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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Just found out DP has secret savings

356 replies

Whatisthis543 · 22/12/2020 21:58

Just found out my DP has 60k hidden away in ISAs that I had no idea about. Only found out as I was looking for the Homeserve paperwork and went into his paperwork stash to find it. Found a letter from an ISS company with a balance of 63k!!!! What would you do now?

OP posts:
userxx · 23/12/2020 13:02

Urgh. Horrible. Glad to be in a marriage where we share everything, and support each other. I pity those who don't.

Where has the op said he doesn’t support her ?

lovepickledlimes · 23/12/2020 13:05

@LisaLee333 they are not married and no kids yet as long as he pays his share of the bills what he does with his money is his business. I have substantial savings but until I am married to fiancé and we have kids it's none of his business and even after that it is my discretion if I chose to add his name to my investments once we have kids or if I see it as mine and our children's inheritance etc.

It's not like he is saying we can't afford xyz and then keeping the money away from OP. They seem to already be quite comfortable with what both parties do contribute. Added to that I would not dream of reading any paper work that did not have my name on it. If a letter or paper work has my husbands/adult child/mum/any adult name on it rather then mine unless given permission I keep my nose out of it

userxx · 23/12/2020 13:10

I'd be asking for it to be transferred into the joint savings account or for half to be transferred to your account.

Please tell me you wouldn’t embarrass yourself like that. Grabby or what. Earn your own money.

VinylDetective · 23/12/2020 13:11

I'd be asking for it to be transferred into the joint savings account or for half to be transferred to your account.

I’d be telling you to fuck off. Since when did you become entitled to someone else’s money?

hugocat · 23/12/2020 13:20

@GQKP

I have just over this amount. My partner doesn't know and as we are not married (and don't have kids) I don't think its any of his business.
I agree with this unless you have a mortgage together
lilylongjohn · 23/12/2020 13:22

I think if finances are equal and he's not pleading poverty or earning less and you pay more then it's really not much to do with you.

I think everyone should have separate savings, just 63k is a lot

fromdownwest · 23/12/2020 13:23

@VinylDetective

I'd be asking for it to be transferred into the joint savings account or for half to be transferred to your account.

I’d be telling you to fuck off. Since when did you become entitled to someone else’s money?

If someone at the 'start' of our relationship demanded this, then their a** wouldn't touch the floor.

If that is the person they are, then run - fast

DillonPanthersTexas · 23/12/2020 13:28

How grim, to be in a relationship where you keep 1000s of pounds in savings from each other. 'MY MONEY!!! MY MONEY.'

My wife and I both earn decent salaries, we don't have kids, we both had assets that we had accrued before meeting each other. We put the majority of our salaries into a join account that pays the mortgage, bills, holidays, food, joint entertainment etc as well as a paying into a separate joint savings account. We both have personal accounts where the remainder of our salaries are paid. As far as I am concerned it is 'MY MONEY' or in her case 'HER MONEY'. If she wants to buy an expensive handbag, have a weekend away with friends or just save it that's her decision and nothing to do with me.

Urgh. Horrible. Glad to be in a marriage where we share everything, and support each other. I pity those who don't.

Save us your pity. When I met my wife, we both had our own properties that we had both been paying the mortgage on for years. When things started to look serious for our relationship we had sit down and talk about finances. We took equity out of both our respective properties to buy a jointly owned home when we moved in with each other. Neither of our names are on each others properties, she 100% paid into her flat before meeting me, why should I have an expectation of a claim on it? Likewise she expects nothing from me on that front. In the event of my demise she will inherit all my assets. In the event of our separation we both walk away with our original owned flats and split the equity in the jointly owned current home. Strip away the emotional incontinence and it is a sensible set up.

funfunfunfunfun · 23/12/2020 13:30

Why wouldn't anyone not have their own separate savings account. Not every relationship or marriage lasts forever and it takes the worry about money away.

Yummymummy2020 · 23/12/2020 13:36

When he was furloughed, did you pick up extra slack financially? That would make it matter to me if you did! Other wise it wouldn’t really bother me!

AppleJane · 23/12/2020 13:40

It's nothing to do with money. It's about secrets and trust.

All the answers here would definitely be different if you were just about to marry someone with £63k of debts.

Cameleongirl · 23/12/2020 13:56

@DillonPanthersTexas. Sounds like you had an open conversation, figured out your financial plans going forward, and everyone knows where they stand. Makes complete sense to me!

That’s all the Op and her fiancé need to do if they’re planning on marrying in the near future, have a conversation about finances. My DH and I have been married for ages and have both joint and separate savings and investments
( the majority are separate). We both know roughly what the other has so if either of us became seriously ill or died, we’ll know what assets are available. We have children so they need to be provided for as well.

Plus my DH enjoys investing and likes to tell me about his investments...sometimes at great length.🤣

IntermittentParps · 23/12/2020 13:59

People on MN normally suggest a 'running away fund' for women. Interesting to see differing opinions when the tables are turned.

Is the level of domestic violence the same for men? I wasn't aware, how interesting.

Why should a man not have money for if a relationship goes tits-up?Domestic violence isn't the only reason that might happen.

gypsywater · 23/12/2020 14:01

You're not even married! It's none of your business!

AuldFox · 23/12/2020 14:02

@DillonPanthersTexas

How grim, to be in a relationship where you keep 1000s of pounds in savings from each other. 'MY MONEY!!! MY MONEY.'

My wife and I both earn decent salaries, we don't have kids, we both had assets that we had accrued before meeting each other. We put the majority of our salaries into a join account that pays the mortgage, bills, holidays, food, joint entertainment etc as well as a paying into a separate joint savings account. We both have personal accounts where the remainder of our salaries are paid. As far as I am concerned it is 'MY MONEY' or in her case 'HER MONEY'. If she wants to buy an expensive handbag, have a weekend away with friends or just save it that's her decision and nothing to do with me.

Urgh. Horrible. Glad to be in a marriage where we share everything, and support each other. I pity those who don't.

Save us your pity. When I met my wife, we both had our own properties that we had both been paying the mortgage on for years. When things started to look serious for our relationship we had sit down and talk about finances. We took equity out of both our respective properties to buy a jointly owned home when we moved in with each other. Neither of our names are on each others properties, she 100% paid into her flat before meeting me, why should I have an expectation of a claim on it? Likewise she expects nothing from me on that front. In the event of my demise she will inherit all my assets. In the event of our separation we both walk away with our original owned flats and split the equity in the jointly owned current home. Strip away the emotional incontinence and it is a sensible set up.

This is exactly how we’d do it if we split up.

DH and I both have substantial savings in our own names, we don’t know how much we each have. All joint expenses are taken care of first.

Cameleongirl · 23/12/2020 14:08

@IntermittentParps

People on MN normally suggest a 'running away fund' for women. Interesting to see differing opinions when the tables are turned.

Is the level of domestic violence the same for men? I wasn't aware, how interesting.

Why should a man not have money for if a relationship goes tits-up?Domestic violence isn't the only reason that might happen.

I think having separate savings is the best way forward, they don’t necessarily need to be secret.

This doesn’t apply to the OP, but what if someone needs long term care and no one has any idea how much money they have- or where it’s invested? I suppose power of attorney would solve the issue. I still prefer to have a rough idea of assets, at least in a long relationship.

Newkitchen123 · 23/12/2020 14:52

I can't believe people are suggesting taking a photo! How intrusive!
If it's never come up it's never come up. If he wanted to tell you he would. Maybe he wanted to make sure you weren't just interested in his money.
I have a substantial pot. My now husband knew about it but always said he didn't want to know how much because that was my business. I would have been happy to discuss it but he didn't. If I find he'd taken a picture of my finances he'd have been out the door!
If your partner doesn't want to discuss it then that's up to him.

DHdweller · 23/12/2020 15:06

Don’t see the issue

TillyTopper · 23/12/2020 15:18

I've been with DP for 25+ years, we both have savings accounts that are ours - not hidden but what we've saved individually. I'm the higher earner and have accounts that I've not hidden, but they are in my name. I'm sure he has too - well I hope so! I wouldn't see anything unusual unless he has deliberately hidden and not told you if/when you discussed finances

Cameleongirl · 23/12/2020 15:41

I’m the higher earner and have accounts that I've not hidden, but they are in my name. I'm sure he has too - well I hope so!

@TillyTopper. I think that probably is unusual, to be married so long and not know whether your spouse has savings.

Although perhaps it isn’t, I can only compare with my own marriage, I’ve no idea what other people do!

Whatisthis543 · 23/12/2020 16:09

So we had a chat this lunchtime and I was just honest that I had seen the letter and was proud of him for building up savings and that I need to get a bit better at it too.

He was all very relaxed about it and said that the ones I had seen had a specific purpose outlined below but he also has more savings towards his pension in a stocks and shares ISA.

With the 63k he was also trying to build up a bit of a nest egg for any future children of his as well as a rainy day fund. He said he started it ages ago and intended to keep it up but was pretty chilled about it all. I’m glad we chatted! I have no intention of making any kind of ‘claim’ on it, but I feel like he we very transparent and am proud of how much he has thought about his (and I guess our assuming all works out) future

OP posts:
chocolatepowder · 23/12/2020 16:10

Your not married. It's not your concern. I'm married and my husband doesn't know about everything I have.

C8H10N4O2 · 23/12/2020 16:10

I'm fed up of "women in general" (your own word I would say non career women ) dragging the rest of is down

Women in general = common experience for women. Why would you assume it means "non career" women and what the hell is a "non career woman"?

We have nearly exactly the same needs as men I can do everything a man can do (except some strength stuff). Some of us have no intention of children so won't take a career break to be a mum

And your point is?

I chose a predominantly male industry women simply do not apply for jobs (only a tiny fraction of CVs come from them) nothing at all to stop us applying

Women do apply for those jobs if you structure your adverts to make it clear they have a career path or prospects and describe stereotypical male attributes in the requirements.
You are also conveniently ignoring the fact that we are raised surrounded by social mores, expectations and pressures which are very different for women and men.

Women are more likely to go to university and have higher education than men. There is no reason apart from life choices and in the UK in 2020 children are a choice.

A choice both parents have made and therefore should not unequally penalise women, as it does currently.

I have the stash of money in this relationship and one of the things that puts me off marriage is the requirement to share finances effectively saying years of study sacrifice and overtime to get me to the job I have today have to be shared equally enforced by the courts

So what? You don't see yourselves as equal partners so don't get married. Or take out a pre-nup.

So it is his money if you want 63k go out and earn it. There are loads of software engineering jobs that pay well over that. Be grateful you don't have a freeloading partner who is prepared to have a safety net without spending it on cars

OP never said she wanted it, that is an invention on your part.

She was simply surprised he had not told her about his savings whilst she had disclosed hers. At the current stage of their relationship that probably reflects different attitudes which may be minor but if they plan to marry and contract a formal partnership for life they need to be open and agree how they each want this managed before contracting,

Those loads of software engineering jobs - most of the adverts describe and set out to attract male candidates, half the time the advertisers don't even realise what they are doing. The occasional job "designed to attract women" is often so performative that it puts candidates off.

Rather like women who feeling they have made it are happy to close the door behind them rather than pay forward to other women.

LolaSmiles · 23/12/2020 16:13

It's nothing to do with money. It's about secrets and trust.

All the answers here would definitely be different if you were just about to marry someone with £63k of debts
Well yes, obviously because someone with over 60 grand of debt is financially up shit creek, their financial situation is likely to negatively affect their soon to be spouse, should they fail to keep up with debt repayments then the house could be repossessed and their partner risks losing items if the bailiffs come knocking.
Hmm
It's really clutching at straws to try and suggest that a legally single adult having personal savings is remotely comparable to entering a marriage with someone whose financial problems risk a joint house and joint possessions.

It's fairly obvious that this is about money because the OP has said they both have separate finances after joint expenses are paid and they both have separate savings.

What this thread shows is that there's quite a few people out there with a 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine' attitude.

Whatisthis543 · 23/12/2020 16:15

And for the record, I also have a good job (not as high paid as his admittedly) but I’m definitely not trying to sponge off anyone!

OP posts:
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