Well that's the thing. I was not allowed to have anything nicer than her also. From a cell phone to a car. Nothing could be newer, nicer or better than what she had.
My exhusband was very tit for tat. If you buy this for yourself, then I get to buy something comparable or better. It was super dysfunctional and eventually I stopped buying anything and he would bring up the past to justify his behavior. Like years past. My most recent ex was not at all materialistic and I made quite a bit more than him. I think it made him feel inadequate and he would try to control who I went out with as friends, I was always pressured to check in often. I am pretty secure with myself, but his insecurity eventually drove us apart.