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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For not offering to bail him out?

113 replies

ExpertlyProcrastinating · 03/03/2021 17:42

My boyfriend and I live together. He works freelance and his money comes in at random times. Occasionally, his payment gets missed or there's some delay in approving it so it doesn't get processed on time.

He told me yesterday that he got a text from his bank to say he was £50 away from his agreed overdraft limit of £2500. I didn't even know that he was in his overdraft. He's waiting to get paid, but doesn't know when it will go into his account.

We are not married, but own a house together. We get paid into our own accounts and then should transfer money to cover mortgage, bills and food into our joint account. I earn a few hundred more than him a month on average, but generally end up putting more money into the account than him each month, probably averages out at 70% me, 30% him.

He didn't come out and say it, but that means he hasn't paid any money into the joint account this month yet. He paid his usual 30% last month, but didn't pay any in January "because of Christmas". The way he brought it up yesterday felt like he was expecting me to give him the money to get him out of his overdraft.

In the past, I have loaned him money when he's had cashflow problems because of work. When it's been paid back, it's been paid into the joint account, so I've never really 'received' the loans back.

I'm really careful with my money, and have my own savings. Last month, I splashed out on something expensive, which was both a treat for me, and something that will help me with working from home while I'm shielding. He knows how much it cost and raised eyebrows when I bought it.

However, he is happy to spend a lot of money each month on wine, fags and bits for his computer, while not paying a fair share of the joint expenses.

YABU- I should share my money with him, it's unreasonable for me to have savings and not help him.

YANBU- We're not married and have separate finances, so he needs to manage his spending and check his income/ payment dates more carefully.

OP posts:
CatherinedeBourgh · 03/03/2021 17:45

Yanbu, you are already subsidising him more than you should.

Newfor2021 · 03/03/2021 17:46

Wow I wouldn’t stand for this!

pepsicolagirl · 03/03/2021 17:47

Nope, your money your choice and fwiw I wouldn't bail someone out who spends on alcohol and cigs but doesn't contribute toward the bills and I don't think I would see it as a long term viable relationship either unless this is something you have discussed and agreed?

Ponoka7 · 03/03/2021 17:48

He's taking the piss. You need to have it out with him, not hint. You should have asked him outright how he plans on paying his way and if he can't when will he be able to pay you back if you sub him.

Leeds2 · 03/03/2021 17:50

What will happen though if he can't meet his share of the mortgage? Will there be repercussions for both of you from the lender?

YoniAndGuy · 03/03/2021 17:51

I’d be really pissed off with someone who could afford fags and booze but not to pay their way 😡 30% he pays? You sub the rest? Fuck off!!!

I absolutely 100% wouldn’t stay with a guy like this.

Sammiesnake · 03/03/2021 17:51

Yuck freeloading is not attractive!

FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 03/03/2021 17:52

YANBU, although I think length of the relationship is relevant, and not disclosed. You own a house together, but call him boyfriend, not partner.

Overall, his attitude to finances seems poor, and he seems to view you as a safety net that means he doesn’t have to have an emergency fund/cushion for times like this.

Fast forward ahead, if you have children and he is the sole income earner, I foresee a bumpy ride and house foreclosure.

NovemberR · 03/03/2021 17:52

My only question would be why aren't you paying 50:50?

You earn slightly more than him by the sound of it - but he should still be paying his way. How would he manage if you were simply flatmates? Would he expect his flatmate to have paid January's bills for him?

He should meet his responsibilities before he buys the luxuries in life.

ExpertlyProcrastinating · 03/03/2021 17:53

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.

@Leeds2, I guess I don't really think of the mortgage as half and half like that. I make sure there is enough money in the account to cover the mortgage, council tax and bills.

When I've told him he needs to put his money in, in the past, he often gets huffy and says I'm nagging him, or says that he's waiting to get paid.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 03/03/2021 17:55

YANBU at all OP

But I'm curious about this...

When it's been paid back, it's been paid into the joint account, so I've never really 'received' the loans back.

Why didn't you just take it out and put it back into the account you loaned it to him from?

ExpertlyProcrastinating · 03/03/2021 17:55

@FollowYourOwnNorthStar, the boyfriend/ partner thing is more about my dislike of the word 'partner' :) We've been together 5 years, living together for 2.

OP posts:
Palavah · 03/03/2021 17:55

You are being unreasonable to let him sponge already

Hoppinggreen · 03/03/2021 17:55

He’s a freeloader. It’s not attractive

ExpertlyProcrastinating · 03/03/2021 17:57

@WorraLiberty, good point. I think it's because I knew I'd be transferring money into the account anyway, so didn't see the point in transferring back to my account, and then sending it back to the joint account in a week's time.

OP posts:
BingBongToTheMoon · 03/03/2021 17:57

So he really owes you two months money at this point (January and March) as well as for previous “loans”.
Are you willing to accept this?
I certainly wouldn’t.

pepsicolagirl · 03/03/2021 17:59

I get what you mean but when you come to sell up is he going to accept less than 50% of the equity?

Iloveacurry · 03/03/2021 18:01

He really should be paying more into the joint account, it should be 50:50. You only earn few hundred more than him, it’s not a lot. Also, it’s not on that he missed a month because of Christmas.

I wouldn’t lend him the money. Sounds like you won’t get it back.

StellaStarfleet · 03/03/2021 18:01

You've got to sit down and have a proper talk about this. He needs to start paying 50/50. And you need to decide what life you want, because he'll never be happy about it. I dont understand why he only pays 30% and nothing in January... and you just psy for him and say nothing? No.

He needs to give you everything he owes for being short on his bill contribution every month, and maybe he needs to really sit and explain in detail why he believes that him paying bills is optional. He wont be able to give any good reasons because he knows it isnt; he just does it because he knows you wont make a fuss.

Start making a fuss.

I wouldn't be continuing the relationship because that l wouldn't want to spend my life with someone so completely selfish. You need to make that decision for yourself.

Tobebythesea · 03/03/2021 18:03

He’s taking the piss. You need to talk with him. It needs to be 50:50.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 03/03/2021 18:14

You need to keep an accurate log of what you pay, top up, have loaned him. He needs to see this freeloading in black and white. If he cannot or will not pay back what is owed, i wonder if it is possible to buy him out at an appropriate percentage? And then it is your house and he can leave.

ExpertlyProcrastinating · 03/03/2021 18:18

Thanks, everyone :)

I already label any extra money I put into the joint account as 'EXTRA' in the payment reference, which helps me to see how much I've put in on top of my standing order.

Yes. Big chat time, I suppose. I just spotted another thread about getting over the resentment of being the higher earner. I don't think I'm necessarily a 'higher earner' but I do feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.

OP posts:
Notaroadrunner · 03/03/2021 18:22

While I do believe it's fair that you both contribute as per the ratio of your salary, it seems you are paying much more than you should - unless you earn more than twice his income. He needs to have a buffer amount at all times, in a separate account, for these scenarios when he's waiting on payments. That way he can pay towards the bills on time and then top the buffer account when he gets paid - effectively borrowing from himself and not you. Don't bail him out to cover his expenses this month and make sure he puts January and March payments into the joint account before he spends one penny when he does get paid.

MixedUpFiles · 03/03/2021 18:22

There is a distinct difference between being a responsible low wage earner and being a person who doesn’t know how to manage money. I wouldn’t have any qualms partnering with the first type of person, but the second type isn’t worth my time no matter how much he makes. Based on what you have written here, your BF is the second type

Unanananana · 03/03/2021 18:25

Sounds like you have a cocklodger on your hands. Yuk!

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