A guy spent months saving and booked the perfect solo two-week European adventure, every flight and hotel already paid. Five months into a new relationship, his girlfriend begged to tag along. He happily agreed to cover hotels, meals, excursions, absolutely everything on the ground, only asking her to handle her own last-minute $700 flight.
She instantly flipped, demanding he pay because he earns more and “that’s what partners do,” even calling the ticket her early birthday gift. When he held firm on his budget, she delivered an icy ultimatum: “Hopefully I’ll still be here when you get back.”
Redditor refuses to buy $700 flight for 5-month girlfriend’s last-minute Europe trip, Reddit calls entitlement and advises breakup.
You may have seen those cute TikToks where one partner surprises the other with a plane ticket, but five months in and on a trip planned before you even met? Let’s be practical here. That’s not romance, that’s rewriting someone else’s budget.
The core issue here isn’t really the $700, it’s wildly different expectations about money in early relationships. The girlfriend sees the income gap and thinks “partnership = he pays for big stuff.”
The boyfriend sees a solo trip he kindly opened up (while still covering thousands in shared costs) and thinks “partnership means everyone contributes what they can.” Both views can exist, but throwing around guilt trips and veiled breakup threats at month five? That’s where it gets spicy.
Financial compatibility is one of the strongest predictors of long-term relationship success. A 2009 study from Utah State University found that couples who disagree about money once a week are over 30% more likely to get divorced than couples who reported disagreeing about finances a few times a month.
Another survey by Credit Karma in 2024 revealed that 66% of Americans who have used a dating app say it’s important that their partner has a good credit score. Money talks louder than love languages these days.
Relationship therapist Esther Perel has spoken extensively about modern expectations in partnerships. In her 2006 book Mating in Captivity, she wrote: “Today, we turn to one person to provide what an entire village once did: a sense of grounding, meaning, and continuity. At the same time, we expect our committed relationships to be romantic as well as emotionally and sexually fulfilling. Is it any wonder that so many relationships crumble under the weight of it all?”
That quote fits this situation like a glove. The girlfriend seems to have added “personal travel sponsor” to her boyfriend’s job description without checking if he applied for the position.
Redditors spotted the bigger picture instantly: when someone flips from “I’d love to join” to “pay for me or we’re done” in under five minutes, that’s not a budget issue anymore. It’s a preview of every future vacation, emergency, or even grocery run where money is involved. Yikes city.
Healthy advice? At five months, it’s perfectly reasonable to keep big finances separate, especially for a pre-planned trip. If she really couldn’t swing $700, the mature move would’ve been “I can’t afford it this time, have an amazing trip and bring me back stories!” instead of emotional blackmail.
Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:
Some people say the girlfriend is blatantly entitled and manipulative, and OP should seriously consider ending the relationship over this massive red flag.
Some people call her behavior a huge red flag at only 5 months and advise OP to enjoy the trip single or at least rethink the future with her.
Some people say OP is clearly NTA because the trip was pre-planned, $700+ is insane for 5 months, and her ultimatum is unreasonable.
Some people give practical warnings about her possible reaction while OP is away.
![[Reddit User] − Bud, if she has a key to your place, I'd think about getting a family member to house-sit so you don't come back to an empty place.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1765354287904-3.webp "Boyfriend Refuses To Spend $700 On Girlfriend's Plane Ticket, Faces Her Ultimatum And Threat")
In the end, our Redditor is packing his bags for Europe with or without the drama, and the internet is loudly cheering solo. Five months is the “getting to know you” phase, not the “rewrite your financial plan for me” phase.
So, dear readers: Was he cold for not gifting a $700 flight as an early birthday magic, or was she out of line expecting a near-stranger (relationship-wise) to fund her vacation? Would you cover the ticket to keep the peace, or hold the boundary and risk the “hopefully I’ll still be here” cliffhanger? Drop your verdict in the comments, we’re ready for the tea!
