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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:
needsahouseboy · 04/03/2021 15:21

Blimey why are you with him?

Do not have children with this man-child!

wandawombat · 04/03/2021 15:36

I have a Uni friend, the partner chucked work in many years ago & she's worked her arse off ever since to keep him. I have no idea what to say to her, particularly as she wants to change location & he throws a hissy fit. She's so totally trapped.

Glad you're seeing things more clearly at an earlier stage.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 04/03/2021 15:43

[quote ExpertlyProcrastinating]@GabriellaMontez, it’s vague because he doesn’t have a consistent wage coming in at the same point each month. Some months, he gets two pay checks, then the next one, or even none.

But to be honest, I don’t know precisely what he earns. It’s around £25k.[/quote]
I am self employed and my earning come in in dribs and drabs too. But I always pay my share of our living expenses.

Your OH just needs to get himself organised so his cheques always cover everything. If that means he stops smoking and drinking for a month or so, then so be it!

If he earns what you say then he can cover his bills and doesn't need to owe you anything. He just hasn't put any effort into arranging his finances. That is what the overdraft should have been, his buffer to cover bills whilst waiting for invoices to be paid, not his spending money!

He MUST cut his cloth for a while to get on top of it or you will one day wake up and see a money sponge, a waste of space. You will resent him. You don't need to put up with it!

RandomMess · 04/03/2021 15:53

I a absolutely agree he isn't husband or dad material - prioritises hobbies over mortgage, council tax, food and expects the mum woman in his life to cover all that boring stuff.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 04/03/2021 16:00

He shouldn't be arsing around on games tournaments on Saturday, he should be chasing payment for the money he's owed or looking for a new job to supplement his income.
I don't know why you would give him another 2 months to sort this.
What kind of mortgage do you have? Are you individually legally responsible for 50% each (like when two friends but a house together) or are you both jointly responsible?
It might be a plan if you buy him out, take full responsibility for the mortgage and he pays rent. Not ideal but at least you'd be paying for your asset and not something he can claim 50% of but not properly contribute to.
This would bother me less if he was pulling his weight elsewhere, but he isn't and I'm not seeing what you get out of this.

ThinkingIsAllowed · 04/03/2021 16:04

glad you're going to talk to him. He was taking the piss before you even mentioned anything about his overdraft. He should be paying 50% of everything each month, no question!

katy1213 · 04/03/2021 16:09

How long are you planning to carry on subsidisng him? And is he worth it?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/03/2021 18:01

It didn't start out at 70/30 split, to be honest... but our expenses increased a bit and he never had extra money

But you said earlier that sometimes he gets two paychecks a month, sometimes one and sometimes none - so in the months where he does well, does he top up the account to make up for the other times?

And if not, why not?

fuckenay · 05/03/2021 01:36

2 months to start paying his way?! Why? He's basically decided because he's freelance he doesn't have to budget and you should cover his way! Even though your incomes are the same.

And he does nothing around the house. I'm so fucking saddened when I see women in these situations with men. You're capable and worthy, why are you in this?

AgentJohnson · 05/03/2021 08:09

Jesus woman. He takes the piss because he’s a piss taker and you’ve let him. Start as you mean to go on, no more grace periods —time to fritter more money away on cigarettes—.

“he's just used to me making up the shortfall, and he's not quite realised how unfair it is.” Is more bullcrap you tell yourself to avoid the reality that your boyfriend has been intentionally scamming you.

You are not financially compatible, he chose to take advantage and knows exactly what to say so you’ll back off. He’s given himself permission to behave this way and you are beginning to see the pattern in him doing less than his fair share.

You should at the very least, be paying proportionally but no, he’s ok with you carrying him. As someone said up thread, if you split up he will want his 50%.

If you you want to give him a chance you have to stop asking and start demanding he pulls his weight. Put everything on the table (financial transparency) and make it clear that the fobbing off is something that you no longer will accept.

Yebanksandbraes · 05/03/2021 18:58

I'm glad you've got a plan op. Usually I like the arrangement where both salaries go into joint account and then a standing order for set amount into personal accounts. However, I can see that with freelance work and keeping some aside to pay his tax with (please check he is doing this), it makes things more complex. I like the idea of buying him out, paying the mortgage yourself and charging him rent.

Cocomarine · 05/03/2021 19:01

Good you have a plan.

70/30 though?!

How can you respect someone who takes your money like that? I couldn’t come back from that 🤷🏻‍♀️

BlueThistles · 05/03/2021 19:48

Have you moved your savings into your own bank account ? if not why not ?

Why are you continuing to subsidise a man that will take 50% of the property should you split ? Confused

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