"Martyr" is exactly one of the words that went through my mind. He wants to be seen as self-sacrificing. For example, he'll buy me anything I need, without hesitation. I say I need it, and he'll provide it usually within a month. But he'll let his own clothes, underwear, socks, shoes, belts, and wallets wear down to holes he could drive one of those buses through, before he'll figure their replacements into the budget. Besides work uniforms, I haven't seen him buy new clothes for himself since we've been together, and some of his jeans and t-shirts are hardly holding together anymore. The only way he'll have anything new is if I save up the occasional pocket money he gives me, and buy it for his birthday or something. Incidentally, the other day he commented to my daughter that he tries to give me twenty dollars out of every paycheck, so I don't have to leave the house empty-handed, but that if he forgets to give it to me, he finds it puzzling that I don't even remind him. Well, I'm not a kid asking daddy for my allowance. I don't feel entitled to it. It's just something nice he does.

Maybe he's looking to be built up as a hero?