Paying off mortgage after cancer treatment

[Boxhike]

I had cervical cancer a few years ago and claimed my critical illness insurance which means we are in the position of paying off our mortgage.
The way our mortgage works is that you can only pay 10% annually for 2 years and then pay the balance so we’ve done that over the past 2 years.
Now that we are in a position to pay the balance my husband has dropped the bombshell that he has £50k in savings! I can’t believe he has not told me this. I told him last night that I would be paying the balance of the mortgage off less £50k which I would be using for my own savings pot.
His response was ‘why would you do that if we’re in a position to pay it all off, my savings are for us both’. But after him not declaring those savings to me I’m not convinced I told him to put himself in my place I needed to look after myself and have my own pot. He’s been quiet all evening. We have 2 kids.
Any perspective appreciated!

I would want to know why he kept the savings a secret from you. Is there a reason? I think transparency and honesty are the key to finances in a relationship. Great that he is a saver but why didn’t he keep you informed while he was saving this money.

As others have suggested, it seems like a good plan for you each to keep £25,000 in savings.

Regards critical injury cover, it's definitely not ear marked to only pay off the mortgage.
I know a family that used it to buy/tax/insure a car to use for going back and forwards to appointments.
They spent the rest on holidays and experiences to try and create memories as a family.

When my hubby got a pay out for an illness I told him the money was for him to do what he wanted with it. After all it only came because his life was affected. He plans to buy a boat one day.

I would want to know how long he’s been saving and where the money is coming from?

only you know how your relationship is but this would be a massive concern for me

was he ever going to tell you? What else hasn’t he told you about?

You need equal savings so he can pay half of the 50k you’ve got left.

But according to MN its quite clearly for the mortgage and its disingenuous to suggest otherwise 🤣

Well I don't necessarily think this is dodgy.

Dh and I have a joint account that everything for our family comes out of but equal money for ourselves to spend as we like each month. I fritter mine away, he mostly spends his and buys the odd expensive thing. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he had upwards of 10k in savings or even a few times that. That's his money, mine lives in my wardrobe...

So if the op and her dh are similar she'd be massively unreasonable. Although given the critical illness payout came about because she was ill she'd also not be understanding to keep some back for herself rather than putting it all in the joint pot.

On the other hand if the op and her dh have entirely joint finances and he's been squirreling money away that's not ok.

Which is it OP?

Cannot comprehend a marriage where individuals have different savings, let alone £50k in different savings.