Spouse’s spending creates a debt trap

Dear Amy: My wife and I have been married for a long time.

Now that we’re more or less retired, I have a small online business that supplements our Social Security income and her pension. (My 401k disappeared in the last recession.)

I try to set aside money for special purchases and be prepared for unforeseen emergencies. On the other hand, she buys all sorts of stuff online and puts it on various credit cards: Clothes, food, books, household items, you name it. We have literally piles of unopened packages and brand-new stuff, and it never seems to end. I think it is some sort of hoarding complex.

I have tried talking to her about the spending, but she is highly secretive about our finances and when I press her for details, she picks a fight about something I did or said years ago.

If something happens to her, in the state where we live, I would be liable for the credit card debt that is in her name.

Given what I do know of our financial situation, beyond my own business’s financials, I am afraid I would be bankrupt if she passes away. She refuses to even discuss any kind of counseling. What can I do? I can’t afford to divorce her, either.

Dear Lost: When your wife runs up debt on multiple cards and hides all of it from you, she is committing “financial infidelity.” This has exposed a huge rift in your marriage. Unfortunately, unlike with other kinds of fidelity, ultimately the consequence and burden of her behavior may be borne by you.

Shopping — and buying — can give some people a dopamine hit, similar to gambling or addictive behavior.

Instead of confronting her in anger, you could try to gently pry open the vault by enlisting her as a partner in your long-range financial planning. If she insists that her purchases are affordable, ask her to show you the paperwork. Tell her that you want your marriage to get back on track by being transparent and honest with one another.

Regardless of how your wife responds, you should definitely see a counselor and a lawyer. You say that you can’t afford to divorce, but it is possible that you cannot afford to stay married.

Debtors Anonymous has a “friends and family” support group: check Debtanon.org. You will also learn a lot from debt-buster Dave Ramsey.

Dear Amy: How can I politely tell my husband that he needs to start wearing larger size clothes?

Over the past couple of years, he has put on enough weight that the clothes he’s had for a while really don’t fit properly, and he shouldn’t be wearing them. When I buy new clothes, he still wears his old ones because the new ones I bought are “too big” and “not the right size.”

I don’t have an issue with his weight gain, but he seems to be in complete denial. I’m usually a fairly direct person when it comes to telling people things, but I don’t know how to tactfully approach this subject.

Dear Wondering: There is no need for tact here because there is also no need for you to tell your husband that his clothes are too tight.

He is a grown man. He has the right to be uncomfortable.

He might be trying to use his tight-fitting clothing as an incentive to take off the weight he has gained. If he asks for help, then give him the benefit of your point of view. Otherwise, let it go.