My wife just spent over $500 on Halloween — she needs to be stopped

I am generally a sensible man.

I have a wife terrified“Spending her husband’s cash”, and she has equal access to our money because she is an equal in the marriage.

He never needs my permission for anything, nor does he have any ‘perks’… but Halloween is changing my mind.

“It’s only two pay packets until Christmas… how can we afford it?”

Halloween started in our house a few years ago, when we would join in on trick or treating rounds with the neighborhood kids.

Then last year, my wife thought it would be cool for the adults to have chairs and drinks and have the kids take turns going to a few houses.

But this year, she has upped the ante and wants to host a party at our place. When he raised it to me, I said it seemed like a lot of work for something that was intended to be general.

“Just plastic glasses and a cheese board,” she assured me.

But between some fancy helium balloons, bits and pieces of the costume (including a wizard’s hat for me), “nibbles” that included a sushi platter, soft drinks, an order of beer and wine… I’ve calculated that it’s approx. $530.40 (800 AUD).

And this is before the so-called “boo baskets”.

About half a grand, (1K AUD) on Halloween, an occasion that doesn’t even make sense.

And that’s only two pay packets until Christmas.

“We could do with $800 for Christmas.”

I think the bottom line is that I’m confused. I admit that Halloween is a thing these days and I would never want my daughters to miss out on the cute costumes and trick or treating.

But should it cost this much? I think if we don’t control this, it will increase further next year.

My wife could ask people to bring a bottle or plate… but she didn’t seem to care about money at all.

The second thing is that, as a father, as a provider, I recognize that Christmas is an expensive time.

And while, as I keep saying, I don’t want to deny my family anything, I just want the crazy price tag of Christmas to be considered so close to the date.

Do I tell my wife this Christmas is $530.40 (800 AUD) over budget? I really don’t want to be a bad sport…or should I say, the Grinch.