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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Wondering … would you stay with someone who is a brilliant parent but struggles with money?

184 replies

Broccolicelery · 24/10/2022 10:19

Someone who is a brilliant parent to two year old but contributes nothing really in the way of finances.

OP posts:
WitchyMother · 24/10/2022 10:24

Contributes nothing in finances? But do they clean, cook, do laundry, look after child? That's not nothing.
There are many men and to a lesser extent women who are ok with their partner not earning money but contribute in other ways: available hands on parent, looks after the home or garden, volunteers or studies, cares for elderly parents or disabled family members, looks after animals. Such partners usually don't have money worries though and/or traditional (or in case of a woman bread winner liberal) values.

BertieBotts · 24/10/2022 10:25

Way more context needed. Why don't they contribute? Are they the primary carer for the DC and childcare is impractical for some reason (e.g. child with additional needs, expense, parenting style preference)? Is it likely they will contribute in the future, do they want to, are they able to, do they have significant barriers? Can the other partner cover all three (+) people's living expenses, are they happy doing so? Are we struggling for money? Is the child being brought up solely by me and this person, or are there other parent(s) involved, what's the story with them? Define "brilliant parent", is this an empty way of saying that the child loves them and you don't want to split up because it would be upsetting? Or are they actively taking the strain off the other parent and therefore providing value?

Beezknees · 24/10/2022 10:28

Depends. Are they a SAHP and do lots in regards to childcare, housework, etc? Or do they do nothing all day? Or do they work and just blow all their money on crap?

Sceptre86 · 24/10/2022 10:31

I agree more info is needed. Define 'brilliant' parent? What are the reasons for not earning? Is the family financially struggling as a result? Is the other parent resentful?

Dh and I both work to support our family, he wouldn't be happy with my being a sahm and I wouldn't with him being a sahd. Our family is financially better off with us both working although I am part time. Other families work differently and are perfectly happy with one parent being a sahp.

Broccolicelery · 24/10/2022 10:32

I’m being vague and I know it’s really annoying.

Parent A works FT and pays all bills, mortgage, etc. they earn around £75000.

Parent B works PT earns £24,000 and doesn’t contribute to mortgage and bills but does pay for nursery for days in work. Pays for grocery shop sometimes.

OP posts:
SleeplessInEngland · 24/10/2022 10:34

Broccolicelery · 24/10/2022 10:32

I’m being vague and I know it’s really annoying.

Parent A works FT and pays all bills, mortgage, etc. they earn around £75000.

Parent B works PT earns £24,000 and doesn’t contribute to mortgage and bills but does pay for nursery for days in work. Pays for grocery shop sometimes.

Do they do most of the housework? No need to be too vague.

Broccolicelery · 24/10/2022 10:35

Probably most but not all and probably not brilliantly.

OP posts:
Bridezilla · 24/10/2022 10:37

This is pretty much my set up. Except I do contribute to mortgage and bills because why wouldn’t I?! They’re my mortgage and bills too!

Bridezilla · 24/10/2022 10:38

£24k PT isn’t struggling with money! I’d say their earnings are fine.

MolliciousIntent · 24/10/2022 10:38

Yes, I would - I am! So do the majority of men with wives who are SAHMs.

BuffaloCauliflower · 24/10/2022 10:39

£24K part time is good! Are they they primary parent?

TeenDivided · 24/10/2022 10:39

'struggles with money' usually means poor money management.

But your issue seems to be doesn't earn enough?
Even though they do most of the childcare?

KangarooKenny · 24/10/2022 10:40

Parent B should pay 1/3 of bills etc.

TeenDivided · 24/10/2022 10:40

And 'doesn't pay towards bills but does pay nursery fees' is just a mindset thing.

The money spent on nursery fees could be directed to the mortgage, and the other parent could pay the nursery fees.

notacooldad · 24/10/2022 10:41

I’m being vague and I know it’s really annoying
It's not annoying, it's just bloody stupid expecting advice with no context.

Beezknees · 24/10/2022 10:41

That sounds fine to me. Parent A earns more so contributes more to household bills, parent B pays for nursery, does most of the housework and presumably does the childcare on their days off. Do parent A and parent B have equal "fun" money?

SilverTotoro · 24/10/2022 10:42

Sounds fair to me. As others have said paying nursery fees is contributing to bills.

woff45 · 24/10/2022 10:42

Depends what Parent B is contributing to the home. If they are doing the lion's share at home offsetting the part time hours then they are contributing. Especially if the child is 2, my answer would differ slightly if they were in school.

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/10/2022 10:43

The parent who works part time needs to a) be contributing proportionately to family finances and b) picking up proportionately more of the household chores.

I wouldn’t stay with a partner who was both insisting on working part time and also refusing to “make up” for their reduced contribution to family finances in chores and childcare.

BertieBotts · 24/10/2022 10:43

Set up sounds fine. Parent A is more than able to cover all expenses and Parent B is contributing?? Why is that "contributes nothing really"? And why does all the childcre come out of their salary, surely the other parent also needs childcare.

Are you familiar with the concept of financial abuse and control?

BertieBotts · 24/10/2022 10:44

Why aren't finances pooled?

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/10/2022 10:44

Sounds reasonable to me.

neverbeenskiing · 24/10/2022 10:44

Your OP is misleading. Working PT and paying nursery fees and grocery bill is not the same as "contributing nothing really in the way of finances" at all is it?

Beezknees · 24/10/2022 10:44

ComtesseDeSpair · 24/10/2022 10:43

The parent who works part time needs to a) be contributing proportionately to family finances and b) picking up proportionately more of the household chores.

I wouldn’t stay with a partner who was both insisting on working part time and also refusing to “make up” for their reduced contribution to family finances in chores and childcare.

Where did OP say they "insisted" on working part time? Presumably they work part time due to childcare costs, and OP said parent B pays for the nursery.

luxxlisbon · 24/10/2022 10:45

Someone who is a brilliant parent to two year old but contributes nothing really in the way of finances.

works PT earns £24,000 and doesn’t contribute to mortgage and bills but does pay for nursery for days in work. Pays for grocery shop sometimes.*

So it’s not nothing then. 24k is a very good part time salary. Obviously they are on a lot less than their partner but I would expect that person to pay more than part time childcare and occasionally some food. I imagine 74k but paying all the bills properly has less money than the 24k part time worker who had the luxury of free time too. Obviously they are with the child but many people working long hours would prefer more time with their children.

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