Ten years ago when I moved in with my husband (married 7 years now) I was over $3000 in debt due to credit cards and high interest loans. He paid off my debt, not wanting to incur it, and then he had me cut up my cards as security. We now have three children, and I am no longer working outside the home. I get a weekly "allowance" and have to budget and use cash for everything. I get a certain amount for groceries, gas, and clothes for the kids. He pays all of the bills and the mortgage, and though I used to be so grateful for that, I feel foolish and child-like sometimes since I have no idea how much we pay every month or how he manages the bank accounts and investments. I now have no credit of my own, and though my name is on the mortgage, he is the sole owner of our vehicles.
I have always felt very uneasy about not having a credit card anymore, especially since I do a lot of highway travel, and winter in Canada can be treacherous on the roads. I would like to have one even just for emergency purposes. I have broached the subject with him on several occasions, and it's always just laughed at. He still thinks I am the most financially irresponsible person who ever lived though I've been paying cash for 10 years now and denying myself a lot of things that I would love to have, for myself and the kids. Recently we have been having a lot of marital problems, not related to this issue. It scares me to know that I could very well end up a single parent with no credit and no job (I can't go back to the only job I've ever done since it's in the healthcare field and my lisense is long expired, and for health reasons) so I'd like to get that somewhat secured now.
I talked to someone at the bank today about our investments and she highly recommended that I get a credit card in my name, but don't they always do that? I came home with the brochure, told him what she said, and when I told him that I would like to get a credit card, he literally laughed. When I began to explain why, he got angry and flat out refused to talk about it, saying it was the "stupidest thing he ever heard", and that he wouldn't allow it. He would have to co-sign the application since I'm not employed, but of course he wouldn't. I just felt so berated, disrespected and humiliated. LIke I was 13 years old and I was talking to my father. I began to cry, and left the room. It's hard to believe it's come to this, when 15 years ago in my first marriage I paid all of the bills, working more than fulltime, and had good credit despite the debt. He has been controlling in other areas in the past, but it has gotten much better, though there is still a lot of change that needs to take place.
I would love to hear from as many of you as possible just to tell me what you think of this situation. Am I over-reacting, or is he wrong? Thanks for reading!