Expecting Father Books A $2,500 Venue For Their Baby Shower Then Keeps All Of The Cash Gifts To Pay Himself Back
His wife wanted a smaller and more intimate event, but OP insisted he could afford a bigger party.
One baby shower turned into a money fight after an expecting father booked an expensive venue, then decided the cash gifts should cover his costs. What started as a celebration for the couple’s first son quickly became a dispute over who the money really belonged to. He spent $2,500 on the venue, invited his own friends and family, and later deposited about $1,600 in cash gifts into his account to help pay himself back.
His wife was not on board with that plan, and Reddit had plenty to say about it. Read on.
On the other hand, OP naively assumed that the money they received should be used to cover the expenses for the baby shower.
He told his wife that he couldn't have zero dollars in his account for two weeks. She responded that he should have thought of that before availing himself of such a large venue for the shower instead of just throwing a smaller party as she wanted.
The wife is also upset because most of the cash gifts and gift cards they received were from her family. OP thinks his wife is being ungrateful after everything he spent on their baby shower.
He concedes that he should have planned ahead and considered how much he could truly afford. Still, he says he will be spending most of the money on the baby anyway, but he still needs food and gas for the next two weeks.
engorgedclipsDo you think OP was wrong here? You can read his original post below:
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Redditors didn't mince any words in pointing out that OP was an irresponsible and inconsiderate a-hole.
epostiler
That’s where the comments started piling on.
Going over the budget and going against his wife's wishes so he can flex to his friends and family? OP needs a crash course about life before the baby gets here!
sockerkaka
OP's throwaway statement that his wife's family only helped with the decorations was him minimizing the fact that they were supposed to throw them a baby shower and not him.
KCHank
OP spent all of his savings, with a baby on the way, for a party that he obviously wanted but couldn't afford.
toss_it_out_tomorrow
This! OP wanted bragging rights. He's all flash but no cash.
delkarnu
He didn't have to be a jerk and completely take over the planning, but he insisted and dug his own grave.
CarrieCat62
With a husband like OP, who needs a baby?
delkarnu
God, with $2,500, can he afford the baby? They better have incredible insurance!
hot-whisky
Will the baby even want to be born?
singing_stream
Imagine telling your wife, who's about to give birth, that she's ungrateful for the party she didn't want but you executed anyway.
Apprehensive-Pea5212
OP's poor wife will have to go back to work sooner than she wants if OP doesn't learn how to manage money better.
DifficultyFuture661
Yeah, OP, what if no one gave you cash gifts? What were you planning to spend for the next two weeks?
DancinginHyrule
Then OP came back with edits after reading the backlash.
Later on, OP added some edits that show his thought process as he read all of the comments explaining just how big of a f*ck up this is.
At first, he even tried to justify reimbursing himself with the cash gifts, claiming that he wasn't planning on spending all of it on himself. He said his wife has savings too, and their baby will want for nothing.
engorgedclips
He says that they wouldn't have received all of those presents and money had they opted for a more intimate and smaller venue. Wow.
engorgedclips
Finally, what the comments said sunk in. OP has acknowledged his mistake.
He admitted that the big event was more for his ego than a celebration for his wife and their son. He also conveniently left out in the original post that his wife repeatedly asked him if he could afford the party, and he reassured her that he could; turns out, he couldn't.
engorgedclips
He was naive enough to think that the money given at the baby shower was supposed to cover the cost of the baby shower. This guy.
engorgedclips
At least Reddit opened OP's eyes to the glaring reality that he has a lot of growing up to do quickly before his son is born.
engorgedclips
This is a public service announcement to all expecting parents: baby showers are thrown to make things easier for the mom and, most especially, the baby. Hence, the gifts are things that the baby and the mom need.
Baby showers are not an excuse to show how much money you have and how much of a good provider you are. It looks like OP has learned his lesson, but he has a lot of groveling to do to get back in his wife's good graces before she gives birth; let's start with giving the $1,600 back.
Want another baby-shower money fight? See why OP refused to split costs with her pregnant sister.
