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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Being so tight with money?

984 replies

Rockrose94 · 08/07/2024 21:31

For context I have been with my boyfriend for 4 years, we live together and split the rent / bills 50/50. Our take home pay is very similar and I have an extra outgoing of my car finance which he does not. We effectively keep our finances completely separate, I worry how this will work long term as he has said he does not want to share finances at all as he has more savings.

Anyway the main issue just now is 1) he has bought me dinner once in 4 years, for my 30th birthday present. I took him on a foreign holiday and presents for his 30th. I have paid for nights away and meals for us several times when he has said he can't afford it as I wanted to treat him. I don't do this often any more as it's never been reciprocated 2) we split all food shops evenly but usually do our own meals during the week as I am dieting. He just stood for half an hour itemising up every item on the food shops over the weekend to come to the point that I owe him £2.50. Note that he will charge me half of the food we share but he would likely eat 2/3 of the meal. AIBU to be tired of this? It feels so tight , do other people itemise everything and charge their partner almost to the penny?!

OP posts:
Itsbaloney · 10/07/2024 06:07

Quirkyme · 10/07/2024 00:33

Are you going to actually do anything about iit and leave instead of going on and on about what you've recorded, and remembered etc etc?

This is just another of countless posts here about women complaining about men they shouldn't be with in the first place, and doing absolutely nothing about it part from sit on Mumsnet and get temporary validation.

Wow. I can’t believe you actually wrote that. OP has already commented that she is planning to leave him but can’t just up and go. Your comment is one of countless the same on Mumsnet where posters think other peoples lives are a soap opera for their crass gratification. Threads on here are conversations and advice, not contracts to do exactly as the OP is told!!
Really tasteless comment.

Needanewname42 · 10/07/2024 04:54

Op hope you are OK. Stay strong. I think that you should speak to family and friends get some real life support.
Do you have family that you could go to?

This is edging towards financial abuse. Especially the fact he is generous with friends but not you.

Ignore the posters who think that you should leave instantly. Others are absolutely correct it takes time to come to terms with the relationship ending and find somewhere else to live.

Kitkat2065 · 10/07/2024 03:48

Rockrose94 · 09/07/2024 15:11

Make it into a drinking game while I sip my wine 😆

You spelt "glug" wrong 🤣

WiddlinDiddlin · 10/07/2024 02:36

Quirkyme · 10/07/2024 00:33

Are you going to actually do anything about iit and leave instead of going on and on about what you've recorded, and remembered etc etc?

This is just another of countless posts here about women complaining about men they shouldn't be with in the first place, and doing absolutely nothing about it part from sit on Mumsnet and get temporary validation.

Obviously you're wonder woman with a second property that you can flit to at a moments notice...

Meanwhile, the rest of us would take more than the less than two and a half days since OP first posted, to actually end a relationship and kick them out/leave.

Give the woman a break for fucks sake!

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 10/07/2024 01:44

45 minutes of his gaslighting and explaining I'm wrong and being irresponsible.

You absolutely do not have to put up with this anymore OP. He has no right to do this. At nearly midnight too. He's on a nasty power trip. Who does he think he is? A high court judge?

I'm sorry that you are going through this, it must be awful, but at the same time at least you are gaining clarity and dispersing the haze of gaslighting.
Perhaps you could just try getting up and leaving the room without saying a word the next time he starts, so you don't have to listen to it. And this week find some RL support and continue with your planning.

It's rubbish to say because you are taking stock of the extent of his behaviour, you must now march immediately out the door. Extracting yourself with the least harm to yourself requires a bit of careful thought and planning and in the meantime of course you are allowed to blow off some steam on here while you gather your thoughts and put your plans into place. This is not your fault. Its his.

Hope you can get a good nights sleep.

TwinkleDee · 10/07/2024 01:33

Quirkyme · 10/07/2024 00:33

Are you going to actually do anything about iit and leave instead of going on and on about what you've recorded, and remembered etc etc?

This is just another of countless posts here about women complaining about men they shouldn't be with in the first place, and doing absolutely nothing about it part from sit on Mumsnet and get temporary validation.

What a nasty tone to your post! How on earth is your post supportive of a woman who in processing the fact that she is being abused?? 😡

She has said up thread that she's leaving but that she can't leave without some planning etc, which is totally understandable. Wtf do you expect her to do, open the front door and walk out of it with no where to go, without an item of her belongings? Who do you think you are demanding more urgent action. If op "going on and on" doesn't suit you, simply leave the thread, don't kick a woman in her position down.

Quirkyme · 10/07/2024 00:33

Rockrose94 · 09/07/2024 23:18

Jeez. I just recorded 45 minutes of his gaslighting and explaining I'm wrong and being irresponsible. Obviously I cant share it here but we started discussing a specific credit card payment and it all blew up. Obviously not helped by the wine and I'm 100% not saying I am innocent in any means, I'm sure this post is all one sided. But I am 100% the problem in his mind, I can see his "convincing me" and I'm so just so so fucking done.

Are you going to actually do anything about iit and leave instead of going on and on about what you've recorded, and remembered etc etc?

This is just another of countless posts here about women complaining about men they shouldn't be with in the first place, and doing absolutely nothing about it part from sit on Mumsnet and get temporary validation.

Elliebeli · 10/07/2024 00:30

Rockrose94 · 08/07/2024 21:46

The £2.50 tonight was an eye opener and he still wouldn't let it go, he asked what every item on the receipt was so he didn't pay for any of my things but eats a huge amount more of the stuff we do share! Also we earn well, it's not like he is watching every penny. The reason I end up paying for us both to go out is really as that's the only way we would go anywhere. All the above points are noted. It's really turning me off of him and sadly it is making me very stingy too in return.

Omg, how could you be so blind for so long??!!
His behaviour is very abnormal and not what you would get in a loving, caring relationship. His behaviour/ attitude is really despicable. Absolutely do not waste any more time with this petty piece of shit.

dontcryformeargentina · 10/07/2024 00:25

OP.. I don't get it- what are you getting out of this relationship, apart from misery and resentment?

Elliebeli · 10/07/2024 00:20

OMG, he sounds absolutely miserable. There’s nothing worse than being with a calculating, penny pinching man. I think it has got to be the worst or one of the worst traits a person can have.

Don’t waste any more time with this loser, find someone else, you deserve better.

Catparty · 10/07/2024 00:01

LTB

Runsyd · 10/07/2024 00:01

It strikes me that some men never get past the sibling rivalry stage. Kids are obsessed with making sure things are completely fair and even, and never allowing one of their siblings to get slightly more. I reckon some men just transfer this crap into their relationship with their adult partners and view it as a fight to the death to see who 'wins'.

RandomMess · 09/07/2024 23:50

Going forward grey rock him "we have fundamentally different attitudes to money so best we part ways as there isn't a compromise"

Stick with it and get notice served on the property.

Flowers
ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/07/2024 23:39

I really hope you're ok? Get some sleep, then spend any spare time you have tomorrow flat hunting online, or asking a relative or friend if you can lodge with them for a bit. Just make sure when you leave this cock, that you let the landlord or agency know, give them one month notice, then you are not liable for any rent after that.

ThatAgileLimeCat · 09/07/2024 23:37

I was once you. He even had a book where we logged exactly who owed what to each other and yes, some of the amounts were tiny. We were together for ten years and had children. I left years ago but still have control issues around money because of it...thankfully my husband is very understanding. This could very easily turn into financial abuse ...it did for me and I didn't spot it until it had become my normal.

Marine30 · 09/07/2024 23:26

Please tell me you left him by the time you read this far?! He sounds like the most
miserly guy in England.

ResultsMayVary · 09/07/2024 23:24

@Rockrose94 Recording it so you can see it more clearly is great.

ResultsMayVary · 09/07/2024 23:19

Rockrose94 · 09/07/2024 17:41

I have just remembered a common phrase which will again prove that he thinks I'm out to fleece him. We often let the receipt tallying up run out of control, he has said on multiple occasions that I am only concerned about getting my money back so will only ask to tally it up if he owes me money. But if he is due money from me I will never ask to 'square up'. In actual fact I just don't chase him often, he only notices the occasions when it's him owed. It's actually all so petty and weird but I'm just realising all the shit he's said to me and how many comments he has made accusing me of doing him out of money 😤feel exhausted just thinking about it all

So he's trying to make you feel too uncomfortable to ask for money due to you. He's conditioning you.

Rockrose94 · 09/07/2024 23:18

Jeez. I just recorded 45 minutes of his gaslighting and explaining I'm wrong and being irresponsible. Obviously I cant share it here but we started discussing a specific credit card payment and it all blew up. Obviously not helped by the wine and I'm 100% not saying I am innocent in any means, I'm sure this post is all one sided. But I am 100% the problem in his mind, I can see his "convincing me" and I'm so just so so fucking done.

OP posts:
NannaKaren · 09/07/2024 22:57

Leave he won’t get any better 💔

Anele22 · 09/07/2024 22:46

Making you wait till he’s finished his glass of wine before you can top yours up is insane. Please come back and tell us what he says when you tell him you’re leaving him because he's a mean fucker

OtsyBotsy90 · 09/07/2024 22:41

No no no. This is so unattractive.

As all PP.. please please never have children with this man!!

Hedonism · 09/07/2024 22:29

It's all so transactional 😥

DH and I have a single joint account which everything goes into and comes out of, because we are a team and we trust each other.

extrasushiplease · 09/07/2024 22:23

Just another one piping up to say that he sounds like an absolute misery, and life is much too heartbreakingly short to put up with that. Best of luck in preparing everything to leave him: You're now being brave and smart! Now he can have the wine bottle all to himself. 🙄

andthat · 09/07/2024 22:22

@Rockrose94 how fucking joyless.