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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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4 replies

Sam983 · 29/10/2019 23:41

Evening all

Just looking for opinions as to whether aibu or not.... (really long thread, sorry)

Background first - Been with dw for 5 years, lived together for 3.5, and married just over 2. 3 dsc live with us through the week and alternate weekends, and my 2 dc come over 3 out of 4 weekends. My relationship with dc ended nearly 7 years ago, still friends and work together for kids (just ran its course, no 3rd etc). Dw previous ended 5 years ago as he was controlling and emotionally abusive.

I’m feeling very stressed and put upon at the moment, especially financially - bear with.

When we moved in together, we decided to keep our finances separate, and dw wanted to be in control of household bills as never been allowed to. Fair enough, I pay over half of the household bills we get at end of month plus I pay for insurance, house phone and TV licence. Problem is my dw is terrible with money, she’s always skint and asking for more, despite her getting the uc, child benefit and her wages (nearly full time). I earn a reasonable wage, and happy to help out, but she’s always spending money frivolously, every month I end up giving her a lot of money to cover what she’s overspent, and it’s starting to make me a bit short at the end of the month (I have maintenance to pay as well as other things like car etc). Recently I found out we’re a month behind our rent, which I don’t have in reserve!

My input covers the rent payment and about half the council tax, our 2 biggest outgoings.

On top of this, I end up doing 75% of the housework, again, happy to do, but I don’t get why I’m moaned at for missing out forgetting something when I leave the house. On a normal day dw leaves for work at 6.30, I get up at same time, get dsc up, make sure they’re showered, dressed for school, teeth etc, give them breakfast, do lunchboxes and then get them to school on time. I also make sure dishwasher is on, washing is on (incontinence problems), and washing is in dryer or hung out. I go to work for 9, finish about 6, come home and have to cook tea and sort out clean washing to put away. I also have a bloody good clean at the weekend, bathroom, kitchen etc. However if I forget to do something or run out of time, I get a right earful!

I know dw has to start early, but she goes and sees her family after school run, normally getting back about same time as me.

Recently it's also put a strain on our relationship physically, as she's too tired to be intimate, I've suggested she seeks medical advice as always tired whether working or not, and has other health issues which could be linked, but she refuses to see the dr.

Feeling a little at the end of my tether, I get so frustrated but just told I'm being grumpy, I love her to pieces, but how long can this go on, so I all the question, AIBU?!

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 29/10/2019 23:58

Sounds like you need to talk to her and tell her you don't have the mieny to keep financing her every month, can you sit down together and work out what is spent where? Does she get maintenance for kids? Is she doing all the food shopping out her money?

Secondly sounds like you need a chores list. How old are the kids? Can you get them in on it too? I think it's fair to suggest alt nights cooking etc, that she does inch boxes of a night whilst you're tidying up etx

Sam983 · 30/10/2019 00:11

Dsc are 9 year old twins and 11 year old, yes, she gets £300 a month maintenance from ex. She does a main shop and I pick odds and sods up, she probably spends al more than I do on shopping, but not a huge amount.

I we'll try having a chat with her about the money, but I do feel stuck in a rut with housework and cooking, I've tried to approach it before to be told she has no time (seeing family is going to see nan every day, no health issues with Nan, just goes for a good 2 hours daily)

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 30/10/2019 07:59

Once you're both home the house should be split so if you're in at 6 together and you cook, what does she do? Who washes up or tidies? I wouldn't argue she can't visit her Nan as she has to do housework but if you're both in at 6 then you both have the same time. I imagine it's a rush getting dinner and the kids in bed tho

Sam983 · 30/10/2019 22:56

Yeah, dinner can be rushed and bedtime for the younger ones is 8, I will normally tidy down after tea, load dishwasher, put clothes in washing machine ready for the morning. While I'm cooking, she usually stays in the kitchen with me, normally scrolling through Facebook in her phone (don't even get me started on Facebook - massive bugbear).
Then she'll sit down once kids are up and flake out and go to sleep.
Massively feel stuck in a rut, and when I say something I get told I'm being grumpy!

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