You want to believe that all people are good deep inside, but from time to time, you come across stories that drain what remaining faith in humanity you had left. Some people are so petty, vindictive, and insecure that they’ll implode their relationships on a whim.
That’s what internet user u/ProfessionalEye9680’s boyfriend did on her birthday. The woman told the AmIOverreacting online group that her (now ex) partner wanted to “humble” her a bit because she got “overly excited” over a gorgeous dress she wanted. So, the guy bought her dream gift for his mom instead. Keep scrolling to find out what happened with the toxic guy. Meanwhile, Bored Panda reached out to the author for comment, and we’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from her.
Birthdays are meant to be a happy occasion. But if someone's out to ruin your fun, the party can quickly descend into drama
Image credits: lysenko_andrii (not the actual image)
A woman turned to the net for help after sharing how her boyfriend bought her dream gift... only not for her
Image credits: undrey (not the actual image)
Image credits: standret (not the actual image)
Later, she decided to confront her partner about his awful behavior
She then gave another update about the fallout
Image credits: ProfessionalEye9680
Toxic relationships drain you, undermine your self-esteem, and leave you feeling worse for wear
Having someone weaponize your wants, needs, and genuine enthusiasm against you is a gigantic red flag.
In a nutshell, toxic relationships are those that make you feel worse than if you were alone. If someone’s constantly harming your well-being, there’s something wrong. Toxic partners make you feel demeaned, misunderstood, unsupported, or even attacked, according to Verywell Mind.
Some of the main signs of a toxic relationship include you feeling:
- Devalued, depleted, and disrespected
- Like your needs aren’t met
- Depressed, angry, or tired after spending time with the person
- Like the other person brings out the worst in you
- As though you can’t be authentic around your partner and have to walk on eggshells
- Like you have to spend a lot of time and energy cheering the other person up
- Constantly blamed for everything
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
Getting someone a gift is very easy when the person has already told you what they want. All you have to do is be willing to make them happy
Gift-giving is a complex, individual thing. Some folks are great at this. They are super creative, match presents to a person’s personality, and know what they want and need.
Others… struggle. To put it mildly. They have a hard time coming up with ideas. So, when somebody outright tells you what they want, it’s a blessing in disguise. It cuts out a lot of the stress of thinking. You can get them what they’ve asked for, wrap it up nicely, and write them a nice card.
Obviously, what you shouldn’t do is use the person’s desire for a gift against them, to try to teach them some bizarre lesson about being too enthusiastic.
As a rule of thumb, people usually want the presents they’ve requested instead of being surprised by something unexpected or random. Meanwhile, if someone hasn’t stated any preferences, they actually tend to prefer experiences rather than material things.
Long-term enjoyment should trump short-term pleasure. And focusing on getting them something sentimental and emotional is better than going for things that are overly practical or extremely expensive.
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
When you have a specific goal or purchase in mind, it's far easier to be financially disciplined and stick to a strict budget
The author of the post mentioned that she and her (now ex) boyfriend had been budgeting. Being good at personal finance management doesn’t mean that you have to go without having any fun in life.
But it does mean having a list of priorities, being disciplined with your income and spending, and resisting the urge to splurge. It’s very satisfying to get your finances in order and be able to save up enough money to get something truly special.
Budgeting isn’t rocket science, but it requires a lot of patience and perseverance. Investopedia suggests:
- Tracking your spending over a few months to know exactly how much you’re paying for what
- Splitting your expenses into your needs (essentials) and wants (what’s left over after necessities)
- Setting goals for your monthly needs, wants, and savings
- Adjusting your spending to meet your goals by cutting back on some purchases and pushing back on lifestyle creep
- Constantly reminding yourself of your long-term financial goals to stay motivated
- Adjusting your budget every quarter or half-year, as your life circumstances change
We’d like to hear your take on the birthday drama, dear Pandas. Why do you think the author’s ex behaved the way that he did? How would you have reacted if you saw your significant other buy your dream gift for someone else? What are the biggest relationship red flags you look out for? Let us know in the comments.
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
The story started going viral online, and the author interacted with some of her readers in the comments
The story shocked many internet users who read it. Here's the advice they gave the woman
