My cousin's husband does not provide gas money for her car.

MoonDancer, you seem very irate and angry over this situation though you are not personally living the woman's life. Though from what you said, I can understand why you'd be sensitive to guys who are jerks and say things like 'the money's mine, cause I have a job!' and junk like that. Of course, that's just stupid, cause it's family money and most smart guy's know that. But.... If she agrees to the restriction then she is probably doing fine. She could get really upset over this kind of thing or just find a solution to the problem. Actually your comment about there being no groceries in the house cause she couldn't drive to the store reminded me of something else. Back in the day, (we're talking in the 1940's and 1950's) when the guy had the job and not as many women worked, most guys would give their spouses a grocery allowance to buy food for the family. And, from what I hear, many women, would actually just buy really cheap stuff and do casserole meals/soups etc. (which are a big money saver) and then stash the rest of the money in a little personal savings, like sticking that money in a jar in the top of the closet or something like that. And, then she'd use that money to buy whatever else she wanted for the house or clothes, whatever. like new wallpaper, etc. So my idea, would be that if the woman is getting any kind of money from him to buy groceries, then she should buy cheap and buy things on sale and then put away the extra money for gas. Gas doesn't cost all that much money if you are not going very far (for instance, like if shes just going around town or to her mom's house or something like that.) On the other hand, maybe she should get a job if she doesn't like the restriction on money or do some work online or something. It's not that hard to earn three dollars or more just doing an online survey. I do that all the time and it's nice pocket money. If I drove a car (and I don't, by choice), I would use that pocket money to buy gas. Right now, I use my pocket money to pay actual bills like electric, rent, food, etc. So I guess I'm earning a little more than pocket change online.

But she has a two year old daughter by him and she may need to take the little girl to the doctor or the emergency room for something... He still should make sure she has gas money, because he never knows when she will have to go somewhere when he is not there at home.

He should make sure it she has to take the little girl to doctors appointment days and if there is an emergency then I understand your point. But realistically I think it is unfair for her to ask for this if she knows he is working hard providing for the family. I work from home, my husband works, I pay several of our bills so he never has a problem with putting gas in my car. I am contributing and taking some of the pressure off of him, and we have 7 children, she could do little work online to make enough for gas money and keep him from paying for everything.

I admit that you have a point here. But if her husband is not so concerned about her working, then that changes everything. It would be good if she can get an online job, but that would have to be something that she would want to do. I am a stay at home mom too, my husband is okay with me being at home. And yes, I do various online jobs that pay me here and there. It is not enough to pay high bills. But, it would be enough for gas money if I needed it for that, every now and then. You sound as if the online jobs that you have, pay you a decent amount to be able to assist your husband in paying the bills. Maybe that is why my cousin's husband is allowing her to put her own gas in her car because he wants her to work.. She seems to be stressed out a lot. I think that he is controlling too. This has nothing to do with the gas money. Personally, I don't like him. He seems to be very mean. But that is my personal issue against him. I love my cousin and I honestly think that she is not happy with this man. He is just too much for her.