Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Magentaorwagenta · 06/01/2019 14:48

And I what I really think is - work more if you want more money to spend on luxuries.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/01/2019 14:50

He’s not responsible for his own laundry & ironing? Why on earth not

He’s taking the utter piss
If he lived alone,didn’t cohabit he’d sure as shit master laundry And ironing

greendale17 · 06/01/2019 14:51

**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.**

^I completely agree. Also I wouldn’t have joint finances with someone I wasn’t married to.

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:56

Please im not precious or vulnerable. Im a clever, independent young woman who is perfectly capable of being self sufficient if i have to. I would not allow myself to be a victim of any financial abuse nor take risks that would result in me being incapable of looking after myself. I think my age is being factored into this too much. Im not neive.

But thank you to the many people offering helpful insight and opinions.

What i have taken from it is to not to all tbe chores but that i also shouldnt ask for any extra money

OP posts:
Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 14:57

LipstickHandbagCoffee

He does 50% chores now as im still full time. Im not going part time till 2 weeks time - therefore we are working out the plans now

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 06/01/2019 14:58

Im not neive.

New Year’s Resolution: MUST.... NOT....

Missingstreetlife · 06/01/2019 14:59

Nonsense, perfectly ok to have a joint mortgage and account for bills, and your own seperate money, married or not. The question is who is getting the better deal, quite obviously he is. Not posting again beginning to think this is a wind up. Op get legal advice, you are intelligent, don't be naive, you can google most of this but please don't sell yourself short

Magentaorwagenta · 06/01/2019 14:59

With respect, I think you are Grin

Bluntness100 · 06/01/2019 14:59

Eh, ? Well you can't be that clever if that's what you're taking away from this,

What people are saying do what chores you wish but don't set a precedent you will always do them because it's a hard habit for either of you to break. And secondly sort out your finances, there should be less disparity in your displasable inclomes, but don't do that by asking him to pay you to be the cleaner in your own home.

Butchyrestingface · 06/01/2019 14:59

He enjoys ironing for somw strange reason

At the very least, I would exploit this strange kink to maximum effect. 🍀

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 06/01/2019 15:00

'I would not allow myself to be a victim of any financial abuse'

Hmm
I'm intelligent and educated but have still been a victim of financial and emotional and physical abuse.
I wasn't given a choice in the matter.

Given your line of work, have you had training in the dynamics of coercive control? It might benefit you professionally.

HollowTalk · 06/01/2019 15:01

The thing is, OP, we are trying to support you and help you make a good decision. You are the only person who will lose out in this situation. Not us. Not your boyfriend. You.

We are trying to prevent your future suffering. You're not really listening. You're being defensive. The fact remains you are making a really bad decision and your pride won't let you see that.

Bluntness100 · 06/01/2019 15:02

Op can you really not think of a way for you both to have the same disposable income, with the posts on here, other than turning yourself into your partner's paid cleaner in your own home?

ilovesooty · 06/01/2019 15:04

I think you need to look into the implications a lot more deeply before going part time.

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 15:06

Butchyrestingface

I work with people at the very lowest points in their lives, ive seen and heard things very few people ever will, ive been responsible for fighting agaisnt people to remove ropes from their necks when its got too much, coming home covered in other peoples blood having been bit or punched too.

I might not be clued up on wills or what have you, but im learning.

But i know how hard life can get and how important life choices are. And im protecting my future to take part in a career thats good for my prospects and well being, so no im not nieve.

OP posts:
WH1SPERS · 06/01/2019 15:06

Why are you asking for advice, if you refuse to listen to it ? Almost every poster has told you not to do this.

Stay full time and study for a new career, one that you can’t be at the top of as a part time 25 year old.

Do voluntary work in your spare time in the evenings and weekends, not as an alternative to paid work.

Stop doing your partners share of the housework and wifework.

Don’t get a dog.

Don’t get pregnant.

Don’t buy a house with him unless it’s 50:50.

That’s my opinion. And what I’d say to you if you were my DD.

Nacreous · 06/01/2019 15:07

Gosh, I don't really see what the problem with going part time is if you can afford it.

I worked 4 days a week at that age, and still saved 20% of my income into a pension, with savings etc on top.

If you can afford to work less and train and then have free time, while still saving appropriately into a pension, then why wouldn't you?

Obviously you need to save for the future, but going part time to give time for studying seems fairly reasonable.

Honestly though OP, I would probably just have a grimly frugal 2-3 months and then you'll have the £400 a month. Do consider working out some joint savings plans though, as if you have money on a credit card at the minute you leave yourself at risk of cash flow problems in the future.

olympic19 · 06/01/2019 15:08

I can’t get my head around a 25 year old voluntarily reducing her earning and pension capacity by 40% to cook and clean for a boyfriend.

Me neither. Utter madness.

Butchyrestingface · 06/01/2019 15:10

But i know how hard life can get and how important life choices are. And im protecting my future to take part in a career thats good for my prospects and well being, so no im not nieve.

I was referring to the fact that you don’t seem to know how to spell the word. I don’t doubt the fact that you’re a very competent person. But even competent, clever people can be taken advantage of and your situation, whilst not grossly unfair at the moment, is nevertheless a precarious one.

Bluntness100 · 06/01/2019 15:13

Op, this would have been a very different thread if you'd started off by saying you were going part time to study as the primary reason for going part time. But you didn't. You put it as last on your list, and put cooking and cleaning for your partner and getting a puppy (and written immaturely) as the primary reasons then explained you liked your hair and make up etc and wanted to ask him for fifty quid a month as way of payment of doing his share of the chores.

Can you understand why women have responded with the answers they have based on this?

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 15:15

Im being defensive being called stupid or nieve.

Im earning 20k part time, hardly a pittance. I havent asked for judgements about my life choices. Im happy im going part time, im happy im getting an opportnity to re train

Ive taken on board the constructive critism, e.g legal advice and i shouldnt do all chores and i shouldnt ask for more money.

But he most definately isnt taking advantage of me and im still not vulnerable as my part time salary is more than a lot of full tines salary.

Ill tell him chores will be split and he will be fine

OP posts:
Dungeondragon15 · 06/01/2019 15:16

Why do people think that OP is stupid or vulnerable just because she has a different disposible income from her DP the moment? I get that some people might want to do that even if they aren't married and don't have children together but that doesn't mean that everyone else has to.

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 15:17

Bluntness100

Yes i understand that, i wasnt clear enough and do see why some judgements were made but i do feel some people have been harsh

OP posts:
AgathaMisty · 06/01/2019 15:19

Goodness me, I'm getting annoyed on your behalf OP! Why oh why do people insist that a relationship must be a particular way when that doesn't work for everyone?!

Not all married couples need a joint pot with both salaries and it works perfectly well for them. Some of us were financially independent for 30 odd years before getting married, with our own investments, assets, debts, etc. There is absolutely no need to merge everything when paying a set amount for bills, etc into the joint account works fine. Not all of us need to prove our love with money, and I don't know why you assume one party must be struggling while the other goes on flash holidays to the Caribbean alone!

Also, why can't people listen to what OP is saying? She doesn't want to work full time and she wants this arrangement! I'm shocked by how many people seem to think her BF "insisted" on this and how vulnerable she is. If the relationship didn't work out, she could work full time! She's not a 60 year old who hasn't worked for 40 years who would struggle to get back on the career ladder Hmm

@talula1993 I think your arrangement sounds absolutely fine if it's what you both want. Also, I think more people should work part time if they can afford it! That said, I don't think your BF owes you anything because he is already paying more each month to "subsidise" you being at home. It's only fair that you contribute by doing housework.

What I mean is, if he's paying £1k into the pot and you £500 because you choose to work part time, I'd see it as a pisstake if you also asked me for more spends for yourself.

Imagine it the other way round; if he worked part time so contributed significantly less and relaxed on his days off, people would call him a cocklodger!

Talula1993 · 06/01/2019 15:20

Butchyrestingface

Fine, agreement made - spelling is not my strong point

OP posts: