“Christmas in Crisis: Wife Cancels Holiday After Husband Splurges on Gaming Friend Instead”

A wife disclosed that she canceled Christmas after her husband chose to buy an expensive present for his gaming companion instead of her. 

The unnamed 28-year-old female shared her story on Reddit to clarify the events. 

In a discussion titled, ‘Am I The A**hole,’ she pleaded with internet users for guidance as she revealed that her partner had opted to spend a significant amount on a gift for his friend with whom he plays video games. 

She remarked that her spouse had spent a staggering $150 on the friend, but only gifted her a $20 candle. 

The woman elaborated that her partner selected her for their family Secret Santa, which had a limit of $100, but instead, he diverted his funds to his online companion. 

Upon realizing that her partner had not considered her when buying her gift, she felt enraged and opted to cancel their family Christmas dinner. 

Now, her relatives are criticizing her for overreacting and labeling her as ‘petty.’ 

She pondered if she was in the wrong in a post titled, ‘Am I the a**hole for canceling Christmas dinner because my husband’s “secret Santa” present was for his gaming buddy and not me?’

A wife revealed she canceled Christmas after her husband spent funds on a gift for his gaming friend instead of her (stock image)

‘I’m currently hiding in our bedroom with a bottle of wine, while my husband plays video games in the living room, likely telling his online friends how I “ruined Christmas,”’ she expressed.

‘My phone is inundated with messages from his mother, calling me selfish, and I’m contemplating whether to simply block her until the New Year. Let me detail what triggered this holiday breakdown.

‘For background, I (28F) have been wed to my husband (30M) for three years, and we host Christmas dinner annually for his family. 

‘This year, I went all out – adorning the home, curating a delightful menu, and even crafting some of the table decorations. 

‘In the meantime, my husband has been “too busy” with work (read: his online gaming) to assist with anything.

‘A few weeks back, we agreed to have a Secret Santa gift exchange with his family, with a budget of $100. 

‘My husband was assigned to me, which I found endearing as he could easily select something meaningful without needing hints from anyone else. 

‘Conversely, I got his father, and I dedicated weeks searching for the ideal vintage vinyl record he had been wanting.’ 

The unnamed 28-year-old woman took to Reddit to explain the situation

Her enthusiasm quickly morphed into fury when she realized that her husband had not invested as much in her gift as he had for his friend. 

She shared: ‘Fast forward to today. After spending the entire morning in the kitchen readying Christmas dinner, I decided to steal a glance at the presents beneath the tree. 

‘That’s when I spotted a box with my husband’s handwriting directed to someone named “The Warlord.” 

‘Puzzled, I opened it (yes, I snooped – sue me), and inside was a $150 custom-made gaming headset. 

‘For context, my husband has a gaming friend he plays with nearly every night who goes by “The Warlord.”

‘Initially, I thought maybe he had bought an additional gift for his friend. But then it dawned on me: he utilized more on a gift for his gaming companion than for me, his spouse. 

‘I checked the present he purchased for me, and it was a $20 candle – yes, a candle – accompanied by the generic note: “Merry Christmas! Love, [husband’s name].”

‘I’m not even a candle enthusiast. I confronted him right away. He chuckled and said, “It’s just Secret Santa, not a big deal. Besides, The Warlord and I have been gaming together for years. You wouldn’t understand.”

People on the web flooded the comments section and shared their thoughts

‘No apology, no justification – just rationalizations about how I’m “overreacting” and “ruining the holiday spirit.”‘

At the conclusion of her post, she questioned if she was at fault, writing: ‘At that point, I’d had enough. 

‘I returned to the kitchen, packed away the food, and informed him that Christmas dinner was canceled. 

‘His mother and sister began inundating my phone, accusing me of being petty, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. 

‘I’m not about to serve dinner to a man who believes his online friend merits more effort than his wife.

‘So here I am, sipping wine in my pajamas, while the ham I painstakingly prepared sits untouched in the refrigerator. 

‘AITA for canceling Christmas dinner and standing my ground? Or should I have just endured and allowed The Warlord to triumph this time?’ 

People on the internet flooded the comments section sharing their opinions. 

One individual remarked: ‘Not the a**hole, I’m not advocating divorce. However, you should certainly step back and assess if he applies the same level of effort in everything concerning you. 

‘$20? It’s the thought that counts, yet I assure you he did not glance at the candle and think, “Yeah, that’s my wife.”‘ 

‘NTA for canceling the dinner, it’s evident you feel hurt that none of your efforts are reciprocated, and you are feeling a certain way, but what is your next move?’ inquired another.

‘That’s the critical question because your husband appears to be a disrespectful child and I would not want to live my life like that.’ 

Another commenter said: ‘NTA. Enjoy the Christmas dinner on your own.’