Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Wants the lifestyle but someone else has to pay for it?

183 replies

cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 19:43

If you knew someone with this attitude, not benefits related, what would you think of them? Could you be friends?

OP posts:
5128gap · 01/03/2022 21:12

I'm not sure I'd have an issue really if she was a good friend in other ways. Her and her partner had an arrangement he must have been happy with at one time to go along with. When he got fed up with it he left her. Problem solved. Its understandable she's not best pleased as she liked the situation, so she moans about him, and he moans about her. As separated couples tend to do. I don't think I'd be giving it much thought tbh.

cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 21:14

@SoberSerena

The friends I've mentioned dont have an attitude but tbh, there is minimal chance of them ever being short of money, so it's quite easy to be laid back about your 'entitlement' in those circumstances.

If they were in the middle of a divorce and thought they were about to lose everything maybe they wouldn't be so laid back.

I don't think you like this woman and that's up to you really. If you're sure she spent her dcs money on herself etc and is being grabby, that's understandable. But on the face of it, a high earner who works long hours paying the mortgage and bills is quite normal, BUT, what is unusual is you say he does the childcare as well? How is he doing that on top of the long work hours? Also, for a high earner, "hundreds" to his wife to spend on whatever isn't that unusual. Usually it's for outings with dcs and groceries etc. Not for, I don't know, hair extensions or a solo holiday or whatever.

It's really difficult to fully understand how other people's relationships work enough to go off a friend over it imo. But if you are in a position to know exactly what is going on and you believe she has shafted the high earning man, then, I'd say, that's an unusual situation, but you know them best

But whilst the other person earns but doesn't contribute at all?

She was spending money on herself and using money meant for dc on herself.

I think she was doing schools runs, he was doing them twice a week and when we were together as a group all the childcare. He would get home late and she would have expected him to put her to bed.

I just wondered if others had let a friendship slide when they don't agree with a certain attitude a friend has.

OP posts:
Biglipsmurphy · 01/03/2022 21:14

Everyone in this scenario should be working. She doesn't want to increase her hours? Tough.

valerianaofficiana · 01/03/2022 21:15

Well, I for one, would love to enjoy lifestyle of oligarchs. And have random oligarchs pay for it. Tough.🙄

ChocolateMassacre · 01/03/2022 21:15

@SoberSerena

It sounds as if she supported him as he progressed in his career by picking up the slack at home. You cannot get those years back in terms of career, so it would be really unreasonable to expect her to now, suddenly, be able to provide for her dcs in the same way her h did, because she didn't have a wife at home doing all the childcare while she progressed in her career. It's a tale as old as time, sadly. Doesn't sound as if he was shafted at all. Actually think she's coming out of the marriage worse off because she missed out on developing her career while she was a sahm?
I agree. While she clearly needs to increase her hours and restart her career, it was her being at home that enabled him to work long hours and travel. So I wouldn't say he's "funded" her. If he had had to do 50/50 childcare when the children were small, he wouldn't be earning what he is now.
LovelyYellowLabrador · 01/03/2022 21:18

I choose friends on if they are fun
Are they kind and caring

I reject people that are toxic
Unkind nasty

Wouldn’t bother me if it was someone with a sugar daddy or mummy that’s their business

SoberSerena · 01/03/2022 21:18

He would get home late and she would have expected him to put her to bed.

I'm guessing the dcs went to after school childcare then and she sat with her feet up or something? Or did she pick them up from school and do all the childcare, make dinner etc until her h got home and then he put the dcs to bed? Because the latter doesn't sound U to me...

I just wondered if others had let a friendship slide when they don't agree with a certain attitude a friend has.

No, not in the sort of circumstances you're describing. I don't think what you've described sounds all that unreasonable of her tbh

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/03/2022 21:20

My ex SIL is cut from the same cloth as this woman. No kids by choice, jacked in her job to look after two dogs DB never wanted, bled him dry with many and varied business ideas, took the absolute piss in the divorce and still has her hand out a couple of years later guilt tripping him like mad. He’s stuck in a weird FOG with her after years of financial abuse.

We used to be quite close but these days I hope to never see her again, she’s a fucking disgrace.

cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 21:20

@SoberSerena

It sounds as if she supported him as he progressed in his career by picking up the slack at home. You cannot get those years back in terms of career, so it would be really unreasonable to expect her to now, suddenly, be able to provide for her dcs in the same way her h did, because she didn't have a wife at home doing all the childcare while she progressed in her career. It's a tale as old as time, sadly. Doesn't sound as if he was shafted at all. Actually think she's coming out of the marriage worse off because she missed out on developing her career while she was a sahm?
Yes- I take your point. Maybe you're right.

She didn't want a career, happy to do a job she loves on minimal hours. She has an asset he has left to her but is still wants more.

Anyway, the actual thread was if anyone else has let a friendship drift as a friends attitude is something they can't agree with.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 01/03/2022 21:21

carried on spending money meant for dc on herself

Well, that's a first.

Somebody who isn't the new girlfriend saying this about a woman.

cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 21:21

@Biglipsmurphy

Everyone in this scenario should be working. She doesn't want to increase her hours? Tough.
I think she's persuading him to carry on funding her so she doesn't have to. That's what I mean by wants the lifestyle without working or paying for it.
OP posts:
SoberSerena · 01/03/2022 21:21

@AnneLovesGilbert

My ex SIL is cut from the same cloth as this woman. No kids by choice, jacked in her job to look after two dogs DB never wanted, bled him dry with many and varied business ideas, took the absolute piss in the divorce and still has her hand out a couple of years later guilt tripping him like mad. He’s stuck in a weird FOG with her after years of financial abuse.

We used to be quite close but these days I hope to never see her again, she’s a fucking disgrace.

That's really different though...most people would find quitting work to look after dogs pretty unreasonable, assuming she wasn't unable to work for health reasons etc
AnneLovesGilbert · 01/03/2022 21:23

She’s in fine health, always has been. And I agree most people find it unreasonable, but there are people who behave like this.

SoberSerena · 01/03/2022 21:25

@AnneLovesGilbert

She’s in fine health, always has been. And I agree most people find it unreasonable, but there are people who behave like this.
She sounds pretty wild! But this person gave up work so her dh could work unfettered including travelling with work while she looked after dcs on her own. Now he's a high earner and she's a low earner (what a surprise), and he's decided he's had enough of "funding her" Hmm
cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 21:26

@LovelyYellowLabrador

I choose friends on if they are fun Are they kind and caring

I reject people that are toxic
Unkind nasty

Wouldn’t bother me if it was someone with a sugar daddy or mummy that’s their business

So someone with this attitude and fleecing her ex isn't unkind or nasty?

That's very well when dc was young but what about what they went to school 5 years ago. The hours she works could fit around school or breakfast/after school club.

OP posts:
SoberSerena · 01/03/2022 21:27

So someone with this attitude and fleecing her ex isn't unkind or nasty?

It really doesn't sound as if she is fleecing anyone.

That's very well when dc was young but what about what they went to school 5 years ago. The hours she works could fit around school or breakfast/after school club.

Was that a problem for you when you were friends before she split from her husband? Why do her low working hours only bother you now she's single?

Anniefrenchfry · 01/03/2022 21:29

Op are you interested in pr romantically invovled with this man?

cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 21:30

@SoberSerena

He would get home late and she would have expected him to put her to bed.

I'm guessing the dcs went to after school childcare then and she sat with her feet up or something? Or did she pick them up from school and do all the childcare, make dinner etc until her h got home and then he put the dcs to bed? Because the latter doesn't sound U to me...

I just wondered if others had let a friendship slide when they don't agree with a certain attitude a friend has.

No, not in the sort of circumstances you're describing. I don't think what you've described sounds all that unreasonable of her tbh

Yes she would have picked up dc from school and done dinner etc. But not been at work at all and Dh working 6am-10pm kind of hours. If he got home earlier she would go to an activity/gym whilst expecting him to do childcare.

Ok interesting. I guess I am being unreasonable about her then. I don't like how's she treating ex for the past 6 months but maybe this shouldn't affect our friendship. I am trying to find my moral compass on it.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 01/03/2022 21:32

You won’t know exactly what’s going on in this kind of scenario unless you’re one of the parties involved. And they’ll each have their own take on it.

I’m sure everyone has to adjust their expectations after a relationship ends but it’s impossible to know if it’s her attitude or his that stinks, or a bit of both. Especially as you are neither of them, and we’re just getting what you believe is the case.

Botanica · 01/03/2022 21:33

I couldn't respect someone with those beliefs and that level of entitlement.
We'd be poles apart in our views. Work ethic matters to me a lot.

BoredZelda · 01/03/2022 21:37

Anyone else getting new wife v ex wife vibes?

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 01/03/2022 21:37

You don't like her so don't be friends with her. There's no need to justify it. You don't need a good reason to dump someone.

cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 21:40

@SoberSerena

So someone with this attitude and fleecing her ex isn't unkind or nasty?

It really doesn't sound as if she is fleecing anyone.

That's very well when dc was young but what about what they went to school 5 years ago. The hours she works could fit around school or breakfast/after school club.

Was that a problem for you when you were friends before she split from her husband? Why do her low working hours only bother you now she's single?

I guess I have seen it progress. I hadn't thought about it much before. But as their relationship began to fall apart over the last 18 months I have heard all the ins and outs. He's become less happy paying for her whilst she took the money he gave her plus her own wages and contributed nothing.

She began continuously bad mouthing him and even though she knows he's got financial problems and wasn't happy giving her the money in the end as she was perfectly able to work she's still happy to take the money and contribute nothing. Whilst criticising what he did spend the money on.

They were in a weird limbo for over a year where they lived together but weren't together. She carried on taking the money and not increasing her hours. Now he has moved out, she's got the house but is bad mouthing how much he is giving her.

OP posts:
Anniefrenchfry · 01/03/2022 21:42

@BoredZelda

Anyone else getting new wife v ex wife vibes?
Yes that’s why I asked if the op was interested in the husband or was invovled with him.
cleocleo24 · 01/03/2022 21:42

@Botanica

I couldn't respect someone with those beliefs and that level of entitlement. We'd be poles apart in our views. Work ethic matters to me a lot.
Yes I am beginning to feel like that too.
OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread