Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband's overtime pay - what's a fair split?

264 replies

Debatingthings · 20/07/2026 21:29

My husband has been working overtime lately. Mostly late evening call outs.

He works 5 days a week and is usually out of the house from 8am-6pm ish. I work 3 days a week and am usually out of the house from 8:30am to 5pm.

I do nursery pick ups and drop offs on those days. I do most of the work getting our toddler ready in the mornings all weekdays. I also look after her on my two days off and do the majority of cleaning, cooking, laundry, food shopping, admin, and DIY in the house. He does garden maintenance.

When he does these call outs, he often misses the bedtime and/or sleeps in late the next day.

I have a professional job but dropped down to 3 days to care for our child, which I love and value, but ultimately have made career and financial sacrifices for this, which he has not had to make.

Our standard take home pay is roughly similar but he does usually bring home some extra money by way of end-of-day overtime each month, so his pay cheque is higher.

These late night call outs are new.

Out money is generally split equally i.e. everything paid into joint account then we have the same amount of personal spends each month.

What is a fair split of this late night call out overtime money? He has suggested 70/30. I don't want to be grabby but I feel he can only earn this extra money because I facilitate it. I sort of feel it should be 50/50, but... AIBU?

YABU = 70/30 or less
YANBU = 50/50

OP posts:
Starzinsky · 21/07/2026 17:25

If I wanted more money I would work more. If generally his extra money benefits the family in the long term I would not be so transactional about. Not sure how sustainable that is in the long run.

SooPanda · 21/07/2026 16:58

Debatingthings · 21/07/2026 08:28

Yes, but then in the morning, he is asleep, and I am "working" looking after a toddler. Yes unpaid but still has value

Exactly this! Your time isn’t free.
As for “you’re asleep”.. If you worked the same hours as him or you weren’t able to be home at night with the kids he’d have to pay an overnight babysitter. Your “free” time is literally enabling him to earn that money.

Viviennemary · 21/07/2026 16:50

I think he should keep it as he's earned it.

Rachelshair · 21/07/2026 16:46

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 10:09

That is bullshit - if op was not there he would have to PAY for someone to care for his child, wash his pants, cook his dinner. There is no such thing as FREE labour. Cleaners, nanny’s and chefs get paid to do everything op is doing in her free time. If they split up he would have to pay for all of these extras!

Its amazing how little value people attach to the immense work load - op squash this idea now or you will be squabbling over every last penny and it will sour your relationship.

Edited

He'd do his own childcare if they split up, as would she, or yes pay for a sitter. But they are not split up now, so that is irrelevant.
She said she goes out socialising more than him and presumably he does the childcare then. Why shouldn't he be allowed to use the OP to do childcare for his overtime?
I do think that married people (even men) should be able to have their own money though.

malefields · 21/07/2026 14:05

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 21/07/2026 13:47

🤣 good grief

The dramatics! The tension! The horror!

malefields · 21/07/2026 14:04

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 13:29

Voluntarily? No one ‘volunteers’ to have their bodies wrecked by childbirth or their insides ripped inside out, or to spend nine months hunched over the loo. Dh hasn’t had to doca single thing beyond enjoy himself for the creation of his beloved children - he should be much more grateful for the voluntary and non voluntary sacrifices his wife has made for him and their family. There is no way I would put up with him quibbling over his ‘spends’!! He sounds incredibly selfish op. Jesus

What on earth are you going on about? Childbirth? Wrecking her body? Who’s talking about childbirth? I meant OP volunteered to cut down her work hours because she enjoys having more time to parent.

Plenty of parents work FT as a couple. PT is often optional. You need to take several seats, I don’t know why you’re so worked up.

Debatingthings · 21/07/2026 14:03

Ally886 · 21/07/2026 11:38

Sorry that sounded really flippant of me.

What I'm asking is, what's the overtime vs your socializing time and is that more of a balance?

It probably has worked out similar so far, it's only early days of this call out work so hard to say. I take an evening class and I'm in a club I attend monthly plus the odd other thing, then we both try and have certain nights for the gym. Will probably both see how it plays out over the next few weeks

OP posts:
Walkden · 21/07/2026 14:03

"That is a ridiculous comparison I can’t even be bothered to reply."

And yet you did anyway 😂

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 13:55

Walkden · 21/07/2026 13:49

"She has already sacrificed far more than he ever will"

This is like saying a man "sacrificed" free time and money going to a football match.

She valued time with the kids more than work, ( present and future ) salary and pensions and said she could not go back full time after maternity.

That is a ridiculous comparison I can’t even be bothered to reply.

Walkden · 21/07/2026 13:49

"She has already sacrificed far more than he ever will"

This is like saying a man "sacrificed" free time and money going to a football match.

She valued time with the kids more than work, ( present and future ) salary and pensions and said she could not go back full time after maternity.

Corinthiana · 21/07/2026 13:48

Debatingthings · 21/07/2026 13:45

Of course, but I find outside perspectives can help with self reflection

Yes, I can see that. I hope that it's helping you to consider your financial arrangements, and your family structure and maybe what changes need to be made.

Nonunifiedworkerworking · 21/07/2026 13:47

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 13:29

Voluntarily? No one ‘volunteers’ to have their bodies wrecked by childbirth or their insides ripped inside out, or to spend nine months hunched over the loo. Dh hasn’t had to doca single thing beyond enjoy himself for the creation of his beloved children - he should be much more grateful for the voluntary and non voluntary sacrifices his wife has made for him and their family. There is no way I would put up with him quibbling over his ‘spends’!! He sounds incredibly selfish op. Jesus

🤣 good grief

pikkumyy77 · 21/07/2026 13:46

Nevermind31 · 20/07/2026 21:31

It goes into the shared pot? Otherwise charge him for childcare…

This.

Debatingthings · 21/07/2026 13:45

Corinthiana · 21/07/2026 10:31

No-one on here can say what is "fair", though, because it's subjective. If you can't communicate about this overtime, why he took it, and what the outcomes would be, then you have a communication problem.

Of course, but I find outside perspectives can help with self reflection

OP posts:
Debatingthings · 21/07/2026 13:44

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 10:31

IF he is spending his entire evening on the odd night op is out washing ops pants and cleaning the house top to bottom then of course he is effectively ‘owed’ a night off, and can take that evening off when he wishes.

You have just shown why anything other than 50/50 doesn’t work, as the result is endless nit picking over every little thing. It erodes away at the relationship and resentment really does build. Assuming both parents are working hard whether that’s inside or outside the home, because both are equally as valuable as each other, then the default should be 50/50 at all times.

Edited

This is a really good perspective, thanks

OP posts:
RubyHiker · 21/07/2026 13:41

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 13:29

Voluntarily? No one ‘volunteers’ to have their bodies wrecked by childbirth or their insides ripped inside out, or to spend nine months hunched over the loo. Dh hasn’t had to doca single thing beyond enjoy himself for the creation of his beloved children - he should be much more grateful for the voluntary and non voluntary sacrifices his wife has made for him and their family. There is no way I would put up with him quibbling over his ‘spends’!! He sounds incredibly selfish op. Jesus

of course we volunteer, my god we all know what pregnancy and childbirth entails and the vast majority of us make an informed decision. Stop making us sound like Matyrs. We have free choice.

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 13:29

malefields · 21/07/2026 12:38

Voluntarily, she said so herself.

Voluntarily? No one ‘volunteers’ to have their bodies wrecked by childbirth or their insides ripped inside out, or to spend nine months hunched over the loo. Dh hasn’t had to doca single thing beyond enjoy himself for the creation of his beloved children - he should be much more grateful for the voluntary and non voluntary sacrifices his wife has made for him and their family. There is no way I would put up with him quibbling over his ‘spends’!! He sounds incredibly selfish op. Jesus

99bottlesofkombucha · 21/07/2026 13:15

but in your shoes I’d say 50/50, or I won’t support the extra working hours or provide lay ins. I’m not the unpaid help.

99bottlesofkombucha · 21/07/2026 13:14

If you go for 70/30 tell him he will have to do less of it then as you value his support parenting.

redfishcat · 21/07/2026 13:10

Equal amount to each of you. He can’t earn it if you can’t look after the kids.
All money in one pot and equal amounts for personal spending.

malefields · 21/07/2026 12:38

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 11:05

I am tired of women constantly being on the wrong side of these transactional relationships. It always benefits the men. You can disagree and be wrong at the same time. She has already sacrificed far more than he ever will.

Voluntarily, she said so herself.

DontyMon · 21/07/2026 12:24

I think you're pissed off because it sounds like everything has been split down the middle until now. And he wants that to change. It does sound like he gives a bit more value to paid work than being at home with the toddler. (I have to say, I stayed at home with 2DC and DH was the SAHM with the third- And caring for a toddler is, for me, a lot easier and more rewarding than going to work imo! And I have a job I love...)

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 12:21

Ally886 · 21/07/2026 11:47

You've proved my point. Pushing for 50/50 is a bad start. Just get on with your lives and if something bothers you discuss it but it'll never be even. You just need to accept it.

My food costs triple my husband's but he doesn't make me pay the premium every time. We're too caught up in our own lives to care about that kind of thing.

He does most of the driving and pays more towards the car. Probably unfair considering I'm the higher earner. Again, if he broached the subject with me it would be an adult conversation.

Why wouldn’t you want an equal relationship?! You might want to just bumble through life hoping for the best, some of us are much more inclined to ensure things are fair, and remain fair.

Xmasbaby11 · 21/07/2026 12:08

A tricky one. I think 70/30 is fine as long as you have enough generally? It's still extra money for you both - lucky it is extra and not swallowed up by bills etc. I've got a temporary promotion and working longer and harder at the mo for an extra £250 a month, but apart from a few things for myself, it'll go on holiday spends and other family expenses. If you feel you don;t have enough disposable income on a monthly basis, that's another matter and something to discuss.

LimeGalah · 21/07/2026 12:03

It sounds like you have a substantially higher earning capacity.

would he still think 70:30 to whoever earnt the extra of it was you earning more? Sounds like that’ll probably be you soon.

If he wants extra money for doing extra shifts he shouldn’t get out of caring for his children or looking after his house.

Swipe left for the next trending thread