He's pressuring your mother to live a life stripped of small joys over pennies. What wonderful thing is he going to use the money for in the future that will make all the daily petty misery he causes worth it? Odds are, nothing.
It has the expression common to all kittens, that of a tyrant in the becoming.
Madness string 101805
It's okay if it's half-assed as long as it's the right half of the ass.