DEAR ABBY: I am totally frustrated. My wife has implemented alerts on our credit cards, bank accounts and debit card accounts to a point that I can't buy surprise gifts for her birthday, our anniversary, Valentine's Day, etc., without receiving a text from her almost immediately asking if I charged something to a specific store.
Do you think this is a control obsession, or is she just overly cautious? Every time I try to discuss this with her, she says she's trying to make sure we are not hacked, etc. I want to be able to buy her things and create the element of surprise.
I would love some financial privacy at special times. Other than this, I have nothing to hide. Do you have any advice to help me save my sanity on this one? -- UNDER SURVEILLANCE IN NORTH CAROLINA
DEAR UNDER SURVEILLANCE: Yes, either get a credit card in your name only or put aside some cash to spend on surprise gifts for these special occasions.