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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:
EatDessertFirst · 24/09/2020 11:31

He must have a golden, vibrating, glittery penis for you to tolerate this behaviour in your home around your children.

You literally pay him for staying with you, listen to him vomiting up your childrens food and you clear up after him?! Are not worried about the example you are setting your children?

No wonder his Dad wants him out. You have yourself a Grade A cocklodger. I really hope a PP is right and you are talking yourself into dumping this prick.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 24/09/2020 11:31

Oh god, please just dump him. He sounds absolutely awful. That sort of behaviour would kill any possibility of attraction for me. Yuk.

Afibtomyboy · 24/09/2020 11:31

You are spending money on food for someone who
A) sounds awful
B) vomits it up anyway
C) clearly not going to be with you long term

All the money you are wasting on him could be saving or spent on your CHILDREN FFS

iluvgab · 24/09/2020 11:33

Don't know how the fuck someone can say you are controlling.
He's basically allowed to do what the hell he wants - comes to your place, eats absolutely loads of food, won't pay for it, can't be arsed to walk upstairs to get his wallet so you buy his fancy pasta and so on and so forth.
You are not controlling at all. He is taking the piss and he needs to go ASAP.

Nanny0gg · 24/09/2020 11:34

Why on earth are you with him?

Set your bar considerably higher

Wibblypiggly · 24/09/2020 11:34

Jesus Christ. He sounds selfish, spoiled, entitled, juvenile, lazy and totally unmotivated.

Your money paid for everything on the holiday and when it ran out, only then did he pay. He begrudged you spending your own money on your own family.

He sounds like a fucking teenager. How do you not find him utterly unattractive? He sounds gross.

Bin. Him. Off.

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 11:34

@Afibtomyboy

* This really tickled me grin thank you!* But doesn’t answer the question

What does he offer you??!!

We get on really well. We share a lot of the same interests. He is very good in bed I must admit although this isn't something I factor in for staying in the relationship. I struggle with making friends, I have pretty much all the traits of aspergers and I find it very difficult to meet people I can get close with so when I do meet someone that I get on well with I guess I don't want to lose them. Sounds a bit pathetic I know but it's the truth Sad
OP posts:
OoohTheStatsDontLie · 24/09/2020 11:35

I think theres two different issues OP

The food thing I can't comment on as I dont know enough about it as an illness but yes its not really fair on your kids to have to go without

The rest of it though is him being selfish and lazy and basically treating you like you are his parent and he is in his first job. I was probably like that when I was young (younger than him) as you don't really understand the cost of things til you've had to buy then yourself. But I mean at 18 not at 26. At his age, when you pointed out that it was costing you, the normal response from a decent person would have been embarrassment that they hadn't thought about it, paying you back straight away, and then making sure the situation never raised itself again. Instead he seems happy just to wait for you to remind him to give you money and seems slightly.resentful at having to pay his share ( actually less than his share as he won't be paying you for the water gas etc will he).

I don't think selfish and lazy are bad habits that can be overcome I think they are fundamental character flaws. I mean he earns 50k a year with no outgoings but expects you to feed him and 2 kids when you earn much less? He is using you. I don't think you will be able to get past this. Sure you can tell him to pay his way or its over but he will be doing it because you made him not because he is a decent person and recognises it's the right thing to do

I feel sometimes that women want to be seen as independent and paying their own way and not gold diggers etc and they go too far the other way and actually let others walk over them financially now. He is not being fair

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 11:37

@Wibblypiggly

Jesus Christ. He sounds selfish, spoiled, entitled, juvenile, lazy and totally unmotivated.

Your money paid for everything on the holiday and when it ran out, only then did he pay. He begrudged you spending your own money on your own family.

He sounds like a fucking teenager. How do you not find him utterly unattractive? He sounds gross.

Bin. Him. Off.

That's a bit unfair. My money paid for the food for the first five or so days, he paid for the hotels for 11 nights, the considerably expensive car hire and all our activities. Not that I'm saying this makes everything else equal but I want to point out he did spend a lot more than me on this holiday.
OP posts:
ISpeakJive · 24/09/2020 11:37

You’re an adult and you can put up with as much shot adult want from this guy.
But when there are kids involved - it’s a huge ‘get rid’ from me!
And when you said he paid for your holiday, I thought that also meant the flight! He’s a 26 year old manchild...

Proudling · 24/09/2020 11:39

@chrismoyles

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.

@RightYesButNo that's such a sad thing to read. It's complicated and similar to bulimia but basically he eats too much and vomits his food up. It doubly annoys me because the food I've paid for is going to waste, it's not even like it's filling him up.

I've asked him not to do it when my kids are home. Once, a good while ago, he was going into the bathroom every two minutes and he did it about five times in the space of 10-15 minutes and later on that night she asked what he was doing and I didn't know what to say so I just said he had a funny belly from whatever he was eating and had to use the toilet. I DO NOT want my kids growing up and thinking what he's doing is alright, that's asking for them to develop an ED Angry

WTAF! He’s a cocklodger and you’re keeping this around your kids?! If you don’t get rid on your own head be it.
Wibblypiggly · 24/09/2020 11:39

Please don’t defend him. He’s awful. You deserve so much better.

crosspelican · 24/09/2020 11:39

Get rid. You get NOTHING out of the relationship, and I guarantee that when he gets this mythical house of his it's going to get even worse because suddenly he is going to learn the value of money. What semblance of "sharing" he was doing before will go out the window.

Don't put up with being treated like a parent. And don't expose your children to his entitled, greedy attitude (the ED completely aside).

There's no particular reason for you to ever seem him again, really, is there?

ISpeakJive · 24/09/2020 11:41

makes everything else equal but I want to point out he did spend a lot more than me on this holiday.

No OP, he paid for things for himself and had you tag along. HE wanted the nice hotel. A double room doesn’t cost much more whether there is one person in there or two.
He paid for food after you paid for 5 days! Hey the mans got to eat, right? And he can’t buy for himself only after you’ve paid for 5 days! And lastly, the activities are again something HE wanted...You just tagged along...

Afibtomyboy · 24/09/2020 11:42

Op
Do you get some fire in your belly when you think that the money you are spending on him could be spent or saved on your children?

Please say you do

Beautiful3 · 24/09/2020 11:44

Of course he should contribute towards food. If hes not happy, then he need to eat else where.

notapizzaeater · 24/09/2020 11:46

But he chose to stay in the expensive hotels, if you'd have done the holiday it wouldn't have cost that much. He needs to pay for his keep whilst he's with you and if he's not willing then he needs to stop in a hotel when he comes to see you.

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 11:46

@OoohTheStatsDontLie

I think theres two different issues OP

The food thing I can't comment on as I dont know enough about it as an illness but yes its not really fair on your kids to have to go without

The rest of it though is him being selfish and lazy and basically treating you like you are his parent and he is in his first job. I was probably like that when I was young (younger than him) as you don't really understand the cost of things til you've had to buy then yourself. But I mean at 18 not at 26. At his age, when you pointed out that it was costing you, the normal response from a decent person would have been embarrassment that they hadn't thought about it, paying you back straight away, and then making sure the situation never raised itself again. Instead he seems happy just to wait for you to remind him to give you money and seems slightly.resentful at having to pay his share ( actually less than his share as he won't be paying you for the water gas etc will he).

I don't think selfish and lazy are bad habits that can be overcome I think they are fundamental character flaws. I mean he earns 50k a year with no outgoings but expects you to feed him and 2 kids when you earn much less? He is using you. I don't think you will be able to get past this. Sure you can tell him to pay his way or its over but he will be doing it because you made him not because he is a decent person and recognises it's the right thing to do

I feel sometimes that women want to be seen as independent and paying their own way and not gold diggers etc and they go too far the other way and actually let others walk over them financially now. He is not being fair

That last paragraph is so true. When we started talking he told me he came from a wealthy family and has plenty of money himself with a well paying job and I think I've done exactly that, didn't want to come across as a gold digger and he must have taken wind of that and now uses it to his advantage. Apart from his one hobby and buying (his own) food, he is very tight. He always has side jobs going to do with this hobby, in fact he was doing one on his laptop last night, charged the guy £50 for a couple of hours easy work which he enjoys doing anyway and he gets funny with me asking for money towards my electric which wouldn't have been an issue if he wasn't here.
OP posts:
CooperLooper · 24/09/2020 11:47

Do you know for certain that he earns £52k a year self employed? Because honestly his cagey and selfish behaviour with money, and taking more than his fair share compared to what he contributes, doesn't sound like someone with a comfortable amount of money in the bank.

Could he be exaggerating how much he earns? Or does he spend huge amounts of money on shit he doesn't need and has spending problems?

Maybe he's just a scrooge idk, but it does seem off.

Either way I agree with PP that he is literally taking food away from you and your children and for me that'd be a deal breaker. Ask yourself honestly - is it worth being in a relationship with him? Does he improve your life, or make you a better person?

Mincingfuckdragon2 · 24/09/2020 11:48

My money paid for the food for the first five or so days, he paid for the hotels for 11 nights, the considerably expensive car hire and all our activities.

He'd have paid for the hotel and car hire anyway, and for his own activities and food. By how much (if at all) did the amount you paid for his (substantial) share of the food outweigh the amount he paid for your share of the activities?

Sounds to me like he maybe got a bargain. He got a companion, sex and his choice of activities for not much more than he'd have spent if you were not there.

So stop feeling like you owe him.

chrismoyles · 24/09/2020 11:49

@Afibtomyboy

Op Do you get some fire in your belly when you think that the money you are spending on him could be spent or saved on your children?

Please say you do

Yes it makes me feel incredibly guilty but only recently I've really opened my eyes to how bad it is and how much he's taking the piss and I'm just letting him.
OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 24/09/2020 11:51

Ah feck him off. He sounds like he could easily turn into a cocklodger and no one wants to be with someone like that.
He should try living by himself to see how much living costs actually DO add up, then he might be more fucking reasonable about it.

Don't turn into his mother by default.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 24/09/2020 11:52

Your kids are going without so you can facilitate this moron.

Leave the bastard. And take great joy in spelling out why.........he sounds like an overgrown toddler.

NoSleepInTheHeat · 24/09/2020 11:52

Leave him, he is not a kind person and doesn't respect you.
ED might make him eat the food, the lack of self control I can understand, but any decent person would then buy a replacement.

BeansOnToastWithCheese · 24/09/2020 11:54

@chrismoyles

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.

@RightYesButNo that's such a sad thing to read. It's complicated and similar to bulimia but basically he eats too much and vomits his food up. It doubly annoys me because the food I've paid for is going to waste, it's not even like it's filling him up.

I've asked him not to do it when my kids are home. Once, a good while ago, he was going into the bathroom every two minutes and he did it about five times in the space of 10-15 minutes and later on that night she asked what he was doing and I didn't know what to say so I just said he had a funny belly from whatever he was eating and had to use the toilet. I DO NOT want my kids growing up and thinking what he's doing is alright, that's asking for them to develop an ED Angry

He does sound immature and is clearly taking the piss when it comes to money - but no one would choose to have an eating disorder and I would be quite surprised if he wasn't already embarrassed about going to the bathroom frequently.

I'm sure he's aware of the potential impact it could have on your children, but it's likely to be out of his control. He should get help, absolutely. And needs to take responsibility for that, but if he truly has bulimia he's not likely to be able to stop doing it when your kids are home.

This post seems pretty judgmental.

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