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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:
Bookwords · 03/02/2021 11:58

@wishes1111 I think that @TatianaBis makes a very good point, he sees the money for the holiday as his money and he has the right to decided, when and where you go.

It's this sort of thing that needs to stop, it's not all about him. Your married, it's joint decisions, on what the "spare" money is spent on.

Good luck

SandyY2K · 03/02/2021 11:59

My parents abuse and drug/alcohol addictions put me through trauma until I was adopted by my grandparents (thank god). I have been on antidepressants since I was a young teen, he was fully aware of this.

The debt I got myself into happened AFTER we were married, after losing my lovely grandparents to cancer both in their 60s and very suddenly plus multiple miscarriages.

To be honest, after everything you've been through...this debt is nothing and people need to put things in perspective.

I'm appalled at the posters who simply have no empathy and are a accusing you of being a victim are unkind and nasty to put it mildly.

SkeletorAttack · 03/02/2021 11:59

[quote Bookwords]@SkeletorAttack how would anyone have known before they were married, this situation occurred due the the OP losing her grandparents (who brought her up) and six miscarriages.

I think you need to avail yourself of the marriage vows, to remind you

In sickness and on health
For richer or poorer

Are some of them.

This hasn't been a lifelong issue for the OP, she's made in perfectly clear in all her posts that it was due to trauma and depression.

Her husbands duty was to work with her, not treat her like a second class citizen.

[/quote]
Noted, thanks. I do sympathise with the DH - it's a horrible thing to realise that you have married an absolute liability. If the roles were reversed and it was about the DH's debt, everyone would be telling the OP to leave ASAP.

LuaDipa · 03/02/2021 12:02

Hi op, your updates are promising and I hope things improve now. I just wanted to say that even though you made a mistake you have been through a lot and you don’t deserve to be treated like this. If you were still spending it might be a different story, but you have made positive steps with very little support and you should be very proud of yourself for digging yourself out of a hole. You are more resilient than you think.

I can completely understand why your dh is angry, but two wrongs don’t make a right. If he can’t bring himself to move on and forgive you, the relationship is doomed.

Bookwords · 03/02/2021 12:03

Noted, thanks. I do sympathise with the DH - it's a horrible thing to realise that you have married an absolute liability. If the roles were reversed and it was about the DH's debt, everyone would be telling the OP to leave ASAP.

@SkeletorAttack a person that has experienced severe trauma, acted out of character and is putting it right and you describe her as a complete "liability". You're really lovely aren't you? Would you describe someone who developed cancer and couldn't work the same way? She repaying her debts, she's being punished incessantly for it. Is that not enough? If he feels that way, why doesn't he leave? Oh because he has the lion share of the family money and she does all the "wife" work and he can keep her in place by reminding her and being moody about her debt.

Liervik · 03/02/2021 12:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

Grrrpredictivetex · 03/02/2021 12:12

@wishes well done for facing up to all of this, it can't have been easy. I'm shocked at the treatment you've received from your DH, especially as you've said you tried to take your own life! I only know if my DH treated me in such a way knowing how fragile I was, I'd definitely insist on him having counselling full stop.
Good luck and I do hope he means what he's said and going to help you, but don't be fooled into agreeing anything you feel you're uncomfortable with.

TheGoodEnoughWife · 03/02/2021 12:12

@SkeletorAttack if the dh had decided to leave then I think people would have been supportive of that.
He would have been cross and upset and felt let down so if he had made the choice to leave then fair enough. BUT he didn't. He decided to stay. And because he made the choice to stay then he has to move on from this and forgive the OP. He cannot continue to be nasty to her or treat her in any way that makes her 'less than'.

I suspect he likes feeling superior to her. The 'giving' of a holiday is nasty when she actually cannot buy tampons from a joint account.

candide47 · 03/02/2021 12:17

Your updates are very positive OP. I hope it gets better for you with your husband. I think you need to continue to openly communicate re finances as for example it does feel unfair that you are paying bills 50:50 rather than proportionally.

And although he may not wish to do it, as you are paying interest it makes sense for you as a couple to pay off the debt with savings - you have shown you will pay it back and not get into more debt so you could be responsible for restocking the savings pot to get it back where it was. It's something you should feel able to discuss.

Emeraldshamrock · 03/02/2021 12:22

I do sympathise with the DH - it's a horrible thing to realise that you have married an absolute liability. If the roles were reversed and it was about the DH's debt, everyone would be telling the OP to leave ASAP

@SkeletorAttack What a horrible way to describe someone traumatised through loss "absolute liability"
OP lost her sense from grief its not unheard of life can be cruel nobody knows what is around the corner or how they'd react with trauma.

Bibidy · 03/02/2021 12:23

Really please for you OP - well done for bringing it up x

theleafandnotthetree · 03/02/2021 12:23

@AnaisNun

OP... I’m really, really sad for you.

£8k is 1/3 of your annual income. It’s not the end of the world, by a long long stretch.

It doesn’t rival infidelity. It doesn’t warrant this kind of behaviour. It’s really, really not a crime, what you’ve done - and the posters above who seem to be suggesting such are being unnecessarily cruel too. (Mumsnets chock full of that atm).

I think, in all honesty, he sounds like a dickhead, and I’d be out of there.

What if he wasn’t driving quite carefully enough, had a car crash and wrote off his car? What if he made a bad investment and lost £8k? Or got a bit pissed, forgot the gas ring was on and burned the kitchen down making supper? Would you treat him like this? Or would you be shocked, upset, get that out of your system, then feel relieved it was nothing worse?

When you love someone, you accept they’re human, they make mistakes, and you keep loving them. And you help them fix it as best you can. You don’t batter them with their mistakes and make them feel like shit. That’s not love.

Really well put @AnaisNun, he'd better hope he's perfect himself or never makes a mistake....Your descriptions of him portray a streak of cruelty or maybe just coldness that I think I would find it very hard to get past. It is revealing of his character.. Is that it now, have you used up all your mistakes and are never allowed another? (and I don't mean financial necessarily, it could be anything). Life is long and complicated and I don't know if I'd want to go through it with someone so inflexible and lacking in empathy
wishes1111 · 03/02/2021 12:24

I agree with you all.

I've been wanting to re-visit Cyprus for some time so I think maybe he just saw this as a nice thing to do? Maybe I'm being a fool.

@SkeletorAttack I wouldn't say I am a liability, I work hard, I'm caring and kind, I made a mistake, I am human. But thank you.

OP posts:
SkeletorAttack · 03/02/2021 12:25

But how could the DH ever trust them again? What if another awful thing happens, would the DH just have to brace himself that the OP would just go to pieces again and set them back to square one? That's a miserable way to live.

wishes1111 · 03/02/2021 12:26

@SkeletorAttack then he can leave. He's not here under lock and key.

OP posts:
Bibidy · 03/02/2021 12:28

@SkeletorAttack

But how could the DH ever trust them again? What if another awful thing happens, would the DH just have to brace himself that the OP would just go to pieces again and set them back to square one? That's a miserable way to live.
Jesus Christ, I hope you've verified that your partner is able to withstand massive emotional trauma then. Hope you can guarantee that they'll never be broken by grief or pain.
billy1966 · 03/02/2021 12:29

OP,
He's prepared to pay for a holiday without consulting you but has bullied you over pennies for 2 years that you have borrowed from a joint account.🙄

More controlling bullshit from him.

He has sat back and bullied you through your grief.

I think you sound like such a sweet woman.

Please try and have solid time with your friends and support.

Flowers
Bookwords · 03/02/2021 12:30

@SkeletorAttack I don't think the OP had locked the door, he knows where it is!

So you're saying he has to treat OP awfully as it's justified so as to keep her in line?

He either forgives and moves on, or leaves!

billy1966 · 03/02/2021 12:32

Also OP,
If you were to have a child with challenges would he have your back or would he punish you like he has for two years.

You are so worn down you cannot see the huge effort he has put into bullying you relentlessly.

He is NOT a good man.
Flowers

Bookwords · 03/02/2021 12:33

I've been wanting to re-visit Cyprus for some time so I think maybe he just saw this as a nice thing to do? Maybe I'm being a fool.

No that sounds like he has listened at least.

Peacocking · 03/02/2021 12:36

His behaviour sounds vile. He is not a good man or a good partner and needs to sort himself out pronto before he destroys everything that makes you you. If he's being nice and reasonable now, that's great...but suddenly seeing the light is a pretty unusual thing for anyone to do so be wary.

Don't continue being his doormat, his target to take out his bad moods on. You're in debt. So am I. It doesnt make either of us bad people. It's shit, it needs fixing, you're fixing it. It shouldn't be any big deal at this point, years on. It sounds like he's not pissed about the debt particularly, its just given him an excuse to treat you badly when he feels like it.

Anotheruser02 · 03/02/2021 12:40

@Liervik

Not rtft, but I earn similar to you and have similar debt.

My partner isn't in a position to help me out paying it back, but he was very kind, we sat down together and worked out a plan. Not kicking me while I was down. He didn't make me feel ashamed, if anything he made me feel empowered and in control.

He's a keeper.
Emeraldshamrock · 03/02/2021 12:40

But how could the DH ever trust them again? What if another awful thing happen
They've been together since 16, he cheated previously he is not an angel.
Shit happens you fix it or bin it.

gib1973 · 03/02/2021 12:47

Am about to do the cardinal sin of commenting without reading it all. Read the first couple of posts and was truly disgusted at the grief you are getting.
Your DH shouldn’t be holding this against you.
Sending you love xxx

Monsteraobliqua · 03/02/2021 12:49

I haven't read 34 pages but how awful.to call the OP a liability.

She has suffered awful trauma, including infidelity, thanks to her self satisfied, judgemental husband. She has racked up considerable debt but has a steady income and a plan in place to clear it within 2 years.

Of course I see why he might be pissed off and I wouldn't expect him to use his savings for this but he's chosen to stick with her and needs to drop the resentment.

A bit of compassion could be expected here. He has not come off worse in this and it hasn't affected his credit rating. She pays her way and has now been honest with him. Yes, self destructive behaviours are often carried out in secret. It would be the same if she used self harm or disordered eating as a coping mechanism but she's owned this and put a plan in place before it gets any more out of control.

OP, it's so easy to say but I would be sorely tempted to cut my losses here as he simply doesnt sound very nice. Who wants some sanctimonious prat vowing to resent you for the next 2 years while you sort out your mistake? I understand you live in an expensive area and haven't expressed a desire to leave so I'm not saying you should definitely do so, but please know that this level of judgement and unkindness is not a normal response now that you have put in place a plan to clear your debt in 2 years.

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