Man Battles Partner's Crippling Smoking Addiction As Family Finances And Welfare Hang In The Balance—Asks If He Is A-Hole For Asking Her To Stop

"I sat down with her and did the math about how much she spends on cigarettes a month."

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• December 8, 2023

Welcome to the modern love story: a tale not of Romeo and Juliet but of nicotine and net worth. OP, a 29-year-old gamer and father, finds himself in a smoky predicament with his partner, a 30-year-old recovering alcoholic turned chain smoker.

Their romance, surviving a decade of ups and downs, now faces its toughest challenge yet—not dragons or evil overlords, but the fiery drag of cigarettes. With two kids in the mix, our couple decided to reboot their relationship, only to find that the princess in this story swapped her glass slipper for a lighter and a pack of Marlboros.

Diving into the domestic jungle, we find our hero grappling with a budget stretched thinner than the last wisp of smoke from his partner’s cigarette. He's not just fighting the nicotine monster; he's wrestling with a financial black hole, where one-third of his partner's salary vanishes in a puff of smoke, literally.

Imagine a staggering $300-500 a month going up in flames! Late rent notices are more frequent than smoke breaks, and our hero is left juggling the costs of living, loving, and lung health.

With the family's fiscal future hanging by a thread and his own desires for digital delights on permanent hold, he wonders if he's right to demand a change or if he's just blowing smoke. Just take a look at the post...

Couple in their late 20s, turbulent past, two kids. OP's wife is a recovering alcoholic, but is now a heavy smoker.

OP dislikes smoking but won't make someone quit over it. However, he is alarmed when it is bought over necessities.

Facing financial struggles; OP had a conversation with her wife, realizing she spends 1/3 of her monthly paycheck, around $300-500, on cigarettes.

4 months late on rent, facing eviction; OP covers most of the expenses. Despite his wife's reduced work time, she continues to buy cigarettes.

OP approached calmly, but frustration grew as she prioritized cigarettes over family. Now stressed, he emphasizes her neglect of kids for smoke breaks.

She spent her last $20 on cigarettes, and even borrowed for more.

OP also wants to buy games but refrains from prioritizing household necessities like gas and food.

Frustrated with her lack of effort to change, OP asks if they're an a-hole for wanting her to stop spending as much on cigarettes.

Scroll down to see what people had to say!

Time to trade smoke rings for budgeting rings—one pack a week challenge, or the kids stage a coup!

From a smoke marathon to a casual stroll might be too ambitious. Let's aim for a smoke sprint first, shall we?

Kicking the smoking habit is a marathon, not a nicotine sprint. But prioritizing rent over tobacco is the real lung workout!

Choosing smokes over folks? Time for a family intervention, or maybe a nicotine intervention.

Addiction's a tough opponent, but it doesn't get a hall pass for financial fouls. Time for a budgetary smackdown!

Be careful not to turn "relationship goals" into "parenting potholes." Kids first, drama second!

Quitting smoking is a bumpy ride. Fair to be upset, just remember, it's a pit stop, not a race.

Turning a smoke show into a vape escape, saving both love and money. Who knew quitting could be so financially savvy?

Nagging and addiction don't mix well. It's like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.

She's burning money faster than a cigarette, but unlike smoke, priorities shouldn't go up in flames.

Practicality over anything.

Smoking's pricey and gross—why not swap to vaping? It's a cheaper puff with a potential nicotine breakup!

Can't make her quit, but throwing some budget reality at her. It's a financial wake-up call, not a mic drop!

In this cloud of smoke and financial distress, OP realizes a harsh truth: love's battlefield is not just about emotions but also about practicalities. His story underlines the delicate balance between supporting a loved one's struggles and safeguarding the family's future, a juggling act many silently endure.

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Sophia