one person in the relationship who is good with money. They have a tendency to be more disciplined and even rub off on their partner a bit.

But nothing can be more disastrous in a relationship than both partners being bad with money. Every incoming penny is an opportunity to fulfill a fleeting desire instead of being strategic about long-term savings.

You can't put a price tag on financial stability, but if you had to, it would be worth more than the cost of that superfluous expenditure.

Today, we decided to put the spotlight on a couple who is currently having an acrimonious dispute over money. In the Reddit post, the author explained that his fiancée saw his savings account balance and decided to book a luxurious vacation without his knowledge.

The author, however, had earlier communicated his desire to use the money in purchasing a luxurious watch for himself. So you can imagine his frustration when he found out what his fiancée had done.

This set off a series of events that left them both feeling resentful toward each other. Let's find out the juicy details of the story.

For more info: Reddit

Dream watch VS Dream vacation

OP and his wife, Jen, decided to discuss their finances. However, on revealing his savings account, his wife got excited about the money that was available and began making plans of how they were going to spend it

OP explained to Jen that he wanted to use the money to buy his dream watch. But Jen wasn't ready to accept that, as her heart was set on a vacation to Europe

Jen secretly borrowed the money from her parents and informed OP that he was going to be the one to pay back with the money in his savings account

OP responded by driving to the store and buying the watch in cash. This put Jen in a precarious situation, as she didn't have the money to pay back her parents

Luckily, Jen was able to get the money back from the travel agent to pay back her parents. But now she's incredibly angry with OP

The post went viral, garnering over 8k upvotes and 3k comments. Here's how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

"Seeing how champing-at-the-bit eager both of y'all are to burn this measly $8K, I'm PRETTY SURE that an "overpriced city" isn't to blame for your financial situation"

"You didn’t borrow the money from her parents, so you’re NTA. That is all on her. But man, you need to grow up and treat your finances more maturely"

"Your GF sucks for trying to spend your money for you without your agreement. You suck for spending that much money on a watch when you have no other savings and no other property"

"NTA - You saved your hard earned money to buy something nice for yourself"

"ESH. And it really sounds like both of you need to take a financial literacy course before getting married and having children"

"I don’t know your relationship but this would be a major red flag for me. It shows a lack of respect, manipulation, greed… it’s not a good look"

"Come on, you’re both going behind each other’s backs to make large purchases that the other disproves of? This is a toxic relationship"

"NTA but I don't think you're compatible with her"

The comments section was littered with criticism for how the couple was managing their finances. Thus OP had to make an update to give more clarity on the situation.

Important update

It turns out a lot of commenters were focused on giving OP and his wife some financial advice. So he had to clear the air on some misconceptions.

At the end of the day, it's OP's money, and he can do whatever he wants with it. But it's also important that he factors in his partner's feelings and desires.

If they can't come to an agreement, maybe counseling could help them learn how to communicate better about money. It would be a shame to let something like this ruin their relationship.

What do you think both could have done better in handling this situation? Let us know in the comments below!

Do you also have any advice for couples who are just starting to manage their finances together? Spill your wisdom! We would love to hear from you.

Jesse