And it works the other way. If there is a dress that is just that bit too expensive say 'I could always buy cheap tat like Bill Scroggins buys for his wife, but you don't want me to look that common do you?'
Not quite the same thing Gayle, for a partnership to work no man should be put in a position of making a decision about his ladies clothing because he knows that whatever help/support/advice he gives it will somehow be turned into severe criticism, that road leads to breakups!
Or, if you're trying to discourage him from buying the top of the range digital camera 'I'm sure you'd be able to take better pictures than Bill Scroggins even with a cheaper camera, you're so much cleverer than he is'.
If you thought Bill Scroggins wife had bought her man a camera, there is no way on earth you would try to dissuade your man from getting the best one, (anything to get one over on 'that bl**dy b*tch!').