A woman took to Reddit to seek advice after her boyfriend’s continuous habit of “forgetting” his credit card during their meals out. For months, she had been paying for dinner for him and his two children, and it eventually left her financially strained. When she reached her breaking point and walked out of a restaurant, it led to a massive argument.
The 32-year-old woman had been dating her 39-year-old boyfriend for nine months, and while things seemed fine at first, she noticed a recurring theme during their weekly outings with his children. Each time they went out to eat, her boyfriend would “forget” his wallet or credit card at home, leaving her to cover the bill.
Initially, she didn’t mind paying, but after weeks of covering expensive meals, she began to feel taken advantage of, especially as the costs piled up and left her financially struggling. One evening, after receiving a paycheck from her second part-time job, they were once again headed to a restaurant. Sensing a pattern, she sent her boyfriend a text reminding him to bring his wallet. He laughed it off, but once they arrived, he “forgot” it again.
At the restaurant, his children ordered pricey meals, and when she asked her boyfriend about his wallet, he acted shocked, patting his pockets and claiming it was left in another pair of jeans. This time, instead of paying for everyone, the woman decided to stand her ground. She picked up her things and prepared to leave.
Her boyfriend demanded to know what she was doing, but she explained that she was no longer willing to pay for him and his children repeatedly. After she walked out, her boyfriend called her selfish for leaving him and his kids in that situation, accusing her of letting them go hungry because she refused to pay. He even canceled the order and took his children home without eating, further escalating the argument.
When she shared her story on Reddit, commenters overwhelmingly sided with her, believing that her boyfriend was taking advantage of her. Many noted that his habit of conveniently “forgetting” his wallet was likely intentional and unfair.
Was She Right to Walk Out?
Most Redditors agreed that the woman had every right to walk out and set boundaries. The boyfriend’s repeated behavior showed a lack of responsibility, and forcing her to constantly pay for expensive dinners without reciprocating wasn’t fair. He used guilt and manipulation, especially by involving his children, to make her feel selfish when, in reality, he was the one being inconsiderate.
Setting boundaries in a relationship, particularly around finances, is crucial for maintaining mutual respect. It’s clear that she had reached her limit, and walking out was a reasonable way to stand up for herself.
What Would You Do?
If you were in the woman’s shoes, would you have done the same? Was she right to leave after her boyfriend’s repeated actions, or should she have paid for dinner and discussed the issue later?