Ever have a "so proud of my spouse!" moment?

[midjd]

It seems like people (myself included) sometimes post about our partners' financial faults, but not about the good things they do... so I thought I'd put something nice out there.

A little background - DH and I have 3 vehicles - 2 daily drivers (Hondas) and a toy (Jeep). That Jeep is DH's baby, and it was established as his "sacred cow" long ago, with the agreement that any repairs or upgrades came out of DH's money - not the household car budget. It gets about 10 mpg, so as gas prices went up to $4.00, it was spending most of its time in the garage.

This weekend DH's parents came over, because we needed to do some yard work requiring the use of a truck. It was very handy, and we had an entire 50-foot garden walled with paver stones and filled with garden soil/mulch in under 3 hours. (It would have taken days to haul everything with the Jeep or our tiny cars).

Then when I got home last night, DH told me that he had been thinking for a while about selling the Jeep, so he had gone ahead and listed it on Craigslist and with a few local off-roading clubs. I was FLOORED. I figured he'd be buried in that thing! I asked him why, and he said that we could use a truck, the Jeep is impractical, he barely drives it with gas as expensive as it is now, and "I have to grow up sometime." No joke, when he said that I got tears in my eyes. He has put so much time and labor into it... for him to give it up for something that will benefit both of us... well, it was truly touching. Especially since it was entirely his idea - I knew the Jeep was off-limits, and I never would have suggested he sell it.

The funny thing is, after all my grousing about the Jeep, I am actually gonna miss it. It is fun in the summer with the top off

[Phoenix84]

Nope, never married so I don't have a spouse to complain about or feel proud of.

[Deleted]

I've had a few but then again when my spouse and I started dating he had $25,000 worth of credit card debt and no savings for retirement or an EF. His spending money started at $250/month, however did include his cell phone/gas/personal expenses. Now his spending money, not counting cell phone/gas/personal expenses is $20. Much of those cuts came as he started paying down his credit cards and seeing how much more we could do if he did not have that debt. He still has $14,000 worth of debt but it is at 0% for now and we did buy a house and move across the country. He now find more deals than me and has stronger will power about not going out to eat.

[resolution]

MY DH is a lot more frugal than me, so most of my "proud of him" moments are when I get him to agree to spend money. Yesterday I was very proud of him. He spent the day painting the trim in the house and was very tired, but I mentioned how hot I was and on his own he got the A/C out of the garage and installed it in the house. Last year it was a matter of dispute for weeks when I wanted A/C and he wanted to not spend money on power. So I was both surprised and thankful when he recognised that it was hot and put the thing back together.

[MN-Investor]

I am proud of DH for many things. Financially he is great. But trying to get him to get rid of his two 1956 Chevy pickups? I think it's a lost cause.

[KaraBoo]

I am most proud of my DH when he stands up to his ex-wife.

He was such a push over with her when we first got together that he would let her dictate to him who/what/when/where/how regarding his children. Thankfully, she wasn't extreme with him as she could have been (she always let him see them for example), but she would still try to insist on certain things happening her way without his input at all.

Little by little, my DH realized that he did have a say in how his children were being raised and that not everything she decreed needed to be followed as if it were gospel. He also realized that some of what she was doing was actually harmful to his kids (giving one child's antibiotic to another, just because the 2nd also developed a runny nose without taking the 2nd to the doctor) and put a stop to it while they were in his custody.

Now that he has primary custody of his kids, he sees that she was really trying to continue controlling him through them like she had been doing throughout his marriage to her.

[kiskis]

I'm always proud of my DH! Like Kari, he is the more frugal of us two. He's a dolphin cruise captain and has been working 5am to 8pm, 7 days a week lately because he started a side venture with charter fishing trips. It's been doing fantastic. And he comes home and still takes our two-year-old until bedtime to give me a break, since I work, too, and have taken on all the chores and cooking. Definitely a team effort. We'll take a private day off in two weeks. Looking forward to it.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...long-time married, and continually proud... last smile moment was on a vacation when I was thinking to myself, "wow... we haven't really mentioned anything about money, but what we've spent so far is pretty frugal and well within the budget... way to go!"

[Gardening Grandma]

May 31, 2011 11:52:36 GMT -5 MN-Investor said:

I am proud of DH for many things. Financially he is great. But trying to get him to get rid of his two 1956 Chevy pickups? I think it's a lot cause.

Same here. Financially, DH is a saver. He is generous to a fault with me, however....
He also has a "Herbie". A 1938 (or 39, I forget) Plymouth that he is rebuilding into a hot rod. I think it was a teenage dream of his... But he spends only his allowance on it and it keeps him busy, so .... whatever.

I'm really proud of him now. He's just finished a project I've wanted for several years. A series of three terraced beds with retaining walls. He did a GREAT job!

[moneymaven]

I often have proud moments of my DH. It usually comes to when he agrees to spending money on something valuable, like a copay for the doctor! He's so cheap sometimes, he won't tend to matters that really deserve the attention. I always like when he splurges a little on himself, and he gets that childlike, giddy look on his face.

[thyme4change]

My hubby just manned-up and sold his Jeep, too. They have been making the wrangler forever. I don't anticipate them discontinuing it any time soon. I told him in 10 years the kids would be gone and he could buy another one.

[8 Bit WWBG]

When DF finally accepted that the library was a good idea. I had suggested it for years, but no... she had to accumulate every title ever printed. I think she thought that libraries, like buses, were for grungy poor people. She liked being a high roller at bookstores.

Then one day she figured out that she could borrow all the books she wanted, for free, and not have them take up space. Best idea "she" ever had.

[dancinmama]

I am proud at what my DH has accomplished in his career. One of the things that I found attractive about him is that he IS NOT a Type A personality. And even though he's more of a laid-back type of guy, he was/is a hard worker. I knew that he'd always have a job and be a good "provider", but I never dreamed that he would achieve the level of success that he has. Not only that, but he has not gotten there by stepping on other people or backstabbing or a lot of the antics that people resort to to get ahead in the corporate world.

[moneymaven]

WWGB, I have to say I am much like DF when it comes to books. I love my books. DH got me a kindle, so now I read much of them that way, but I still love to own the classics and some of my favorites.

[Deleted]

yes, but it's usually when he's more helpful than usual around the house or when he does something with me only asking him once.

[thyme4change]

I think she thought that libraries, like buses, were for grungy poor people.

Peter Griffin said that libraries are there so homeless people have a place to have BMs.

[Deleted]

now now.... it's also a place for them to watch porn.

[moneymaven]

Peter Griffin said that libraries are there so homeless people have a place to have BMs.

[Regis]

Last night as we were celebrating our anniversary she looked across the table and said she'd marry me again.

Damn, she's got good taste!

[Deleted]

DH sold his motorcycle when we started planning on having children. He also is just a couple of weeks away from finishing his degree, which is a huge deal because he hates school.

I love DH and I'm proud of him 99% of the time. That other one percent though . . . damn.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I am head-over-heels proud of my wonderful DH for literally hundreds of reasons

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"Peter Griffin said that libraries are there so homeless people have a place to have BMs.":::...

I remember that, classic! There are some icky libraries out there, but there are also some very grand ones. I think what sobered DF was when we moved. I think we had more book boxes than boxes of anything else, and it was months before we got them all put away.

[tiredturkey]

Yes, often, because he is one of the most honest, least biased humans I've ever met. You really don't want to be around this very mild-mannered, self-effacing man when someone displays racism or sexism; he will call BS on them in a heartbeat. His beautiful math and engineering logic makes prejudices incomprehensible to him and he ignores any personal cost for his stance. He has supported and defended me against racial and gender prejudice for the 38 years of our marriage, even against his family!

[sil]

DH was born here, moved to a new country as a small child and learned a different language, moved back here without his parents during a military coup, had to basically re-learn English, and couch-surfed through high school, then joined the Army, was the first in his family to get a college degree, has doubled his salary in the past 5 years and is a wonderful, involved father and husband.

Not just proud of him...I'm in awe.

[Cookies Galore]

My schmoopie has been a huge help with my Grandmom lately, which makes him all the more amazing. He does yard work for her and is always willing to do something when we visit (I'm the closest grandchild so I try to go over often). Last night, Grandmom called around 8:30 to see if we can come over after work tonight to put in her air conditioner, BF said there was just enough daylight left and we would be right over (the AC unit is oddly shaped and has to be inserted from outside). We had a long day and an even longer weekend and we were both beyond beat, I just love how he is so willing to help. I guess it doesn't hurt that I seriously have the best Grandmom ever.