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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should my boyfriend contribute to my bills?

121 replies

ILikePaperHats · 21/10/2019 19:50

Hi, just need some advice really as I'm not sure if I'm being unreasonable. My boyfriend doesn't live with me but often comes to mine 1-2 days in the week and stays at mine most of the weekend too. He lives in a shared house with one other house mate and only pays about £300 a month plus bills. I am divorced with 2 kids (their dad has them 2 nights every week and pays minimal maintenance) and am self employed so my income fluctuates but usually only about 16k a year. My boyfriend earns twice as much as me and has no dependants. He buys food quite often although I regularly give him half the money, and he makes use of my shower (I'm on a water meter), gas and electricity. I am hardly ever invited to his house as he says there's nothing to do(!) there, and it's true that my house is nicer, more homely, near nice bars and restaurants etc. I have no inclination to ask him to move in as I like my independent life and don't want to rely financially on a man but AIBU to expect him to contribute a bit to bills? When he's at mine using my utilities he's not having to pay for his own. He bought me a hot tub last summer which was very generous of him but it's cost me a fortune to run and I'm currently £250 in debt on my gas and electric bill and with winter coming up I'm quite worried. Often he will turn up at mine and if the heating isn't on he will turn on my electric fire without asking. I have asked him to give me £100 towards my electric bill as he had lots of use of the hot tub this summer but he's making out I'm being really mean to ask and that he shouldn't have to pay that much as he doesn't think it's all because of the hot tub. Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
ILikePaperHats · 21/10/2019 20:20

He occasionally takes us out using his car, he will sometimes moan about how much it all costs and gets me to pay about 50% of overall costs which I think is ok as it's 3 of us and 1 of him. Can't remember last time he treated me to a meal. He used to buy me a lot of alcohol but I have stopped drinking now on my own volition as my drinking was getting out of hand. He's been really supportive about that.

OP posts:
LellyMcKelly · 21/10/2019 20:24

He’s a cocklodger. He’s there over half the week for free and letting you pay to heat his hot tub.

SunshineCake · 21/10/2019 20:26

I bet he has since it's saving him money Hmm.

Drabarni · 21/10/2019 20:29

That's 4 days then 1-2 during the week and weekend.
tell him it's costing more than you can afford and ask for a solution.

Doormat247 · 21/10/2019 20:31

I had a similar issue with my DP. He seems to think I'm joking when I make comments about his use of my water meter and eating all my food etc.
The first time he turned on my heating without asking, he got a bollocking and didn't do it again, he just layers up now and is used to being cold here - at home he has the heating on constantly. We do eat out a lot and I expect him to pay for most of these meals as I pay for almost all the food we eat at home. I've also taken him food shopping and then left him to pay if I feel things have been uneven. I also do not pay anything towards all the fuel we use in his car - and he's never asked for a penny.

You should stop giving him half the money for the food he's buying, it's not fair on yourself.

He does sound very stingy and I'd certainly be selling the hot tub seeing as it is a gift you can't afford to run. If he says you can't sell it then tell him he has to pay for the running costs or he must remove it as it's put you in debt and you will not be using it again on your property.

MostlyHappyMummy · 21/10/2019 20:31

Why do you feel you should accept this behaviour?
It's clearly not acceptable yet you still allow it.

Bellringer · 21/10/2019 20:32

He should be taking you out to dinner, buying shopping g and treating your kids. If not he's a skinflint so charge him or dump

Mimsnethe · 21/10/2019 20:35

You have two kids, not a lot of money, and you’re getting in to debt to pay electricity so this guy can have a hot-tub?

Yeah, dump him.

Drum2018 · 21/10/2019 20:36

Tell him to get the hot tub off your property and to take himself with it. Can you really be arsed with this guy spending half the week at your house, running up your bills with his ridiculous 'present'? It wasn't a gift for you, it was a gift for himself. He sounds like a dick.

billy1966 · 21/10/2019 20:37

Honestly OP,

Would you give your head a shake. Really.

3 or 4 nights a week at your comfortable house.
He gives you a gift of a tub, half of one but you pay the full cost.
He moans about a spin.
He doesn't treat you.

He is costing you so much and is as mean and tight as can be.

He is costing you serious money.

Personally, I would get rid. I despise meanness.

I wouldn't put up with it in a man for 5 minutes.

He is utterly taking the piss.

Your choice is whether you want to put up with it.

Thank goodness you don't want him to move in🙄

AloeVeraLynn · 21/10/2019 20:37

Confused why are you accepting this? I would have drained the hot tub and packed it up as soon as I started getting into debt!
Sack him off.

monkeymonkey2010 · 21/10/2019 20:37

he's happily using your house to 'entertain' himself - and at your expense too.
The hot tub wasn't even for you - it's something he bought for himself to enjoy - but again at your expense.

Tell me - what exactly is there to do in YOUR house that can't be replicated at his (apart from the hot tub of course)?
His landlord wouldn't have allowed the hot tub if it's rented....plus his housemate and their friends would have used it and HIS utility bills would have risen.
I've lived in 'bills included' house shares and anything 'excessive' has to be paid for.

He isn't concerned about your utility debt or usage...or that you have kids to pay for and he's essentially adding on the cost of another person...he's manipulated yo into accepting and using a hot tub that isn't even actually yours - and he's continuing to run up your bills without a mature and adult discussion.

Seriously, cut this leech - he's going to drain you dry.

PookieDo · 21/10/2019 20:38

The term ‘paying to have a boyfriend’ is a painful truth

You essentially are paying to have a boyfriend, and he is getting a free home to relax and eat in. It’s like renting out a companion.

PrincessRaven · 21/10/2019 20:39

wow! sell the hot tub and dump him!!

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 21/10/2019 20:44

Your relationship is supposed to make you happy, to be fun and generally be an improvement to your life. Is it? It sounds miserable!

Lulualla · 21/10/2019 20:45

Hot tubs cost a fortune to run. Either sell it or tell him he needs to take it somewhere else. Do not allow it to be used. It’s your house; say no!

When he turns something on, get up and turn it off. Tell him he cannot use your shower cause you’re in debt with he bills already. You need to start standing up for yourself, or are you just so desperate to have a boyfriend that you will put up with anything?

summersherewishiwasnt · 21/10/2019 20:48

Hot tubs are expensive to run and maintain. I hope it’s unplugged for the winter. That will cost a fortune.
Some good advice here, I hope you take it on board. Some single men chose a woman with children because it’s a ready made family and you are making it soooooo easy for him.

DonKeyshot · 21/10/2019 20:48

You pay 50% of the "overall cost" of going in his car? Aw jeez. He is one tight asshole.

Sell the tub, dump the cocklodger, and you'll soon get your finances back on track.

I can tolerate a lot but I can't stand meanness. A lack of generousity says all you need to know about the person and their attitude to life and, unless you're a miser yourself, you'll never be happy with a tight git who's happy to use your facilities so they don't have to shell out on their own.

timshelthechoice · 21/10/2019 20:49

So you think paying to have him in your life, getting in debt to have him in your life when he begrudges you a ride in the car or a meal is worth it?

This person will never change. There is a reason why he is single. It's because he is a stingy cocklodger.

He's been working on you, gradually wearing you down so he can increasingly take the piss (these men often target single mums), making you feel like he's doing a favour by lodging his Might Peen chez vous.

He's already balked when you asked for a contribution, he balks at giving you a lift out and has you footing half the bill.

Sit down with yourself, not him because he will never change, and tab up how much it is costing you to have a boyfriend, the way you would a Netflix or gym membership, and exactly how much work it's going to take to fund the habit of him and how every penny he lodges on is money you could be spending on your kids and you.

And if you're still on legacy benefits, you could lose them and therefore lose A LOT more than the cost of a hot tub by continuing allowing him to take the piss.

PurpleDaisies · 21/10/2019 20:51

Missing the point slightly, but a hot tub is a really odd present.

PookieDo · 21/10/2019 20:52

It’s not a present it’s his hot tub he wanted but he doesn’t have a garden. OP does

DtPeabodysLoosePants · 21/10/2019 20:55

I had one like this: on the surface he seemed generous but he was the type to just plug his phone in without asking, help himself to food from the fridge, use the shower twice a day, eat my food yet I had to buy my own food when I went to his as he had nothing in, and then he wanted to charge up his bloody electric hybrid company car! Cheeky sod. To be fair he would treat me but he was costing me a fortune and was anyways at mine instead of me at his. He then started saying how much fuel was costing him (for his electric car Hmm) and obviously hinting for me pay towards it. It was a few posters on here who made me realise just how he wasn't as generous as he seemed and was actually a cheeky fucker. I'm a single mum of 3 on benefits with full time care of my ds and the RP of my dds. He had a well paid job, expenses paid, company car, and had his kids 50/50.
Get rid of him and the hot tub. They are both a drain and waste of your money.

Stephminx · 21/10/2019 20:58

I’m in two minds about this one. It’s your house and they are your bills, so I don’t think he should formally contribute to household bills if you do not want him to move in.

However, it is your house. If you don’t want him there as often, stop inviting him and then maybe he will invite you to his. Obviously it’s not as nice as yours, but you want to introduce some equality into things so you’d have to suck it up. I suspect you’d prefer him to stay at yours on your own terms though, ie he is not moving in but he can pay as though he has.

If you don’t want the fire on, turn it off and tell him to put on a jumper.

In relation to the hot tub, do you and / or your kids use it without him ? He may have bought it as a genuine gift for you or because he secretly wanted one and couldn’t keep it at home who knows ? But it’s at your house and if you don’t want it on, drain it and don’t put it on. You can’t use it and then complain. Tell him you can’t afford to run it and (assuming you are happy to keep it) if he wants it to remain he must pay for power, chemicals etc.... If not and you want it gone, you can sell it and keep / split the money.

If he earns a lot and has minimal outgoings, he’ll gave a bit of spare cash. He may not actually appreciate that you cannot afford these things. Have you actually explained that to him and shown his the running costs associated with the hot tub.

However, his level of spare cash in comparison to yours is not really your concern at this stage of a relationship. Your not really “life partners” / spouses or living together, you are just dating. You’ve said you don’t want him to move in, so address the balance in terms of who stays where. But you can’t have it both ways. I do not think you should have any claim on his finances and vice versa.

The hot tub is a bit of a special case and I’d not be expecting anything for other bills not related to this.

However, I do think he is being cheap in other ways. I’d expect a level of generosity with food shops, dates out etc.., between you to account for him staying with you so much, but that’s between you two. I’d not be expecting him to fund food or outings for your children - they are your and you ex’s responsibility. So I do think he is being cheap here and should cough up more. But I do t mean he should pay for all your food, trips out etc... I just mean volunteering to treat you every now and then.

You have a tongue in your head. Use it to explain the above issues and get your relationship on an even footing. If he’s not happy then maybe he’s not for you. But I don’t think you can have it both ways and have him paying to not officially live with you.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/10/2019 20:58

Bin him, he’s draining your bank accounts.

Bonniegirlie · 21/10/2019 20:59

Have a look at your meter when it is running with nothing switched on as such, just the normal things that are plugged in. Count how many times it goes round in a minute. Then turn the hot tub on and count. You will be astonished how much quicker it goes round. You should be able to work out how much it is consting. Then give him a demo. He is really taking the piss and costing you a fortune, not only in respect of the hot tub, but mostly freeloading on everything else

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