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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Husband resents me for debt

999 replies

wishes1111 · 02/02/2021 14:35

Hello

I'll try and explain as briefly as possible.

I was raised by my grandparents and lost them both within 3 years or each other to cancer (in their 60s). I've also had 6 miscarriages during and since.

I have been on antidepressants since age 14 and have a history of anxiety too.

My coping mechanism was to spend, I took loans out, ordered clothes, things I didn't need and racked up nearly £8000 in debt, exchanging my utter sadness and despair for temporary happiness.

After 2 years of paying the minimum payments, I realised I couldn't hide it anymore, interest was rising and I was struggling to cope and was losing the battle of keeping my head above water.

I earn £24,000 a year, my husband earns £40,000.

I admitted it all during a breakdown, he was angry and sad that I'd done this and especially since I'd hid it from him. I fully understood this and took responsibility for my actions. I entered a payment plan with stepchange and have kept up with payments over the past couple of years and it's slowly but surely reducing. I'm paying this myself, as well as £550 for my half of rent and £30 for my phone. The rest, I use for birthday presents, diesel, car insurance and tax and I'm left with little per month. I've also cleared my overdraft in this time.

I have taken no further loans out since entering my plan with stepchange.

My problem is, my Husband resents me for this. He is a saver, he won't spend unless he has to and he saves what he can (which is a good thing). I've tried my hardest to turn my life around and take responsibility.

He said he will resent me until it's all paid off which will be another couple of years. Some days he is lovely, others it's like he's punishing me for my mistakes. Digs here and there, cold towards me, brings up what I did.

I can't even explain how much I regret doing this but I can't live like this. If I have £10 left for the last week of the month and I need to get something such as tampons or some lunch stuff for work , he tells me to sort it out myself. I understand I'm not his responsibility but this is wearing me down.

He has more than enough in savings to clear my debt. I don't expect him to do that but know in a heartbeat I would do it for him if I knew it was weighing on his shoulders, adding anxiety to his life and and he'd made an effort to change.

I feel I can't go on this way, but when he's in a nice mood I love him so much, when he's in his resentful mood he makes me feel low and like he'll never move past it.

I'm waffling, I don't expect people to think he's in the wrong, I get it.

I guess I'm just hoping for a hand hold whilst suffering my latest miscarriage, dealing with a resentful husband and trying my hardest to not fall back into a deep depression x

OP posts:
Frequency · 02/02/2021 22:34

OP, do yourself a favour and run. Run far and run fast. You made a mistake. So fucking what? No-one is perfect. Not a single poster on this thread can say they've never fucked up, nor can your husband.

That mistake, no matter how monumental or expensive, does not mean you deserve to be abused.

You earn almost half of what he does yet pay half of the rent and he refuses to buy you a £1.99 box of tampons when you're skint? That's financial abuse. Run.

You fucked up and he throws it in your face and makes you feel shit not only aboutg fuck up but about yourself for two years and openly admits he intends to conintue making you feel like shit about yourself? That's emotional abuse. Run.

Get out. Get counselling.

SunshineCake · 02/02/2021 22:37

What a shit. Your husband shouldn't resent you for anything but not caring if you can afford tampons? Bastard.

SarahAndQuack · 02/02/2021 22:37

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@SarahAndQuack why will it ?
Other than of you get a mortgage?
But if that was the case he could of helped pay it and OP pay him back.
[/quote]
Not just a mortgage; all kinds of loans.

My DP had a DMP when we met, and we couldn't even be approved to rent a house. We couldn't get credit cards in joint names.

But the mortgage is definitely the big one. Given the OP is renting, I think it's relevant.

I get why you'd say the OP's husband should have just paid off the loan and had the OP pay him back. The issue there is that - sorry to put it like this - if he was shocked by the debt he may have felt their relationship was uncertain, and if so, he may not have wanted to do that. There would be no legal way for him to force the OP to pay him back, so he could have ended up out of pocket.

Also, even if he had paid off the debt the minute he learned of it, it likely wouldn't change the OP's credit history very much, because she'd already defaulted. So, arguably, it's not such a sensible use of money - though that would depend on exactly how much interest she was paying.

toocold54 · 02/02/2021 22:38

What you are missing is that the OPs husband is an abusive bully, the issue of money is not the real issue at all.

I have not missed that at all. I’ve said several times that it is unfair that he is throwing it back in her face as she is sorting it out and not made the same mistake. But the relationship will not last as they are incompatible - just because I can understand why someone would be upset after being lied to/being in debt/ruining their credit score etc doesn’t mean I’m giving her a kicking and not being supportive.

Rupertbeartrousers · 02/02/2021 22:38

And I’ve not been through anything nearly as difficult as you... but when I was struggling with secondary fertility I definitely made myself feel better by spending money, nice things for my older daughter, spoiling friends babies, nice bottles of wine as a consolation prize because I wasn’t pregnant.

Do you think the resentment could be anything to do with his unresolved feelings about the miscarriages rather than just the money?

Flowers for you xx

Coconuttts · 02/02/2021 22:40

I think, by now, he gets to feel superior by bullying you and casting you in this role of "baddie". I am deeply, deeply shocked and worried you do not see this. You are sorting the financial debt out...now turn your attention to improving your life. Get angry.

SarahAndQuack · 02/02/2021 22:40

@wishes1111

I've been with this man since I was 16, I adore him. All of my miscarriages have been with him of course as I've never had another partner. Maybe he resents me for that too. I've had no real answers as to why I can't carry past 8 weeks.

I won't even buy myself a bar of chocolate, I'm doing my best to budget every penny.

I've worked full time since leaving school, I was never in debt until I had a mental health crisis.

I can't sell anything, most of it went on material things such as clothes, make up, getting my hair done. Anything to make me feel temporary happiness and I'm sorry for that every single day.

Please, please don't think this about the miscarriages.

How does he feel about them? Don't feel you have to answer. But it sounds like such a sad situation for you both.

Ariela · 02/02/2021 22:40

@wishes1111 Given we now have lockdown due to Covid, and the government has encouraged banks to be kind, is it worth contacting the 3 lenders again and asking if they can freeze interest?

PerveenMistry · 02/02/2021 22:45

OP, is there a big age difference?

It doesn't sound like a healthy marriage. We only live once; is this how you see spending your life?

Esse321 · 02/02/2021 22:45

OP - Breathe, 8k is not that much in the grand scheme of things, this isn't the end of the world.

Please get some more counselling.

Marinaloves · 02/02/2021 22:47

Counselling on your own is the only way forward

DishingOutDone · 02/02/2021 22:54

Wow vitriol and spite by the bucketful, smug posters literally revelling in OP's utter anguish. I've never seen anyone so thoroughly kicked - are we so bored in lockdown we'd attend a public hanging?

And the OP is apologising? I think that just goes to show how completely wretched the OP feels - she made a mistake. She didn't strangle a cat. She made a silly mistake against a background of loss that most people will thankfully never experience, with no support. My heart goes to you OP - for god's sake step away from the thread and get proper counselling, go to your GP and see if you can get it for free on the NHS or just ring the Mind helpline.

HarmonicAnalysis · 02/02/2021 22:55

I'm sorry you've been through all this, Wishes. You don't deserve this awful treatment from your husband, and never have. I hope when you're feeling stronger, you can move on without him and live a much happier life. You're doing brilliantly turning the debt situation around - really well done - and will be out the other side sooner than it probably feels like at the moment. Please don't keep beating yourself up over it; it was a one-time situation that is now over, and it's not going to happen again - you know that. Don't let him make your life a misery over it (or anything else). Be kind to yourself. All the very best to you for the future.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 02/02/2021 23:01

@sarahandquack but why would you take out joint cc , didn't think you even could . Normally you can add a card but whoever takes it out is still responsible
It sounds like they have been together a long time and even if he didn't want to help pay , maybe making his share of the bills more reflective to his salary would help the op pay of quicker.
I have had a dmp so understand how it impacts , admittedly ours was joint but also for a lot more.
There is light at the end of the tunnel though when you pay it off which the op is doing and her dh shouldn't be holding it against her now,

Chesneyhawkes1 · 02/02/2021 23:03

I think he's in the wrong too.

I have some debts. My husband knows nothing about them. How much etc. It's none of his business. I pay them and my half of all our outgoings etc.

By the same token I have no clue what he has in his bank account.

Theluggage15 · 02/02/2021 23:11

OP your DH is being very unfair. You told him 2 years ago and he’s still holding it over you even though you are sorting it out yourself? That’s appalling. I can understand him being angry at first but a good man would be supporting you now. If he’s nice then nasty it all sounds a bit like game playing to me. You made a mistake and you’re putting things right, you’re not the problem here.

Do you want to spend the rest of your life with this man? If you do, it’s him that needs to change don’t you think?

Chuckleknuckles · 02/02/2021 23:13

Nothing to add OP only I’m sorry that there have been such vile comments on the threat and hope that these nasty people never find themselves in your position. I hope you can take note of the kind and helpful majority and try to ignore those being blatantly nasty. This thread has been quite an eye opener for me in terms of how empathy and kindness seem to be sadly lacking in some people here tonight. 💐

SarahAndQuack · 02/02/2021 23:15

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@sarahandquack but why would you take out joint cc , didn't think you even could . Normally you can add a card but whoever takes it out is still responsible
It sounds like they have been together a long time and even if he didn't want to help pay , maybe making his share of the bills more reflective to his salary would help the op pay of quicker.
I have had a dmp so understand how it impacts , admittedly ours was joint but also for a lot more.
There is light at the end of the tunnel though when you pay it off which the op is doing and her dh shouldn't be holding it against her now, [/quote]
You'd more usually add a cardholder to a credit account, but it is possible to have a joint account with credit, or to have a joint account with a credit overdraft. In those situations, no, the bank won't only hold responsible the individual who did the spending - they'll go after everyone on the account.

I think splitting the bills 60/40 is reflective of their wage? Especially since the OP says she dips into their current account when she finds herself short for the month. She doesn't like doing it, but she does it.

A joint DMP is totally different. It really is. You owed money, but you both owed it. The point with the OP isn't that she owed money. It's that she lied about it. Her husband was blindsided. I get why she'd be ashamed and lie and I'm not trying to say she should feel awful about it, but it isn't at all the same as a debt you both got into together.

bringbacksideburns · 02/02/2021 23:19

I think it's time you were a bit kinder to yourself OP and stop beating yourself up about all this.

It was £8K not £80K and you are sorting it out yourself and paying it off. You haven't asked him for a penny. Don't catastrophise this - it won't be like this forever. Of course he's every right to be pissed off at first but you are supposed to be in a partnership here and he needs to move forward.

He's earning a lot more money than you and he knows it. Yet he can't even bring himself to give you the odd tenner to help with much needed toiletries and you sound too cowed to ask him. That's cold and mean. He knows what a hard time you have had recently too. I find his behaviour frankly odd if hes supposed to love and care for you.

I don't know what to suggest really - other than insisting you need to talk and put this to bed once and for all. You don't need this being brought up constantly to drag you down. You need to move forward.
I also think counselling and much needed support for yourself is a good idea as he just isn't even on the same page.

HmmSureJan · 02/02/2021 23:19

I feel very sorry for the families of some of the posters on here and can only hope it's just online frustration and bravado for their sakes.

namethatrandomlychanges · 02/02/2021 23:31

surely it would be better for the family finances if he helped pay off the debt, at least saving the possibly large amount of interest, but it seems he is happy to continually punish you and leave you in debt . I did something similar and spent wasted a small inheritance very quickly but it did open up some very honest conversations about money and partnership

Smallgoon · 02/02/2021 23:44

@namethatrandomlychanges

surely it would be better for the family finances if he helped pay off the debt, at least saving the possibly large amount of interest, but it seems he is happy to continually punish you and leave you in debt . I did something similar and spent wasted a small inheritance very quickly but it did open up some very honest conversations about money and partnership
This would be the sensible and supportive thing to do but OP's dh is a arsehole, so it's not going to happen. Oh and per a small miserable cohort in this thread, it's her problem not his.
billy1966 · 02/02/2021 23:53

Truly astounding that a woman suffering such grief, 6 miscarriages and the death of the two people who reared, should be told she should suck it up and accept the ongoing abuse by her husband.

OP, two years of emotional abuse from your husband has done additional damage to your mental health.

It is not in your best interests health wise to remain in such a toxic environment.

You will NEVER be allowed to forget this. EVER.
He's clearly enjoying it too much.

Please contact Women's Aid.

You deserve so much better than him.
Flowers

GeneParmesanPrivateEye · 03/02/2021 00:10

@wishes1111 I keep thinking about you, I hope you're ok.

Please stop beating yourself up for this, you've not committed some terrible crime! You've been through so much - be kind to yourself.

IMNOTSHOUTING · 03/02/2021 00:30

@Idontknowausername

I think he’s entirely within his right to resent you. You’re lucky he’s stayed with you tbh. I don’t think many women on here would stay with their husbands if the roles were reversed.
Bloody hell you might be that cold and heartless but not all of us are. Op was going through a hard time and has completely turned it around since then. It would be different if she was just a reckless or selfish person in general but that doesn't sound like it's the case at all.

Personally I can't imagine having DH paying interest on a loan I could afford to clear. I also can't imagine letting DH worry about buying essentials when I have money to spare. I think it would be fair if he was cautious with money since obviously pathological spending has been an issue with you. I'd understand him wanting to maintain separate finances but punishing you and seeing you go without I can't understand at all.