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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who IBU? Me or dh?

44 replies

ChngeName · 21/06/2019 21:46

Nc for this.

Background. Married for 5 years, 2 dc (4&1). I have a degree and pgce and he is in the armed forces. I became pregnant with dc1 unexpectedly not long after I graduated, and did my pgce while pregnant with dc2. So we could be together as a family, I moved to be with him at 2 of his military postings (one abroad [dc1] , one UK [dc2 and pgce] ). It wasn't my dream to be a teacher but we discussed and felt it would fit well for our family, given his career meant he was away so much.

Tonight we were talking about future finances. I suggested that once we have both hit the same earning (e.g as and when we are both earning £30k for example) we pay 50% of the household/childcare/etc costs, and have the rest of our respective wages to ourselves. Then as we climb our career ladders and earn more, we have more for our own personal spend. I suggested this because my dh isn't the greatest with money, likes to spend and struggles to save and doesn't seem very motivated to climb the career ladder but has been a bit pushy for me to try earn a lot.

He told me I was a selfish b*tch and that he has given me my kids, he's paid for them while iv been sat on my ass not making use of my education and that I moan about having to parent alone (he lives 4 hours drive away for work but comes home most weekends, also goes away for months at a time with work). This discussion turned to a bit of an argument so I walked away and he said that I could forget having the lie in he promised me in the morning (kids aren't great sleepers and I haven't had much sleep since he was last back 2 weeks ago. He originally said I could sleep in and try get myself feeling back to normal but now he says I'm not allowed)

Who is being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Isatis · 21/06/2019 22:27

All family income should be joint

Nonsense. It's perfectly reasonable for each side to keep their own money after covering household expenses.

Starrynights86 · 21/06/2019 22:28

@chngename That’s why we have a joint everyday account as well, kids clothes or other needs comes out of that. Things like swimming lessons come out of the bills account. Our personal money is up for us to spend how we want.

Aus84 · 21/06/2019 22:31

We pool all money, all bills paid first, then a % to savings, a % for family stuff like outings and takeaways and the same amount each for play money. Regardless of who earns what.

Anarchyshake · 21/06/2019 22:34

It sounds like you're in a classic abusive situation. You're isolated, you haven't your own income stream. You don't have people to turn to really. He's not there a lot. And he knows you're in this position and plays on it. You don't even get to pursue a career you really want because you have to work round him. I'm sorry.

oneforthepain · 21/06/2019 22:47

This "anger" of his - does it get directed at anybody else? Does he treat you like this in front of other people? Does he behave like this at work? Or does he manage to control himself the rest of the time?

He doesn't need anger management. You need the Freedom Programme. Www.freedomprogramme.co.uk

He's using finances and manufactured rage to control you. That's abuse. Nothing to do with violence or monsters.

People who love us don't treat us the way he's treating you. They listen to us, they respect us, they nurture us, they apologise when they make mistakes, they don't leave us short of money, they don't control how much sleep we get, they don't talk down to us and trash our self esteem.

clairedelalune · 21/06/2019 22:47

And you are with him why?

lyralalala · 21/06/2019 22:51

You need to make sure all of the household and kids expenses are accounted for before the split so that your spends are not spent on anything except you.

I was really really bad for that. It was actually my DH that suggested I set up a separate account for my spends so that they were on a separate card and it got me out of the way of spending my spends on kids stuff.

That said you have bigger issues than spends with the way he spoke to you.

oneforthepain · 21/06/2019 22:54

For the avoidance of doubt, the way he spoke to you, the threats he made, and the way he is treating you are all utterly unacceptable.

This isn't a healthy relationship and it's not what other people mean when they say they had an argument with their partner (unless they're being abused...).

It is not normal.

greyrockblock · 21/06/2019 23:02

You are in an abusive relationship and need to leave him. This is not what you and your children deserve. This is how my now exH treated me. It got worse. Please contact Women's Aid Thanks

IceCreamFace · 21/06/2019 23:03

Well his reaction was clearly unreasonable (calling you a bitch is just unacceptable and retracting the offered lie in childish).

I'm not sure about the money situation though. I think usually it's fair that the wages are considered family money so first you pay bills and essentials (food, petrol etc), then have some family spending money (meals out, kids clothes etc), maybe put some into savings (for holidays, mortgage, unexpected expenses etc) then whatever's left is shared equally as spending money.

If you feel he's a bit of a spend thrift just make sure enough money is put into the savings account before you divide it into spending money.

If he isn't career focused is it really worth him living so far away? Couldn't he retrain and live closer to home and take a more active role in childcare?

honeygirlz · 21/06/2019 23:05

OP, remember that you've sacrificed 5 years for your dc whilst he could advance his career knowing his kids were being cared for.

You do NOT need to make it up to him by subsidising him! And actually, because he's financially abusive and has cut off money from you before, it's all the more reason for you to have your own savings. And you don't have to tell him how much, keep it in a separate account with online banking only (i.e. no statements delivered to your house).

My DH earns more but i have 4 x as much savings as him as he is spendthrift. My savings are in my account, that DH can't access. He doesn't even ask how much I have.

Yabbers · 21/06/2019 23:42

Regardless of the issue and who is right or wrong, he absolutely shouldn’t have talked to you that way and his attitude is vile.

The only finances you should be considering are the ones which allow you to leave.

imnotcheryl · 22/06/2019 00:01

I'd leave him because he's a controlling and abusive prick.

omione · 22/06/2019 00:04

It used to be that when you got married you became a couple, that you were in it together now its all me me me

SandyY2K · 22/06/2019 00:10

With your updates, it's clear he's controlling and abusive. I couldn't love a man like that.

It's like you have to toe the line and hold your tongue for fear of him withholding money.

So in cutting you off...what about his DC?

Do you see yourself growing old with him? He doesn't sound nice at all.

SinkGirl · 22/06/2019 06:42

Nonsense. It's perfectly reasonable for each side to keep their own money after covering household expenses.

Not when one person is curtailed by your career choices, and is losing out financially by staying at home and raising the children alone for months at a time. If they were earning more equally, that’s fair enough and that’s all she’s suggesting - once they’re earning equally, they each pay 50% of the costs and then keep the rest.

DH and I keep the money left over after bills, and are each responsible for paying different things - the difference is that we check in with each other on what we need and change things up if there’s an expensive month etc.

SinkGirl · 22/06/2019 06:43

Honestly I would get out ASAP. He sounds horrendous OP. This isn’t normal or healthy.

origamiunicorn · 22/06/2019 06:46

*Wow. The arsehole DHs are well represented tonight, eh?

He gave you kids? I think you’ll find he gave you a couple of sperm and you gave him kids*

What I was going to say, but better put.

givemesteel · 22/06/2019 07:56

You have several reasons to LTB. The fact that he will withhold finances and sleep when you fall out is very controlling.

The mismatch in how you both spend money also is very difficult to overcome especially as he is very controlling. I don't think you'll ever be able to build up any savings whilst you're still with him.

I would be seeking legal advice tbh.

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