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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To request 'house keeping' from partner

351 replies

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 11:26

Sorry if people find the term house keeping offensive, just not sure how else to phrase it !

Firstly I'd like to add I know I'm not hard done by, we have a very good quality of life and money for people our age (25) and I'm very grateful, I'm just wanting opinions on what is fair between me and my boyfriend.

I know questions like this usually result in people saying "as long as you are both happy / feel it's right etc yada yada it's right", however I genuinely can't work out if I should feel under valued or if I'm getting my fair entitlement.

Me and my partner have just bought a house, we have worked out how much all our monthly expenditure is including mortgage, bills, dog care and walkers, joint spending money (cinema, meals out etc) insurance, savings, food and a few other things. And then worked out what % of our joint income this is, and transferring that % from our wages into a joint account and what remaining is individual 'spending money' for hobbies and frivoulous things.

We both do over time but this goes towards holidays and presents/christmas.

So my partners spending money after his personal bills (car, phone etc) is 850.

My personal spending after credit card and travel is about 220. My cards should be paid off by august. So will likely be 400ish then.

I only work 3 days a week because we agreed it would be good to have me at home two days to do all house work (quite a big house) look after the dog (gettiing a puppy eee) etc and I'm also going to do a post grad distant learning course and voluntary. So me being at home means he shouldn't have to barely lift a finger evening and weekends. I also always do all evening meals as he is exceptionally incompetent in the kitchen. - my job is also very stressful and I dont get any enjoyment from it, but theres nothing else I can do which is as near by and pays aswell, all other jobs i could do would only pay an extra 2k for full time and likely cancelled out by travel so not worth it, my partner loves his job though.

I believe that my partner should be entitled to more as he is working harder, I don't believe house work is comparable to a full day of work, so I'm not suggesting equal spends. But should I get a small amount extra spending money to compensate for doing all house work?

We don't like the joint pot idea just yet, both in agreement that we want to have our own money for frivolous things and some independence, when we marry/ have kids that'll change.

He won't spend 800 a month, and I know 250 isn't a tiny amount but I spend about 70 every 4/5 weeks to travel to see my family, so that's 180, which is 45 a week, but I like my hair, make up clothes and nights out etc, my boyfriend doesn't really spend on any of that , he maybe buys a new game and a few comics a month and then goes out for a few drinks once a week. He says he doesn't spend over 250 usually. And ultimately his savings will benefit me as it's going towards starting a business for us (which is what my course is towards)

When my cards are paid off in summer I feel 400 is plenty, but till then 220 just seems very low comparatively to his 800.

Is it unreasonable for me to suggest a token gesture amount per month for doing all house work, maybe £50? or since he is already paying a larger chunk of bills should I should just be grateful and keep quiet?

Thanks

OP posts:
BigChocFrenzy · 06/01/2019 14:20

Joint tenants would ensure if either of you dies, that the other inherits the property
and this cannot be overwritten by a will change.
So it is more security.

Have insurance too, to pay off the mortgage in the event of tragedy.
Accidents can happen at any age, so don't think you're too young

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/01/2019 14:22

As cohabitees have the big conversation before you have kids
Marriage -Y or No
Children. - yes or no
Childcare - Nursery or CM or both work pt and share or GP help out
School - Faith Y or N, state or private
Finances - Joint Acc or one Sole Account or sole accounts with s joint for bills
Domestic chore - Shared? Or one individual undertake

WH1SPERS · 06/01/2019 14:22

So if it’s 60:40 ownership, will you pay 40% of all bill, repairs and maintenance and household goods ?

I think you Bf sounds like rather a clever chap. You do his housework, dog walking and cooking while he builds his career and pension.

He gets 60% of everything when you split. And no ties.

Missingstreetlife · 06/01/2019 14:26

You are not nok, that is a legal matter. You are being taken for a massive ride. Wise up please and protect yourself.
Please get legal advice before you part with a penny.

GogoGobo · 06/01/2019 14:29

Just live off £220 until the summer and then £400 when you've paid your card off.
Share the housework on a Saturday morning .

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:29

MrDarcyWillBeMine

Thank you but please remember this is all provisional, we have yet to move and have so far come up with a plan that looked fair on the face of it, but im now questioning it, if i was to go with the opinion its unfair we would talk and re-evaulate the plans he is not selfish or unreasonable

Even with me training ill likely have 5-10 hours of freedom more than him, so im wondering if i should have something to show for it.

Though im now in agreement i shouldnt do everything

OP posts:
Missingstreetlife · 06/01/2019 14:30

If it's a joint savings account it's half yours, but either of you can empty it. You won't inherit his savings unless he wills them to you

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/01/2019 14:31

You’re nok regards health ,any adult can be a nominated NOK. Inform your GP
However financial & legal NOK is different

BlaaBlaaBlaa · 06/01/2019 14:31

You absolutely should be sharing housework. 5-10 hours a week isn't that much and you don't want to fall into the trap of doing everything.

I can't believe he would let you.

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:32

WH1SPERS

Considering it was my idea not his you are very wrong. Im still working, paying into a pension and working towards a career ill get happiness and fulfilment for, and he is supporting me? Its just a by product of this ill be at home more so ive suggested i do more of the house work

OP posts:
Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:33

Ok as i said we have got an appointment next week we will discuss the actions to take to protect ourselves

OP posts:
LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/01/2019 14:36

Things to discuss

Marriage -Y or No
Children. - yes or no
Childcare - Nursery or CM or both work pt and share or GP help out
School - Faith Y or N, state or private
Finances - Joint Acc or one Sole Account or sole accounts with s joint for bills
Domestic chore - Shared? Or one individual undertake

NOK , he can nominate you as NOK to oversee medical care and decisions. Get this recorded by GP, write to the GP to have it added to records

cuppycakey · 06/01/2019 14:38

I would not put myself in this position of I were you - as PP have said you are vulnerable.

What would happen if he decided he wasn't into you any more half way through your studies?

I wouldn't proceed like this unless I was married.

FuckingYuleLog · 06/01/2019 14:38

I can’t get my head around one half of a serious couple hoarding money like Scrooge McDuck because they happen to earn more.
How about your dp goes part time and takes care of the house and dog so you can work full time and hoard your earnings while he makes it so you don’t have to lift a finger at home. See if he still reckons the full time earner is working harder.

gamerwidow · 06/01/2019 14:39

It is very sensible to have these discussions now rather than after you move in. It’s harder to change things once they’ve been established so it’s best to start off with clear expectations for everyone.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/01/2019 14:39

Being married doesn’t justify being with a man who won’t cook or receiving an allowance
I’d advise all women to retain financial independence not rely on a man

Dungeondragon15 · 06/01/2019 14:40

Mostly I don't think that there is anything wrong with your idea. You aren't married and don't have children so there is no reason why you should share finances or pay bill in proportion to what you earn as some posters have suggested. I also don't think that you would be making yourself vulnerable in any way by working part time while studying. I think that the only thing you need to reconsider is doing all the housework and cooking as whether or not he financially compensates you for it now, it sets a really bad precedent and could very well bite you on the bum in the future. It doesn't matter whether or not you are at home more. Use the time to study rather than being a maid.

DianaT1969 · 06/01/2019 14:41

Think of the poor habits this will encourage. You are embracing the role of his housekeeper/maid. You are working and studying. You should both do housework 50%. Speed up your studies and don't fart around with housework.

Missingstreetlife · 06/01/2019 14:42

He is not working harder is he, your job is harder, you use public transport. How long is your commute or his? 5 hours is negligible because I bet you underestimate wife work.
Housekeeping is usually understood to be money that a sahm got from husband for food and cleaning material. He paid rent and bills. If she was lucky she got an allowance for clothes and spending, if not the law states she could keep anything she saved from housekeeping. None of this applies to you.
You are trying to work out a fair share of joint and personal finances.

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:43

FuckingYuleLog

He isnt hoarding he is putting it towards a business

I am part time for the main purpose of retraining, it just so happens ill have slightly more free time so we provisionally said i should do more housework, but no decisions have been made.

Id also like to add im already at the top in my current job, theres no development or increments. So while it pays good it doesnt get better. So im not sacrificing career progression by going part time im supporting it

OP posts:
Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:45

Missingstreetlife my commute is 30 mins. His 20. He works 9-6 though im 9-5.

I agree i could be wrong about how much time it takes up though.

OP posts:
Missingstreetlife · 06/01/2019 14:46

Your mortgage broker is just selling you a mortgage.
The solicitor who does your wills and conveyancing for the house is who can advise you.

purplelila2 · 06/01/2019 14:46

YABU

You don't want to work full time
You don't want to change jobs
You don't want to get another job in the 4 days you are off.

You don't want to give up nights out or buying clothes etc

How much housework do two adults need per week it won't be 2 days worth.

You're selfish

Magentaorwagenta · 06/01/2019 14:47

I hope your dp continues through a long life together to be as reasonable as he seems now, despite not volunteering to share his personal funds, despite you both agreeing on a lifestyle whereby you work part time. Because you are putting yourself in a very precarious position otherwise.

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:48

Dungeondragon15

Thank you i think im going to suggest he be responsible for laundry and ironing, maybe something else. He enjoys ironing for somw strange reason

OP posts: