I think a frank talk and a "hobby account" is a great idea. I dont think you are probably spending too too much and I dont think he is really really overconcerned. But retirement (consulting) is a different animal emotionally probably more than financially and you each will respond to the change differently.

I know when my parents first retired, my Dad fretted and my Mom didnt. Now that my Dad is 83 and in poor health, my Mom is fretting and my Dad is not. Really financially their picture hasnt changed only the way that each perceives it.

I'm with Patrice on this one.

When I read your message it sounded to me like you feel guilty about it. You are the one who knows whether it is ok or not in your situation, and it sounds like you have your own reservations. If you feel you should cut back, you probably should. Its not the end of the world to stop buying for a while. "Shop from your stash" works well too sometimes!

Just say "but dear, when you are no longer working, I have all this beautiful fabric, to make quilts to keep us warm when we are poor."

I told my husband to never say a word about my hobbies as his are a whole lot more expensive than my could ever be, no matter how he looks at it (RC planes, helicopter skiing, just to mention a few!LOL)

i always found pleading the fifth worked better if i was taking my clothes off than if i offered to cook dinner... lol

My motto is - Happy wife, happy life. Tell him that.

I am fortunate that my DH is at home when some of my friends who do not sew bring me fabric!

OH! That sounds EXACTLY like my dh. I just keep on. He will ask me, "do you really need that right now'?" etc. He retired last july. We are ok! I can afford to buy my fabric!! Now there. huh!

Oh boy howdy.....this is certainly the way it works at my house.

That quote is on a poster in a local jewelry shop here!