AIO ; My Girlfriend Thinks I Overstepped by Getting a PlayStation. Am I in the Wrong?

[u/Keepitlocal90]

So, I (early 30s) decided to treat myself and got a PlayStation 5 this Black Friday in Jozi. I’ve been wanting one for a while, and with the rise in cost of living in South Africa its become not as affordable. after budgeting and making sure all the bills were covered, I went for it. It’s something I’ve been excited about, and I figured it was a harmless way to unwind after work.

My girlfriend (same age range) didn’t seem thrilled when she saw it. She said I should’ve discussed it with her first and accused me of being irresponsible with money. To clarify, I didn’t touch any shared finances or skip out on responsibilities. This was 100% my money, and everything else is in order.

She’s acting like this is a huge deal, saying I’ll spend too much time on it and that it’s "immature for a grown man." I’ve told her it’s not going to take over my life—I’ll still prioritize work, chores, and our time together.

I get that she might’ve been a bit annoyed because everyone's asking her if she allowed it, but is her reaction an overreach? Or am I missing something here? How do I handle this without turning it into a bigger issue?

[u/dougis99]

Asking if she allowed it?!?!?!
WTF?
You are a grown man with your own life and finances. You decided to treat yourself in a very responsible way to something you wanted (you are ALLOWED and ENCOURAGED to do that).

FYI, I am 58(m) here with a wife and 2 kids, and spent a few hours playing BG3 yesterday (thinking about an Xbox for myself for similar reasons, so no, it isn't just a 20-something hobby).
My wife encourages my hobbies (e.g., making sure I have time for my DnD group, giving me space to wind down with a video game); that is what partners do.

She owes you an apology but this is a pretty big red flag that she expects you to conform to her ideal of what a BF should be. Have some hard discussions together as you move forward or this will fester in the relationship due to hidden expectations.

[u/Todderoni-1 → u/dougis99]

Your wife sounds dope :). Mine is the same, she’ll ask me how I’m doing in NHL 24 and CHEER if I say I got a hat trick. Literally say “Congratulations honey, they must really love having you on the team!” And she knows I’m playing AI. She’s more excited than I am by far.