Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ex asking me to go on hol to rekindle but hinting for me to mostly pay for it

82 replies

ughhhh2022 · 22/07/2022 10:52

Name change as a bit outing with friends on here, but past user. My ex who I was with for 1 year has moved back to Turkey from UK a month ago. He was working in hospitality in UK for his family here 2 years, but had had enough of customers being rude / racist etc and never seeing the light of day with all the hours hospitality involves. He is a trained actor and so decided to move back home to rejoin his agent there, which he has done, but has only had 3 auditions so far, which to me sounded more like extra work than proper roles. So = no income from that so far. Still early days as he has been out of the game a while.

As an aside, we have had loads of drama since he decided to move back and told me in April. Dropping me / back on again. He wanted to try and work things out and we have been back and forth and struggled to let go of each other as the feelings are still there. He got in contact a few weeks back to say he had decided he wants to be with me for sure, then a week later says he has a plan... I can fly to Turkey to see him end of Aug and we can have a hol together and start things again. But it was not in his city where he stays, he wanted me to fly to a resort place. The flights were extremely dear from UK like £500, but when I checked what it would be for him it was just 70 odd pounds to fly. He also said at first "would you prefer a 5* hotel or a private villa with a pool?" followed by "BUT it is expensive..." then comes oh I need to tell you something "I can't spend money like I used to...". It becomes clear he has had this hol idea but expects me to mostly fund it? I asked how long, could we do a week, as my kids were going away with their dad 7 days then, but he says no he can only do a few days. I then say can't really justify going away in that situation: the toll on me flying 5 odd hours each way for just 3/4 days plus about £1k unplanned spending. Could be winter fuel bills, kids new uniforms etc. He has no kids so maybe does not understand... plus I have already had a few breaks this year so hol budget maxed.

He then seems quiet and says oh I can see you in xxx city, in UK when I come in Sept. I had no idea he was coming back then so ask why and he says because I need to to keep my visa etc (so not to see me 🙄) literally weeks later he would be here after end of aug but tries to spring a hol on me.

AIBU to feel this is cheeky? I have suspected him of being a bit of a taker in the past, very eager or pushing to book expensive restaurants in past when it was my turn to pay, but always cheap lunch/cheap place usually when his turn. The only thing that makes me doubt him being a taker is that he took me away one weekend for my birthday and paid for everything and spoiled me. But otherwise, he was like that 90% of the time.

This latest thing has really riled me. I worry his acting career won't work out and in Sept he will be back and asking for help if I start subsidising him now? He also made a few odd comments just before he left like, oh if you send me money to Turkey it will be worth more due to rates etc. I just laughed as we had never mentioned me sending him money and I assumed it was a joke. He and his brother who is still in UK send their family money. He currently lives rent-free in a property their family own so just needs money for living.

Do not suspect wife etc as I have met his parents when they visited. But thinking if really wanted to see me and had low funds why not just invite me to where he lives so just paying for flight. Unless his motive was to go on a paid for hol and not to really see me... :( he even sent me links for places they were 1k just for accom, feel really sad about this, but want to not be naive! Why would you send someone 1k hol links if you were struggling to go away or even suggest it?

He hasn't messaged me since Mon, as apparently I had offended him in some way (I was away with a friend on a pre-planned hol!) but he does this then gets in touch again.

OP posts:
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 22/07/2022 11:18

He probably realised that you were starting to see you were being used so the birthday treat was just to secure his cash flow for another year. Don't let the occasional thing confuse you.

Testina · 22/07/2022 11:20

Christ alive. This is like reading someone’s scam story in Take A Break but in real time.
If you want a user, there’s plenty more in the U.K. that you don’t have to pay a flight to go and give them your money 🤷🏻‍♀️
Seriously - try to read this as if it was someone else, and once you’ve had a good cringe, block!!!!

howshouldibehave · 22/07/2022 11:22

very eager or pushing to book expensive restaurants in past when it was my turn to pay, but always cheap lunch/cheap place usually when his turn.

What a charmer. I’d have stopped seeing him after he’d done that once.

Suzi888 · 22/07/2022 11:24

Acheyknees · 22/07/2022 10:55

He's an ex for a reason. Keep it that way.

^
Enough said. I really wouldn’t get into it and I wouldn’t go.

Debbiedoodah · 22/07/2022 11:27

Oh for god's sake, you have kids. Grow up and get rid.

PinkWisteria · 22/07/2022 11:29

YABU to even consider this - I can see one single positive reason for you to entertain the idea. Block and move on!

whynotwhatknot · 22/07/2022 11:32

Cheeky? er no hes a user-sees you as his meal ticket and a guranteed visa

can you not see that

SuperCamp · 22/07/2022 11:37

This relationship has absolutely no future… unless you fund it.

Are you happy to basically pay for sex and his visa requirements?

He could have sought alternative work here if your relationship was important enough for him to stay. He could have built a visit to you around his visa trip.

He is using you.

lovemelongtime · 22/07/2022 11:38

Come on OP - really? dont want to be horrible , but you know he is taking you for a ride . Fancies a cheap holiday and thought mmmm yes I bet I could ugggg22 to stump up for that and it would help keep her onside so she lets me stay in Sept. Please dont do this.

Darkstar4855 · 22/07/2022 11:39

He’s a freeloading cocklodger who is using you for accommodation, money, holiday, visa or whatever else he can get from you. He’s probably laughing behind your back at how gullible British women are. Ditch him.

Badgirlgonegood · 22/07/2022 11:42

Stopped reading after the bit about the money being better spent on your kids and bills. There is your answer.

shinynewapple22 · 22/07/2022 11:43

anon2022anon · 22/07/2022 11:05

It sounds like the start of a take a break story. Read it back as if it was someone else it was happening to.

Ha! My thoughts exactly! Listen to yourself OP. What would you advise a friend in this position ?

Viostep · 22/07/2022 11:43

Send him an email stating you've thought it over and do not want to get back together. Wish him all the best for future and then block him. There's no need to keep in contact, it would only cause hurt and resentment. Problem solved

ughhhh2022 · 22/07/2022 11:44

Thanks all for VERY clear replies ha! I was just doubting myself as he did pay for a hol abroad for my birthday in Spring, hotels and meals, even train back from airport. But he was a restaurant manager then and had own nice flat in UK and on good money. Maybe that trip was just a red herring, as other times he took the mick, for example I once suggested the cinema on my turn and pizza, and he said he didn't feel like a movie (though he had been going on about the film!) and we ended up at a fancy place where he ordered aged steak and the bill was £120! He was a foodie but I just wasn't that into fancy restaurants allll the time.

He is def not after me for visa as his is all good and he can apply for leave to remain from next year, but can't be out of uk more than 180 days or something so he will be back in my city in Sept where his brother is.

I was just thrown by him asking me on this trip and then sending me those links for 1k places and then saying he would struggle to pay much! I am all for persuing your passion and supported him leaving his job if unhappy, but not at the expense of others! We have been very close for over a year so thinking hard about ending contact. I think his brother has supported him a lot too in past with money when he first came to UK and this caused his brother's (English) wife to fall out with him as they have kids etc to support, I know it is Turkish culture to support family though! But maybe he is just a bit of a taker in general / can't stand on own two feet type. His brother employed him even.

OP posts:
WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 22/07/2022 11:45

More red flags than a communist parade. Dump and ghost pronto @ughhhh2022 !!!

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 22/07/2022 11:46

ShandaLear · 22/07/2022 11:07

Let me guess - he’s in his early 20’s and you’re in your 40s? You give him money regularly and support his ‘acting career’?

Yep this. Bet he's a generation younger.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 22/07/2022 11:47

@ughhhh2022 If he is an 'actor' what films/tv has he been in? Or is it just 'stage' so he can't provide any 'proof?'

howshouldibehave · 22/07/2022 11:49

I was just thrown by him asking me on this trip and then sending me those links for 1k places and then saying he would struggle to pay much!

What did you reply though when he said that? I would have said, ‘there’s no way I can pay for something like that!’ and wouldn’t have discussed it any further. Did you discuss flying to stay with him for a holiday?

MadMadMadamMim · 22/07/2022 11:49

Yeah, I'd be worried his 'acting' career wasn't going to work out.

He's not convinced any of us on here, has he? Just block him, OP. He's after money/free accommodation etc. And he's full of bullshit.

Whoatealltheminieggs · 22/07/2022 11:53

Why are you even posting? You know this is all nonsense. Just block him.

ughhhh2022 · 22/07/2022 11:54

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 22/07/2022 11:18

He probably realised that you were starting to see you were being used so the birthday treat was just to secure his cash flow for another year. Don't let the occasional thing confuse you.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate ohh maybe, it did seem odd to do in the context of other things he did!! I must say he had his own nice flat here and good job (though working for brother) so looked after his own money but seemed suss all our dates he was obsessed with going for deal meals which fell on my turn! I tried to express to a few of my friends I was concerned but they were all like oh he wouldn't have taken you too xx place!

OP posts:
GreenManalishi · 22/07/2022 11:56

NOPE. So, 90% of the time he was a cheapskate taker, he's left the country, and you, therefore your relationship in essence, he's coming back to the uk to update his visa but has no plans to see you, and you're wondering if you should take him on a fancy holiday?

Again, NOPE, all of the nope. Presumably he had some pretty decent magic tricks in the sack, because you have lost the plot woman. Take the kids somewhere instead, they'll thank you for cutting this one loose.

ughhhh2022 · 22/07/2022 11:59

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 22/07/2022 11:47

@ughhhh2022 If he is an 'actor' what films/tv has he been in? Or is it just 'stage' so he can't provide any 'proof?'

He has been on stage a fair bit and a few tv adverts back home but took a break to come to uk to work for his brother but missed it, I have seen the videos and website with him on for his agent. The thing is wages are low in Turkey anyway, more so for arts, like here even, and he knows that but has chosen to go back so can't expect anyone else to make up for his choices in my mind!

OP posts:
StrangeCondition · 22/07/2022 12:02

How old are you both just out of interest?

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 22/07/2022 12:02

ughhhh2022 · 22/07/2022 11:59

He has been on stage a fair bit and a few tv adverts back home but took a break to come to uk to work for his brother but missed it, I have seen the videos and website with him on for his agent. The thing is wages are low in Turkey anyway, more so for arts, like here even, and he knows that but has chosen to go back so can't expect anyone else to make up for his choices in my mind!

That's fine, but it's not up to YOU to provide for a grown man!

Also, how old are you both?

Swipe left for the next trending thread