Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to relocate for dp job prospects?

34 replies

user1473509591 · 22/10/2016 21:55

Okay so, I'm the current and sole breadwinner in my household, supporting dc and Dp. Dp is self employed freelancer, who struggles to make any significant amount of money. He doesn't so much refuse to get a 'proper' job, but he'll look for a bit after I whinge at him to keep me sweet for a couple more months.
For a few years now he's been trying to persuade me to move to a bigger city where he's more likely to get better contacts and possibly more work. Now, I have several issues with this. One, while I have transferable skills and probably won't struggle to find work wherever I live (healthcare) we only just survive on my wage now. If we move rent and general day to day costs will be a lot higher, so he would have to get a 'proper' job in order for us to survive. Two, when I've brought up this rather valid point, he promised to get a job, and I quote, 'because I'll be living somewhere where I'm going to happier'. Now this annoys me because while yes you should be happy in your work, surely having children should be a good enough reason to want to work?
Anyway point 3, I'll be moving away from my friends and family, and moving dds school where she's very happy. Albeit not very far, only 40 miles down the road, but we already rely on family for childcare and it won't be as readily available, and if we're both working childcare expenses will add to our already limited funds, and I like the fact that my mum is 20 minutes away by bus.
Aibu? Or should I give it a chance? I'm not going to lie that my anxiety is playing a part in my reluctance here either.

OP posts:
BusStopBetty · 23/10/2016 10:14

40 miles is the distance to next big city for me and you need to allow 90 mins each way for the journey in rush hour. More if using public transport. So a 40 mile commute isn't necessarily nothing. However, he needs to pull his finger out and find work before suggesting a move. The commute won't kill him short term, then you can reevaluate.

hermione2016 · 23/10/2016 10:26

Can he articulate why he hates where he lives? I do understand that. Some places are lovely but just wrong for you.
I commute that journey for work so he can absolutely do a commute to test it out.

doji · 23/10/2016 10:27

YANBU. I can't believe that you are even questioning yourself here.

MatildaTheCat · 23/10/2016 10:30

He's being useless and it's a stupid suggestion to move from a perfectly happy set up to a new one because he might be able to get a job.

How does he propose to fund the move?

It's a big fat no from me and I'd be seriously questioning a man who sounds as if he can't be bothered to work TBH.

WinterIsHereJon · 23/10/2016 10:32

Has he ever worked?

SquinkiesRule · 23/10/2016 10:45

Tell him to find a full time job in the city he wants, and commute for a while, then you can both look to live half way between the two. It's not that far if you both have to travel the same distance.

Pettywoman · 23/10/2016 13:41

He's making excuses for his work failure so he can shift the blame from himself. Don't go.

He probably hates your town because he's stuck in a rut. If he was making a success of his business and was fulfilled he wouldn't mind it so much.

alltouchedout · 23/10/2016 13:50

I leave my house at 7.15am and get to work at 9.15. It's not a straightforward commute- we walk to the childminder, then get a bus to school for breakfast club, then I get a bus to work. Evenings, if I leave on time at 5.30, I usually get in by 7.15. It's perfectly doable. Demanding yes, but doable. Your DH would do it in a heartbeat if he actually wanted to.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 23/10/2016 14:32

He wants to increase your household outgoings on the promise of "possibly more work". To say nothing of all the upheaval. No. Not a chance!

If he was fully committed to this freelance "career" of his he would be getting off his arse now rather than expecting you to shoulder the full burden on your salary while paying lip-service to finding work. If he had any pride at all he'd be willing to do any paid employment he could find. He's insulting your intelligence here. Don't let him compound it by putting your family's future financial security at risk.

I know what I'd be doing. Making plans to rid myself of this idiot cocklodger

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread