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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:
Pemba · 24/09/2020 10:17

I wonder why his dad is fed up him? Is it for similar reasons?

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 24/09/2020 10:17

It must be difficult for your children when he is here. I'd be worried about them developing problems because they can never be sure if he has eaten everything. I've lived in a house like that and spent a lot of time feeling very anxious and uncertain.

Eating disorders are terrible things and I feel sorry for him, but this is something that he needs to get under control before he spends lots of time around children. The financial issue is separate, and you are being U to only ask for so little (I would be much harsher and make it clear how much I was paying for the pleasure of his company and that I expected him to pay his own way).

Imloosingmyshit · 24/09/2020 10:17

Sorry, ‘ buy a massive shop ( buy food)’

kimmyst · 24/09/2020 10:19

I'm sorry but this comes across as really selfish! (On his part) It sounds like he's taking the piss at home, coming to you when his parents are fed up, using you and your home, then going back to his parents!
He's bouncing from house to house, and getting the best of both worlds.
Also in regards to the holiday, it was something he wanted to do, he picked the things you did and where you stayed, it sounds like you were just there for company. (You said he quit uni as he doesn't like to be on his own) What do you get out of this relationship??

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 10:20

@Pemba

I wonder why his dad is fed up him? Is it for similar reasons?
Yep I'm pretty sure it is
OP posts:
InDubiousBattle · 24/09/2020 10:21

If he's on £52k a year he'll have what, £3000 a month to spend after he's paid his parents the £250? Say that to yourself op, he has three thousand pounds a month to spend. Yet he's being cagey about replacing food he's eaten at yours and paying for power he's used at yours. Ridiculous. Tell him how much extra it costs you to have him there and expect him to graciously pay it.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 24/09/2020 10:22

Get the pasta money back & the extra electric. Online banking takes minutes to complete a money trsnsfer. There's no excuse. He is using you as the bank of mum & dad.
Then end it. He is not enhancing your life.

Pumpkinnose · 24/09/2020 10:24

Why would you possibly want to be with someone who doesn’t think themselves that they so obviously should contribute. And you have children to think of. They are missing out directly because of this relationship.

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 24/09/2020 10:25

You don't even live together full time and he is already grating on you.

It doesn't bode well for the future.

Think I'd dump and find me a grown up.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 24/09/2020 10:25

Please don't let him move in with you.

Cocomarine · 24/09/2020 10:25

Are you sure he has an ED?
My brother will see a 6 pack of crisps and eat the lot. It’s a mix a sheer fucking greed, and some quite vile territory marking. He never got told off for a thing as a child, and doing rude things like that when he comes home is his way of throwing his weight around. And selfish, greedy, and has issues that I’m sure a psychotherapist would have an opinion on. But it’s not an ED.

I wouldn’t advise you to date my brother.

The ED is, as you’ve said, a red herring.

What is so attractive about him, really?

Kisskiss · 24/09/2020 10:26

Hes 26? And living off his parents .. probably used to it and never thought about how much it costs to run a home/buy food... Time for an open chat about this otherwise it will just drive s huge wedge between you both, if he can’t understand it Still then you probably should think about whether you want to become his substitute mum/provider when this relationship stops becoming a long distance one eventually

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 10:26

@kimmyst

I'm sorry but this comes across as really selfish! (On his part) It sounds like he's taking the piss at home, coming to you when his parents are fed up, using you and your home, then going back to his parents! He's bouncing from house to house, and getting the best of both worlds. Also in regards to the holiday, it was something he wanted to do, he picked the things you did and where you stayed, it sounds like you were just there for company. (You said he quit uni as he doesn't like to be on his own) What do you get out of this relationship??
He wanted to go to the place we went (don't want to say in case it's outing) and wanted to do the activities etc whereas I was happy just to go and see the place. I wasn't fussed on the main activity we did although it cost him around $400 for it and only went because he wanted to. I paid for my flight (£450), the airport car parking (£70), I drove to the airport (about 100 miles from his house) and I was able to save up $400 spending money which we used to pay for food and when that ran out he paid for the rest. He was a bit miffed when I said I wanted to keep some of my spending money for things for myself and souvenirs for my family.

I did enjoy the holiday but I'm also happy spending a lot less and going on city breaks in Europe or for a week/fortnight to Majorca et al. Apart from one hobby of mine, I'm not someone who is into the high life of spending loads of money on holidays, doing up my house etc.

OP posts:
Friendsoftheearth · 24/09/2020 10:26

You have become his surrogate mother!

Might work for you, this arrangement would never work for me.

I would pack him off back to his parents, and choose a real man to spend my life with.

Anordinarymum · 24/09/2020 10:27

I would not want to keep this one OP

ChronicallyCurious · 24/09/2020 10:27

You need to be going food shopping when he gets there. Tell him to pick his own food and he buys that or you do a joint food shop. Tell him explicitly what snacks/meals are for the kids and they are out of bounds. Don’t eat them yourself whilst he’s there.

Tell him he can’t have his aircon machine on unless he offers some towards the electricity bill as it’s draining it. If he refuses then I’d be turfing him out tbqh.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 24/09/2020 10:28

A tight arse is never attractive is it. I'd be really offended that he didn't have this basic level of respect for me.

Honestly I'd review the pros of this relationship!

coconutpie · 24/09/2020 10:31

WHY are you with this selfish awful man? He eats your DCs food so that there is nothing left for them. He eats your food so that there is nothing for you. He contributes nothing financially yet your bills skyrocket when he is staying with you.

You deserve better than this. How can you even stand to be in the same room as someone who thinks so low of you? His behaviour is disgusting. He's a selfish greedy rotten pig.

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 10:32

@ChronicallyCurious

You need to be going food shopping when he gets there. Tell him to pick his own food and he buys that or you do a joint food shop. Tell him explicitly what snacks/meals are for the kids and they are out of bounds. Don’t eat them yourself whilst he’s there.

Tell him he can’t have his aircon machine on unless he offers some towards the electricity bill as it’s draining it. If he refuses then I’d be turfing him out tbqh.

We did go food shopping the other day, he put in some expensive ish items and when I said I wasn't paying for them he playfully/sarcastically said ALRIGHT!! However he hasn't offered or even asked how much his things were since this trip, expecting me to pay for them I suppose.

I do feel like I'm his mother a lot of the time, I'm always picking up after him and when I ask him to do it he gets a bit funny.

OP posts:
Cocomarine · 24/09/2020 10:32

I just read your OP again. I’d missed the bit where he takes the piss out of you for budgeting!

Fuck that shit!!!

(1) I wouldn’t want to date a spoiled child who didn’t understand that people need to budget

(2) I would date someone who took the piss when I did

You’re not talking about a new friend, or a colleague, or a sibling here. You’re talking about the person who should be committed above all others to making you happy. Imagine a new friend came round and ate all your kid’s ice cream and just shrugged, then didn’t pay you back for her pasta. You’d think - mmmmm, I’ll let that friendship slide.

Why would you expect less from your life partner, than you would from a friend or colleague?

BilboBercow · 24/09/2020 10:33

Get rid. He's a cocklodger and a manchild. He expects his parents to look after him when he's with them and you to look after him when he's with you.

He'll never be an equal partner.

DustyLoafer · 24/09/2020 10:33

Sounds like this is the beginning of the end OP.

I had a partner like this, I had huge moan about him to my friend on the phone. I got everything off my chest, then realised I needed to end it.

What a relief it was.

RightYesButNo · 24/09/2020 10:34

I think the ED is a double red herring here, because it also doesn’t make him incapable of replacing what he’s eaten (like when he went out to get the cheese he’d eaten that was for your DD’s pasta), so even if he does have some sort of issue that makes him unable to control his eating, it doesn’t force him to be selfish about not paying for it (or anything else!!!), not replacing it, etc. Most people in that situation would be absolutely mortified, ESPECIALLY with children in the mix.

It’s also not worth exposing your kids to his selfishness. My friend actually started hiding and hoarding food in her teens because her mum had a boyfriend who did this exact thing.

If even his father wants him gone, what does he bring to the relationship with you that you couldn’t get from anyone else?

nzeire · 24/09/2020 10:34

Lordy

IntermittentParps · 24/09/2020 10:34

He's an outright twat, OP.

Bin him.

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