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Husband giving me an ultimatum - forcing me to get a job or sell our house

847 replies

namechanged808 · 08/08/2023 23:04

My husband and I have a mortgage on our house.

I am a SAHM of three children, 3, 5 and 7.

He says we can't afford the house we live in and wants to move to a rented council house.

I don't want to do that as I enjoy having a house of my own, that I can make mine. I don't want to rent for the rest of my life. I like stability for my children.

My husband is now forcing me to get a job if I want to keep the house.

I don't know what to do

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
GoodChat · 09/08/2023 19:02

HulaChick · 09/08/2023 18:57

You'd have to be bloody stupid to get off the housing ladder. Could you get a part time job just doing a very few hours a week to make a bit of difference to your finances? The more hours you work, then you would have to face the cost of child care. I'd stick at being a SAHM until all kids,at school, then find a job.

Her youngest is 3. They'll be entitled to 30 free hours next month at the very latest.

Luddite26 · 09/08/2023 19:02

This reply has been deleted

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Girlsjustwannahavefunno1 · 09/08/2023 19:16

You would not get a council house you would be making yourselves intentionally homeless. But can u not even go part time? Childcare is expensive...

TheBreeder · 09/08/2023 19:17

Meet him half way and get a part time job. You'll probably really enjoy it. Good feeling to earn again after time at home. It can be intimidating to re enter the work force after time out. He will have to step up and help more around the house and with school run etc though!!

Z1hun · 09/08/2023 19:18

I need some advice.

My current job is fully remote but it's the most tedious wfh role imaginable.

I also have a dc who is 1 years old and I'm am the main income earner. My dh is deployed in the Navy 50% of the year every.

For my own sanity I want to change job but all the jobs I am qualified to do are hybrid. However they are paying double my salary but they are a 2 1/2 hour commute away in London which would mean I would have to stay in london for 1/2 the week.

My question is this: do I stay in a low paying dead end job for the sake of my dc and my dh (when hes here), or do I take a high paying job in the city put my dc in nursery near where I would be working, and therefore my DH only see my DC and me half the week?

TeaKitten · 09/08/2023 19:20

Z1hun · 09/08/2023 19:18

I need some advice.

My current job is fully remote but it's the most tedious wfh role imaginable.

I also have a dc who is 1 years old and I'm am the main income earner. My dh is deployed in the Navy 50% of the year every.

For my own sanity I want to change job but all the jobs I am qualified to do are hybrid. However they are paying double my salary but they are a 2 1/2 hour commute away in London which would mean I would have to stay in london for 1/2 the week.

My question is this: do I stay in a low paying dead end job for the sake of my dc and my dh (when hes here), or do I take a high paying job in the city put my dc in nursery near where I would be working, and therefore my DH only see my DC and me half the week?

You’d be better off starting your own thread, people replying here will be replying to the OP.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 09/08/2023 19:21

Z1hun · 09/08/2023 19:18

I need some advice.

My current job is fully remote but it's the most tedious wfh role imaginable.

I also have a dc who is 1 years old and I'm am the main income earner. My dh is deployed in the Navy 50% of the year every.

For my own sanity I want to change job but all the jobs I am qualified to do are hybrid. However they are paying double my salary but they are a 2 1/2 hour commute away in London which would mean I would have to stay in london for 1/2 the week.

My question is this: do I stay in a low paying dead end job for the sake of my dc and my dh (when hes here), or do I take a high paying job in the city put my dc in nursery near where I would be working, and therefore my DH only see my DC and me half the week?

You’ll be much better off starting your own thread.

At least half of the posters on here will only have read the OP’s posts & will be replying to those.

Wobbly99 · 09/08/2023 19:27

Hi, I have a friend that's on a council house waiting list living with her 3 children all of them living in one bedroom in her Mums house. She is in the lowest band priority and has advised that it will be a 4-6 year wait for her to get a house. She has been advised that if she went into a temporary housing (in a completely different area) with shared bathroom facilities etc and one room for them 4 of them She would be looking at being rehomed quicker within 6-12 months.

Could be different for other areas but it doesn't sound like your husband has looked into this or has any idea of how stretched the housing system is at the moment. Also the rental market is in such high demand at the moment, with rents often much higher than mortgage payments for similar properties. If I were you I would encourage him to look into it and he will soon realise you are much better to stay put xx I would think even if you did get a job and were lucky enough to get a rental property after any additional childcare costs (especially for the youngest) you would be worse off x

JaneyB321 · 09/08/2023 19:55

drpet49 · 08/08/2023 23:08

You can’t afford to be a SAHM. You need to get a job FFS!

100%! I can't understand how some people feel so entitled to be a SAHP if the household finances are poor. Lots of mums have no choice to go back to work when the baby is 6 months old, OP has been lucky to have been off all this time with hers. Mind you, she needs to ensure hubby is doing 50% of the childcare/housework/cooking etc if she goes to work full-time.

Lapland123 · 09/08/2023 19:55

Wobbly99
i think the point is that she can’t afford to stay at home - which is a luxury not many can afford when all kids are in school/ nursery anyway

MrsLLLove · 09/08/2023 20:07

I recon he's threatening a council house move to encourage you to get a job for more income. He is obviously struggling but definitely hasn't looked into council houses!

But there's no way you'd be entitled to a council house, if you got a job you'd be able to pay your mortgage so why would you be allowed a council house when people aren't in a position like you? There are people who can't even get a mortgage in the first place.

NBF · 09/08/2023 20:11

Ok. Lots to unpack there 🫣

Does your husband have any qualifications he can utilise?
I've had the luck to be a SAHP for a while as my DP has the skills to earn a very good wage. There's been times where he's been out of work so I have worked. We are a team. We own our house, and have three kids too. It's not unreasonable to suggest you help out financially, how he is approaching it sounds off but generally I can see why he's suggesting it.
In the past, I have worked FT, DP has been the SAHP and much like OP's husband, he doesn't do housework or much in the way of parenting. So yes, I would do school runs, a full day at work and then a full days worth of household stuff. It's just how it worked out.

I changed career at one point, which I returned to full time study to do. Part of that study was an unpaid work placement, in a nursery so I could take my youngest to work with me. She was 10 weeks old when I returned to work. My manager was kind enough to offer me reduced child care (I was very lucky) and I worked 9 till 3 which enabled me to do the school runs. I got to spend valuable time with my youngest, work, study and be present for my kids. I won't lie, it was HARD work. But so rewarding now I am qualified and I'm moving to a new nursery with similar hours but a promotion in a way. My youngest is now four and starts school this coming term. My DP works away during the week so I parent almost solo but then DP can and does earn almost 5 times my salary but he still doesn't help with housework, his contribution is paying for a cleaner two hours a week.

The point is, it is possible. Just work out what you want more, a house you own or to be a SAHP?

Either way, something needs to be addressed. He could benefit from looking at all possible options for your family with you, as a team.

Good luck

Ohyousillydivvy · 09/08/2023 20:23

If you sell your house and have money in the bank then the council absolutely will not house you.

If you sell your house, spend the profits to get a council house then you'll be in for a shock. You made yourself intentionally homeless so you absolutely won't get a council house.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 09/08/2023 20:24

GoodChat · 09/08/2023 19:02

Her youngest is 3. They'll be entitled to 30 free hours next month at the very latest.

Depends. In England you both have to work to get 30 hours. Not sure about Scotland

Honeychickpea · 09/08/2023 20:27

*Just work out what you want more, a house you own or to be a SAHP?

Either way, something needs to be addressed. He could benefit from looking at all possible options for your family with you, as a team.*
I suspect team work is not a big feature of OP's marriage.

AMumOf2Girls · 09/08/2023 20:59

As someone who applied for a council house in 2 local counties. (1. Because the house was moldy and unsafe for the girls. 2. The landlord was selling)
We were not even considered a priority and wouldn't have been unless we stayed in the house until we had been to court and been removed from the property, leaving us deemed as homeless. I don't know exact the situation but I believe this is the case across most of the country! I really don't recommend the stress. If they think you have somewhere to live it's unlikely you'll get a council house.

Surely if you can afford the mortgage and you want your own home getting a job isn't the end of the world? Could you work part time? If your youngest Is 3 if you work 16 hours you could be entitled to free childcare.

As for private rental I wouldn't be surprised if that would cost more than your mortgage anyway! Most of my friends is less than I pay in private rent and i rent off a family member for a portion cheaper than they could get from someone else!

Good luck anyway :)

DaphneDeloresMoreheadRidesOn · 09/08/2023 21:38

OP could easily do care work. My mum has carers and 90% of them work part time around school hours.

DrSbaitso · 09/08/2023 21:41

Leafleting is an option too. Easy to do in school hours and being outside a lot can be a mood lifter.

Deadringer · 09/08/2023 21:44

Tell him you will get a job but he has to pay half of childcare costs and do half of the housework and cooking.

DaphneDeloresMoreheadRidesOn · 09/08/2023 21:56

Also surely OPs children get free school meals ? A quick google indicates that they are available for all pupils to thr end of year 5 in Scotland. Another household task that can easily be binned as the solution is really simple AND saves money.

SunRainStorm · 10/08/2023 01:06

You're both living in a fantasy land where you expect your imaginings to come true.

The only thing you can control here is yourself OP.

You need to get a job and become more independent.

There is no point waiting for this man to magically develop a better work ethic. The economy and cost of living isn't going to suddenly bend to your will.

In a perfect world you might be able to be a SAHM but that's not the one we live in, so grieve that, move on and do right by yourself and your children.

Yalta · 10/08/2023 01:31

Deadringer

That would involve her dh actually holding down a job to earn the money to pay half

PopGoesTheWeaselYetAgain · 10/08/2023 01:53

I think we've scared off the OP!

mathanxiety · 10/08/2023 03:26

Dontwantanicknamethanks · 09/08/2023 13:16

I haven’t read the full thread - too long!

In your culture (assuming Pakistani) I realise that a ‘good girl’ (you know what I mean by that OP) should be creating the perfect family home whilst the husband goes out to work. A lot do achieve that and they have a strong family network they’re happily within and all are supportive of each other. The husband is also ‘extra good’ if he helps/ plays with the kids. You dreamt of this, it is expected from your culture.

unfortunately, you don’t have that, and I’m pretty sure you never will. Your main frustration is that your DH can’t earn. There are people like that, you know. They don’t have the drive, the intelligence or competence to hold down jobs, ever. Your DH is one of them. Unless he has a skill/ passion you haven’t told us, he is unlikely to be the high earner you want/ need him to be.

So this is probably only the beginning of a very difficult long term state for you- if you choose to remain in this exact same position. What to do? Everyone you speak to in your network ‘agrees’ on your behalf but your family is not willing to speak up for you and his family will not get involved (probably because they know what a deadbeat he is but too ashamed to admit it).

Reality is, he is highly unlikely to improve his prospects. He probably thinks that the house is a ball and chain that he can’t cope with and hence sees renting as the easy way out. This really is someone with low intelligence.

You also don’t want to get divorced because of the shame of it. British women do experience this feeling too - it’s not necessarily a cultural thing. But so far, what people think has not helped you at all. So why feel ashamed?

So let’s say right now you get a job but I reckon that will probably just a paper over the big cracks. When you do, I can see him stopping work completely and just being at home without doing anything to help. And as the ‘ man’ of the house and head of house, he is entitled to do what he wants. You’re in a lose-lose situation with him.

This is where you really need to speak to your family and seriously say to them that you must come home as your husband is prepared to make you homeless. You need to discuss moving back to England, finding schools nearby and somewhere to live - with their support. I realise that this is likely to bring massive drama to their doorstep - but frankly, tough, in times like this, they should be looking out for their daughter and grandchildren.

You should also get a job when your back in your family’s area. Any job. It doesn’t matter what. You need to understand the work place and earning power. You cannot be as sheltered as you want to be as it’s not realistic. Your children will not thank you for it.

And whilst doing that, speak to a solicitor about divorce. Try and find one that is recommended from the area where your parents live. I don’t know about finding one from your own culture as they may try to dissuade you from divorcing or even talk about it without your knowledge ( I know it’s illegal but that doesn’t mean it’s a bar). That’s up to you. But find one.

The bottom line is that you need to start helping yourself as you’ve landed a bad husband who will probably destroy your life. You just need the mental acceptance and then the courage it make it happen. It can be done - and that’s what people are trying to tell you here. Good luck, wish you and your kids all the best.

Excellent post.

This man is indeed a bad husband. He is creating chaos and anxiety as a means of hurting you and the children.

The last thing he expects you to do is get a job and gain the personal power that comes from having your own income. You need to find a job and make your own money therefore.

He expects you to meekly go along with selling the home he knows you love and want to stay in.

ithinkhesawus · 10/08/2023 05:54

Have you seen the figures - your mortgage payments might have gone up?

Anyway. Personally I'd suggest looking for a part time job - and if you can safely use it to slowly build up your own secret savings in case you decide to leave him.

He should be sorting out his job too, he shouldn't keep being fired!

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