A 32-year-old woman had been dating her 39-year-old boyfriend for nine months when they had a major argument. Her frustration was growing because he always “forgot his wallet” when they went out to restaurants, so she had to pay for everyone. She was especially worried about how this looked in front of his young children, who loved eating out every week.
At first, it didn’t bother the boyfriend, but after a month of expensive dinners, it started to take a toll on his finances. One evening, when they were planning another dinner, the woman reminded him to bring his wallet. He laughed, but when they arrived, he “forgot” it again in his other pair of pants.
Fed up, she decided not to pay this time. When he asked her why, she said she would not pay for him or his children and left. Later, he called her selfish and complained that his children were starving. The argument escalated and he suggested she reconsider the relationship and accused her of being unfair. She was unsure if leaving was the right thing to do and asked for advice.