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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for a little contribution towards a household bill?

227 replies

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 09:45

I'm in a LDR of almost two years. Bf is 8 years younger and lives with his parents, I live with my two kids. I pay all my bills, don't get money from UC as my wage is 'too high' so everything we have, I pay for. I'm not looking for a pity parade as that's fine with me. So when LD bf comes to stay (which is roughly once every 4-6 weeks) he stays about 2 weeks a time. He eats A LOT OF my food (he has problems with an ED which I've posted about before) and when I complain about it he says I'm free to eat whatever I want when I'm at theirs. However I don't feel the need to eat and eat and eat when I'm there like he does at mine as I don't eat a great deal, I have the odd meals and snack at his (we mostly eat out which we generally go halfs on) and I like and respect his parents in that I wouldn't eat a ton of their food, especially food that I know they might be saving for something or as a little treat. He is trying to get help for his ED but sometimes I wonder if he actually believes he has one or if it's just nagging from me that makes him see about it. Either way, covid has sort of put a spanner in the works help wise but I can't help but find it extremely frustrating - he got up last night when I was asleep due to a bad cough and this morning I've found an empty ice cream carton in the bin. Myself and DD had eaten roughly 1/5 of it, he had a massive amount last week and I made a fuss about it being a treat for me and DD (of which he said pitifully, "so am I not allowed to have any?") and now I see that he's polished it off leaving none for me and DD.

He also ate a full watermelon over two days last week while I was in work which was bought for me and DS - we didn't have a morsel of it. I've found myself hiding food meant for the kids otherwise I know he'll eat it and I'll have to buy more and they'll temporarily go without. I've told him this but it's like he can't help himself - he suffers from a form of bulimia. He doesn't seem to see fit to pay me or re-buy these items as he obviously sees me as a free house. He finished off my cheese last week and when I made a massive fuss because I found out it was gone when I was about to put it on DD's pasta he went out to buy some from the local corner shop. This cheese is pretty much almost gone now, not through my or kids doing.
He will buy us takeaways quite often but also expects me to pay for some which is fine however when we do have takeaways/eat out I tend to choose something for say £6/£7 whereas he'll buy multiple items such as three starters and a main) which comes to say £15 so now I've stopped wanting any as I'm fed up of being taken for a ride.

This isn't the crux of my post but I wanted to give some background. So whenever he comes down here I never ask him to contribute to bills because I don't see why he should because he doesn't live here and I don't contribute to any bills when I'm up there however I'm there sometimes 3-4 days every 3 or so months when he's here a lot longer and more often. He's been down for almost a fortnight now and he brought his air con machine as he came down when the hot weather was starting a couple of weeks ago. I knew this would take quite a lot of electric but not as much as I was expecting. I have one of those key meter things for the electric and when I got paid this time last month there was £46 on there which I knew would last me roughly six weeks.

Yesterday morning the electric went out as the money had run out, so I'd used this £46 in a month. I knew this was because of the air con machine as I've not done anything else out of the ordinary. I can give or take being hot or cold but bf seems to have serious issues with being hot. He'll stand outside in the cold or sleep with a fan on him regularly.

So last night after much anticipation I finally asked him if he would be willing to contribute a bit to my electric bill because the air con machine made it go down really quickly. As I said I've not asked him for anything before, he lives with his parents, pays them £250 a month keep and is self employed to the tune of £52k a year. Not that this matters but I'm making a point that he can afford it. His reply was "umm ok" in a very unsure voice. I asked if that was acceptable and I had the same "yeah ok" unsure voice.

I'm at the end of my tether with him tbh. He's becoming more and more selfish and the fact that he doesn't see that I'm not on amazing pay compared to him (I take home roughly £2k a month) and decides to eat all my food and doesn't like the idea of contributing to the bill that he created is just putting nails into the coffin to be honest. He put an online pasta specialist food order onto my card the day after he came down for £26 as his wallet was upstairs (stupid me said it's fine, put it on mine and send me the money back) and despite me reminding him, he hasn't paid me back and I wasn't even fussed for this order and barely ate any of it so it's not even like I was wanting it. If I knew I was going to end up paying for it I'd have said to forget it or to get up and get your wallet. I know I should be more strong when it comes to getting my money back and getting him to pay me back for the outgoings I've mentioned in my post but he already makes fun of me for counting the pennies and keeping a close eye on my budget (I have to or I'll run out of money) that I know it would be the same if I started about this. However from reading back this post it sounds to me like he's the tight one and is taking advantage of my good nature.

He can be generous at times, we went on a massive holiday this time last year and he paid for most of it although he got to choose the hotels etc and the holiday could have been made quite a bit cheaper than it was but he wasn't 'staying in shit cheap hotels'.

Sorry for such a long post, I just wanted to know if I was BU or if he is. And any tips on sorting this out? Thanks.

OP posts:
chocolatesaltyballs22 · 24/09/2020 09:48

Of course he should contribute. Sounds like he has a lot more disposable income than you and he's eating you out of house and home while you're struggling for money. He is very mean to take the piss out of you for counting the pennies. I would be furious.

GhostCurry · 24/09/2020 09:53

I think you know the answer to this one OP. He should be ashamed of himself

Lazt · 24/09/2020 09:56

He’s an utter piss taker and from this side of the screen I’m wondering what you get out of this relationship - I couldn’t be with someone so selfish and frankly a complete tight arse. And why people feel a shit relationship is better than no relationship.

However real life doesn’t work like that. You’re just going to have to have a frank conversation, get him to contribute a fair amount and be absolutely firm you won’t tolerate any ribbing about penny pinching.

Lazt · 24/09/2020 09:58

I also think the ED is a bit of a red herring, obviously a huge issue but separate to him not contributing. How would you feel if he had a gambling problem and was taking your cash? Essentially the same thing.

FOJN · 24/09/2020 10:02

How old is he? Has he ever funded his own household? I'm wondering if he has any idea about what it costs. It sounds like he's taking advantage of you. I wouldn't wait for him to volunteer a token amount I would ask him for an amount which covered his selfish excesses. If he seems reluctant then it might be time to think about how much the relationship means to you and whether you are prepared to continue with the current arrangements.

I would also be annoyed if someone tried to embarrass me for budgeting to live within my means.

Ilikewinter · 24/09/2020 10:03

Yes he should be contributing...but i think you already know that...it doesnt sound like a great relationship to be honest.

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 10:04

@Lazt

I also think the ED is a bit of a red herring, obviously a huge issue but separate to him not contributing. How would you feel if he had a gambling problem and was taking your cash? Essentially the same thing.
Shit I never thought of it like that
OP posts:
Jimdandy · 24/09/2020 10:04

He’s a cock lodger

marriednotdead · 24/09/2020 10:04

@FOJN

How old is he? Has he ever funded his own household? I'm wondering if he has any idea about what it costs. It sounds like he's taking advantage of you. I wouldn't wait for him to volunteer a token amount I would ask him for an amount which covered his selfish excesses. If he seems reluctant then it might be time to think about how much the relationship means to you and whether you are prepared to continue with the current arrangements.

I would also be annoyed if someone tried to embarrass me for budgeting to live within my means.

This with bells on!
renallychallenged · 24/09/2020 10:05

He is taking more from this relationship that he is giving. Literally taking food from your kids, whilst knowing how hard you work to provide for them. Absolutely unacceptable and a dealbreaker for me. How little he values your work and your children!

Sounds like you have a ball and chain who will weigh you and your children down, not a potential life partner who will enhance your life.

Getting involved with someone with an uncontrolled condition is a big risk. Especially when it's something like an eating disorder he appears to be not taking any steps to get it under control. In fact he is expecting you to facility his issues by providing free food.

SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness · 24/09/2020 10:06

Is it possible to work out how much more you spend on food, electric, etc when he's there in comparison to when he's not? If so, he needs to contribute that. Or he needs to just pay for all of his food, & pay some towards the electricity. Or you need to consider whether you want to continue with this selfish man. I agree with the PP who said that the ED is probably a red herring. Lots of people suffer from ED & manage to hide it or overcome it, but your BF is essentially stealing food from you & your kids.

renallychallenged · 24/09/2020 10:07

I'm not fooled by the "he doesn't realise how much it costs" business.

Any adult who earns £50k+ has at least a basic understanding that food and electric costs money. Don't let him kid you otherwise.

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 10:08

@FOJN

How old is he? Has he ever funded his own household? I'm wondering if he has any idea about what it costs. It sounds like he's taking advantage of you. I wouldn't wait for him to volunteer a token amount I would ask him for an amount which covered his selfish excesses. If he seems reluctant then it might be time to think about how much the relationship means to you and whether you are prepared to continue with the current arrangements.

I would also be annoyed if someone tried to embarrass me for budgeting to live within my means.

He's 26. Nope he's never lived alone apart from when he was at uni for a few months when he was 18 and then quit, he hated uni and didn't like living alone. He is looking for a house atm because his dad is fed up with him. I'm interested to see if he was to change his ways when he realises he needs to budget for bills etc when he has his own house.
OP posts:
MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee · 24/09/2020 10:08

Yanbu - sounds like you both need an up front discussion about funds and contributions otherwise resentment will just continue to breed and you’ll never be able to move forward with this relationship to an adult functional one (if that is what you actually want - he sounds like a bit of a waste of space)

TheTrollFairy · 24/09/2020 10:09

I couldn’t be with someone that didn’t automatically just offer it up. It’s not his house to pay bills on but when you get through electricity after a month when it usually lasts longer shows that the consumption has gone up

Breakupcharlie · 24/09/2020 10:09

When he arrives you both go food shopping. Tell him that you’ll buy the kids stuff, split meals between you and he can buy his own snacks.

Or, set out between you two meal plans. Of when he’s going to cook and you. He can go out a buy the meals he’s going to cook. Leave no snacks around and write your kids names on their food. Tell him that you’d appreciate it if you didn’t eat the kids food and when you both go shopping he can buy his own.

Margo34 · 24/09/2020 10:09

He'd be kicked to the kerb, were I in your shoes. He sounds like an immature sponge, sorry OP. He doesn't understand money having not responsibility for any bills as living with his parents, food bills utility bills or otherwise. You sound savvy and at a completely different point in your life than he is.

You could tell him an amount you expect him to contribute to your bills when he stays, and be the judge yourself on his response to that. I don't think that would be unreasonable.

SalterWatcher · 24/09/2020 10:10

Jeez what's so amazing about him?!
Get rid

TheTrollFairy · 24/09/2020 10:11

I see you have said he’s looking for his own place, I bet he soon gets the grump if you were to do the same at his own house.
He’s 26, not 16! I’m not saying I’m a martyr for anything but I got my own place in my early 20s and knew I had to budget and I asked others how much roughly different bills came to so I knew how much I should put aside... it’s not too difficult!
He’s taking the piss

Cocomarine · 24/09/2020 10:11

The holiday makes the purely financial side of things a bit more complicated. Even if you compare it to the lower cost holiday you’d have been happy with, it sounds like he has spent money on you. So I can see why he might think that it all works out evening.

BUT!

You directly asked him for money - and well done you! - so that is the time for him to pay you back or raise any perceived unfairness.

To be honest though, read the post back. He sounds awful. Is that what you want, from the person who should be your favourite person in the world?! (after kids 🙂) Do you really want to stay with him?

Proudling · 24/09/2020 10:12

Ugh why are you with such a user cocklodger?!

BeardieWeirdie · 24/09/2020 10:13

What an absolute arsehole, get rid, seriously. He is stealing food off your child’s plate. I can’t imagine a bigger turn-off than sitting next to a pig eating three portions of take-away at your expense.

Cocomarine · 24/09/2020 10:14

Even his dad is fed up with him!
Why do you want to date him?

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 10:15

@SalterWatcher

Jeez what's so amazing about him?! Get rid
We get on really well and have a lot of the same interests although these things are really starting to grate on me now and it's showing because I'm a lot more irritable with him than I used to be.
OP posts:
Imloosingmyshit · 24/09/2020 10:16

He pays or goes. He’s taking the piss. Literally taking the food out of your children’s mouths. He needs to replace, but I’m a massive shop when he visits, financially compensate you or you tell him to get lost.

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