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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be incredibly annoyed with DH?

79 replies

IncorrigibleTitmouse · 15/09/2019 07:18

DH was self employed for about 10 years, but over the past 3 it became evident that what he was doing was never going to be profitable. In fact, there were periods where he would make big fat zero for months at a time, to the point where he had to ask his parents for money. Humiliating in your late 30s.

So, after many rows and plenty of sleepless nights worrying about money (for me!) he got a job. Accepted he’d have to start at the bottom to get into an industry he was interested in, but made a commitment to me to doing both that and going to night school to be able to progress.

Like many of us, he had a commute of about an hour each way. As he’d had no commute while self-employed and could set his own hours he quickly deemed this unreasonable (despite the fact I’ve been doing it my entire working life) and moaned about it every day.

A lesser paid (about £12,000 a year less) job came up at his company’s location closer to our home, meaning a half hour commute each way. He told me he was thinking of going for it even though it’s a more menial job and it would mean doing the night shift (7pm-6am Mon-Thurs). He says the location he’d move to is where all the higher ups are and there’s more potential for them to notice his work but we have just bought a house (using my salary only because he’s been such a financial mess) and we can’t afford the drop. He asked me what I thought—I told him on three separate occasions that it was not a good idea. On Thursday—he’s accepted the job and starts tomorrow.

AIBU to be so effing livid I can barely be in the same room as him? Not only the selfishness of taking that major pay cut but also the fact that he’s given zero consideration to what the hours will do to our marriage? Plus there will be someone in the house 24 hours a day now so our utility bills will essentially double. AIBU or is he being incredibly selfish?

OP posts:
MsFrosty · 15/09/2019 07:26

Honestly, I would be livid. If it wasnt happy where he was then he should have found a new role somewhere else with a comparable salary.

AlwaysCheddar · 15/09/2019 07:28

Very selfish and stupid. The senior guys won’t be there to notice him. Plus zero career progression is likely. He sounds very lazy. I’d consider this as a deal breaker. Has he even got a pension?

Hederex · 15/09/2019 07:29

I'm in a very similar position OP. My DH took voluntary redundancy six months ago and has taken a job earning 11k less than he did before. He has the opportunity to move on to a better paid job but won't because he likes the new job ie it's stress free.
I find it really hard particularly as I don't think he's grasped the change to our finances and talks about plans as though things are as before.
I'm not angry per se but I'm seriously frustrated.

endofthelinefinally · 15/09/2019 07:30

I would be furious too. It seems calculated to me. Even if you separated now he would get half of all assets. I have to wonder about his motivation.

YouJustDoYou · 15/09/2019 07:30

I would be beyond livid, that's just so irresponsible and lazy.

greyspottedgoose · 15/09/2019 07:33

If the higher ups even realise he is there all they will find out about him is that he took a demotion/huge pay cut for a smaller commute, that's not someone who will do what it takes to progress, that's cemented the fact he is going nowhere up the ladder

TheKarateKitty · 15/09/2019 07:36

No, you’re not. He is being completely selfish, and honestly? He’s being stupid.

It’s a menial job, as you say, so I don’t know why he thinks he’ll be noticed.

Very unfair to do that to you.

PavlovaFaith · 15/09/2019 07:36

YANBU! He's opting for 44 hours of night shifts a week to avoid a half hour commute? The man is an idiot.

BuildBuildings · 15/09/2019 07:38

Wow. You're right to be livid. He sounds really lazy. I can't imagine taking a big financial and life decision that goes against my partners wishes. We have a mortgage together and share all finances so it would be a deal breaker for me. It feels very disrespectful. Like he doesn't care what you think.
I also wonder if his plodding along in a clearly unprofitable buisness was also a sign of his laziness. What is he like in the rest of your life? He sound like a bit of a manchild.

IncorrigibleTitmouse · 15/09/2019 07:40

Thank you for the replies so far, I do feel somewhat validated now because he’s making me feel like AIBU.

The fact of the matter is that he IS bloody lazy! I know he was finding the other job challenging, as well as the commute, but this new job really is a waste of his intelligence and education. While he swears blind this is the way to get noticed (geography!) I’ve also told him that taking a demotion was a stupid career move. He also still hasn’t enrolled in evening classes—even though the company would pay—and now he won’t be able to because he will now work 7pm-6am!

I’m just sick of having to be the responsible adult all the time. I’m the one that makes sure we have savings, can go on holiday, buys all the house stuff etc. I’m sick of it. And to the PP that asked, I’m sure no one will be surprised to learn that he has no pension.

OP posts:
RunningOutOfCharacte · 15/09/2019 07:45

Do you have dc?

Just wondering if he has any responsibility at all?

Sorry this would drive me nuts. He's not working as a team. He just expects others to pick up the flak for him (parents with handouts and you with bills etc)

I don't know what to suggest as I think it'll take a lot for him to grow up and take some responsibility. And That means his parents also have to realise it. You're on a losing battle if everything you do is undermined by them.

Butterymuffin · 15/09/2019 07:48

He won't last in this job anyway, I would bet on that. If an hour's commute seemed too taxing for him, he's soon going to be moaning about the massive upheaval that comes with working nights. It's an extraordinary decision and one that does come across as calculated to undermine all your life plans.

This is how he's always going to be. You have some tough decisions to make. Is the new house in joint names even though you're funding it?

Hederex · 15/09/2019 07:51

In my situation, I didn't want my DH to take redundancy at all. He had the opportunity to move to another site that was further away. Before, he had a career, with a good pension, private healthcare and other benefits.
He always worked nights and still does, but before he only worked some weekends. Now he works every weekend and since I work 5 weekdays our time together is basically non existent, and we don't get family time either.
But it's been me who has sorted a new budget and tracks it (shared finances) so the only difference he's noticed is that sometimes if he wants something frivolous he has to wait a week or two and he is cross about it.
We need to remortgage and can't now.
When he was offered the redundancy I said I was concerned about it. He then became depressed about staying in a job he hates, when he'd always found it ok before.
We spent almost all his redundancy money because he didn't look for a new job for ages (was planning his own business but that went nowhere) and then had two in the pipeline. He was meant to do this new one for a few months until the job in his field started. Now he likes this job and has given up on the other one.
You know what? I said I wasn't angry in my previous post, but I am now. The amount of guilt tripping I got about not wanting him to take redundancy...but he doesn't give a shit does he?

SignedUpJust4This · 15/09/2019 07:51

Your life would be easier without him it seems

MsTSwift · 15/09/2019 07:52

If you haven’t been married long and have no kids I would consider bailing. I wouldn’t want to shackle myself to someone with this mindset

MarianaMoatedGrange · 15/09/2019 07:54

Stop going on expensive holidays and buying house stuff? Simply cut down on unecessary expenditure and lessen the stress. Be minimalist! kinder to the planet too. Surely every worker is enrolled on a work place pension scheme now?

Maybe the reality of working night shifts will alter his opinion about his new job anyway!

dottiedodah · 15/09/2019 07:55

I think he sounds somewhat immature and rather spoilt TBH.If his parents are going to sub him every time he needs some cash, then he has no incentive to try to do well .Maybe he cant cope with responsibility and sees you as an extension to his DP .I think you will be on a losing wicket if you stay with him .He is probably not going to change any time soon !

Deathraystare · 15/09/2019 07:56

The senior guys won’t be there to notice him.

What??! He is totally delusional! Plus even though he is home during the day I doubt you will come home to a clean house. What's the betting he is lying on the sofa watching tv or on a tablet/playing a game/whatever and any plates/cups won't even had made it to the sink!

Tilltheendoftheline · 15/09/2019 07:57

OP, you need to start making arrangements to be a one household income.

I agree that he will not last in this job.

Either he doesnt last or you end up splitting.

My exh was like this. Started ranting about how stupid people were living in the rat race. So me. While he went from one business ess to the next so he could be self employed and do what the fuck he wants, when he wants. No care for the fact that I had to massive chunks savings purely because his job often didnt cover his part of the bills.

I had to stay in the rat race because he couldnt copenwith responsibility.

Life was so much easier as a single parent. I knew bills were covered every month. So much less stress.

puguin86 · 15/09/2019 08:02

He won't last the night shifts to be honest if he couldn't stick a commute

I had similar with my DP.

When he wants expensive things such as a new car in finance I have refused to pay for it completely or contribute. Told him to which obviously he can't afford.

He is pissed off but I have pointed out actions have consequences. Lesser paid job means the luxuries such as the expensive holidays and the cars go.

IncorrigibleTitmouse · 15/09/2019 08:04

He is prone to laziness and averse to responsibility, but the fact of the matter is that we have them. Home, family, ancient old man of a dog, car—the lot.

His business made money before, but the world changed and then it didn’t. We had to move with that and accept it. I agree wholeheartedly that what he’s done is so selfish and stupid but now I don’t know what to do next.

I work really bloody hard for 45-50 hours a week and I don’t want to give up my one holiday a year, and I want to live in a nice home. Giving up those things will only hurt ME and I’m not prepared to do that.

OP posts:
Lowlandlucky · 15/09/2019 08:07

You are carrying this man and he will sit back and enjoy the ride. If you sre happy to go through the rest of your life like that, fine. If not you need to sling him out the door ( because he will never change) and build the life you want

jackstini · 15/09/2019 08:15

Those night shifts are going to be a hell of a lot harder that the commute! Especially to a lazy person. I honestly wonder how long he will last

Understand no one wants to do a job they hate but he has really not thought this through and been very selfish and disrespectful to the rest of the family

You need to talk to him and say how awful you feel about it; he needs to plan to get a better job and agree to do plenty round the house to help

Palaver1 · 15/09/2019 08:16

Next you best really sit down and talk seriously about your future together.lots of years together as your both young.This really is serious the decision that has a life changing effect on your family.A lazy,disrespectful father and husband whose prepared to invest the absolute minimum with no consequences.
Resentment will lead to a very unhappy marriage.
If you did the same how would your family cope.
One thing you must know is if you did divorce he is entitled to your pension as well.
Whatever the case make sure there are arrangements for him to contribute as well as top up on his pension.

tigger001 · 15/09/2019 08:16

It's fine having an earning gap between partners, but not when one is actively lowering their contribution to make their lives easier which in turn makes the others harder and more stressful.

It's simply selfish and that's not a nice quality.

How old are your children?