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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH's secrets and lies

238 replies

UnicornAndSparkles · 21/01/2024 21:42

I'll preface this with the fact that DH is generally a wonderful husband and father. He in incredibly loving and patient and generous and will always go out of his way to be a real 50/50 partner, be that with early starts, sharing the parental load as best we can (he'll always get up early with the kids for instance, and does most of the nursery drop offs and pick ups despite working full time). We've been married for almost 15 years and he is my absolute rock.

But. He has lied to me, on multiple occasions, about finances. At first it was to cover up a drinking problem, which I obviously knew he had, but he wasn't ready to admit to. With a lot of support from myself and others he has overcome and is now 4yrs sober. Something I am hugely proud of him for. But that drinking problem got him into significant debt which he didn't reveal to me. When he got sober he came clean and told me of the loan and credit card debt, totalling around 10k, all repayable within 2y he said. 2y came and went and I presumed it was paid. It's now 2y on and I find out it's not repaid and there's still around 10k to repay so there must have been significantly more at the outset. His company has recently gone bust and he hasn't been paid a salary for around 6m. He initially kept this from me for 2 months, contributing to the family finances as he usually would but only now I find out it was through a credit card. Obviously this was unsustainable and we he revealed the issue we started paying all the bills from our savings, which are almost depleted. I earn money too but not as much as he does, and my salary isn't enough to cover the mortgage and childcare costs. He put off finding a new job as he was sure the money would come in. It didn't and he has admitted he should have got a new job months ago rather than only starting to look now, when we have little savings left to fall back on. He's also revealed that he's been living in his overdraft for 3y. Again, something he kept from me.

He was on a 90k salary, which to me is a huge amount, but is so bad with money that he couldn't budget his spendings. He lives a champagne lifestyle, which I presumed was because he could, but it's become apparent that he couldn't afford half of it. I, on the other hand, would rather save than spend. It gives me far more of a thrill to see savings mounting up and shop in the likes of new look than it does to buy fancy things and not have any savings. Of course I enjoyed the holidays and all the rest of the things DH was spending money on, but only because I thought he could afford it and it was never overly lavish. My salary is far below his and I obviously had a very naive view of what 90k can afford, as it's clearly not the lifestyle we've enjoyed. He's always been this way, his family joke he was always awful with money. But the issue is the lies he's told me, the fact that he's kept the loan amount and credit card bills and overdraft secret from me, whilst the debt mounts up and up. We've always said we share finances and so it came as a shock that he wasn't being open and honest with me. He says he was embarrassed about the whole thing but now I don't feel I can trust him with money and am questionning whether he really does earn £90k or that's an exaggeration, whether the total debt is bigger than the 20k he's admitted to (he initially said it was 8-10k), whether there are more credit cards with payments due. It really worries me as we share a mortgage and have two children.

The crux is I asked him to prove he was being honest with me about the level of debt he now admits to. I've asked to see bank statements showing the figures and the repayment plan. But he won't show me. AIBU? We are very close to having to ask my grandfather to help us with money when our savings run out as until he starts getting paid again my salary cannot cover all of the outgoings (grandfather is in a position to help, financially, and has offered to do so as he is aware that we are living off our savings). Or we default on the mortgage. I cannot believe we're in this situation. I feel cross that he hasn't been honest with me and cross that he didn't up sticks and get a paying job sooner when he realised the company was going bust, but I can't turn back the clock and he recognises he's been a fool. But am I being unreasonable to not be able to trust him with the finances and to want to see the debt in black and white? Or is he unreasonable not to show me the level of debt he (and realistically "we" as we are a partnership) owe?

OP posts:
TitusMoan · 21/01/2024 22:20

I knew there would be some kind of addiction in this story. Ok he’s sober at the moment - but there’s plenty he hasn’t changed here because he is still lying. Addicts are the biggest liars out there. He still has major problems and you, OP, need to save yourself and your children. (I’ve been here btw). Sell up, get yourself in a tiny little house with your children and treat the situation as if he’s going to lose that job any day now. You cannot trust this man.

L1ttledrummergirl · 21/01/2024 22:22

Ask your Grandfather to hold fire on any help until this man is out of your life. It will only go to waste until then.

BaybeeTammy · 21/01/2024 22:24

Can you get him to show you his credit report. I think this may show his debts and any defaults

justtidying · 21/01/2024 22:24

If he isn't being honest or completely transparent with you, then it's game over for me.

He needs help. But not from your grandfather

WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 21/01/2024 22:24

BaybeeTammy · 21/01/2024 22:24

Can you get him to show you his credit report. I think this may show his debts and any defaults

Definitely this

BobbyBiscuits · 21/01/2024 22:25

He sounds chaotic and I don't believe he's over his addiction problems. (maybe not drinking but he's spending out of control), it feels like he has a psychological issue.
Do not borrow money off your family to support him. He needs to tell the truth if not you really need to consider if you can still be with someone like this.

Kwam31 · 21/01/2024 22:27

wonderful husband and father.
who lies, wastes money, yup he's fab!

Mirabai · 21/01/2024 22:28

He’s as addicted to spending money and lying as he was to drinking alcohol.

OP you need to step up and get much tougher.

First you have to see those bank accounts. And you have to take charge of finances from now on.

Second you are not borrowing money from your gf. If your gf bails DH out here will never learn his lesson.

You can’t make any decisions until you know the extent of the debt. But if necessary, sell your house and downsize.

He’s the opposite of a rock OP, he’s a crevasse.

Temporaryname158 · 21/01/2024 22:29

You say his debt, your money and his money, but you are married. It will be your debt too if he’s hiding even more than you know about.

get a divorce. Stay together if you really love him but you will be financially seperate and you can have the house in your name.

he could lose the house and everything you have. The lot could go from under you. Get out asap

ConflictedCheetah · 21/01/2024 22:33

Given what you've said I'd be prepared to find out he's swapped one addiction for another - wouldn't be at all surprised if he's been gambling his money away. Might have started with the initial debt and this was an attempt to clear it or may have been there all along, but his money is going somewhere and he doesn't want you to see where.

Show you all accounts immediately or pack his bags.

Mirabai · 21/01/2024 22:34

I agree about gambling, that’s why OP must see those accounts.

Morewineplease10 · 21/01/2024 22:36

There will be so much more op. You need to check he's not put anything in your name.

He's got massive issues, he's nobody's rock, you are kidding yourself.

It would be awful to take money from an ageing man/pensioner to cover your DHs fuck ups.

Sell up and get out. I'd take legal advice as if u divorce all his debts will be included along with any assets.

Snugglemonkey · 21/01/2024 22:44

I would becaskingvmy grandfather fir money to det myself up alone. The insecurity would paralyse me. I need to know I am secure in my house. That my dc have a solid home. You don't have that, as you cannot trust anything he says about finances. He has lied more than once. He lies about money and exposes your family to risk. I could not deal with that.

bluebird3 · 21/01/2024 22:44

IHS · 21/01/2024 22:05

You urgently need to get to the bottom of the finances and give him an ultimatum that he hands over all financial responsibility to you. You can issue him a weekly living allowance and the rest goes on family requirements and on reducing the debt. If he refuses, then start making plans to divorce.

I agree with this. I could probably forgive the spending addiction and lying IF he agreed to hand over all control of finances, agreed and stuck to a debt reduction plan and had total honesty going forward. However even that might be a stretch depending on the level of debt. If he's £30, 40, 50k+ in debt I'm not sure I could forgive that. It's just pure and simple stealing at that point from both you and your children.

Februaryfit2024 · 21/01/2024 22:47

You need to see his credit file.

Is his tax up to date with the dissolved business?

Don’t pay if any debts until you know the true picture and have it in front of you.

adultchildofalcoholicparents · 21/01/2024 22:49

I speak from not entirely dissimilar experience of family members.

DH is generally a wonderful husband and father. He in incredibly loving and patient and generous and will always go out of his way to be a real 50/50 partner

He will ruin you and your family. No matter what the self-exculpation, chronic lies and deceit do not make a "wonderful" anyone. You cannot begin to deal with life properly when only one of you is willing to be part of a team and face reality.

Milkand2sugarsplease · 21/01/2024 22:54

There is absolutely more lies to come out if he's still being shifty about it.

His excuse of being embarrassed doesn't was because he's told you some of it so what embarrassment is left - he's deliberately hiding more from you.

Insist to see the extent in black and white and buff up your financial savviness because it's you that's going to have to make a plan to get out of debt if you're going to stay together.

rustlerwaiter · 21/01/2024 22:59

Mirabai · 21/01/2024 22:28

He’s as addicted to spending money and lying as he was to drinking alcohol.

OP you need to step up and get much tougher.

First you have to see those bank accounts. And you have to take charge of finances from now on.

Second you are not borrowing money from your gf. If your gf bails DH out here will never learn his lesson.

You can’t make any decisions until you know the extent of the debt. But if necessary, sell your house and downsize.

He’s the opposite of a rock OP, he’s a crevasse.

Your first point I agree with, the second not so much. It's not just bailing the OP's husband out, it's bailing the family out. While getting the finances at least on an even keel is doable why make it harder for everyone by not taking the help being offered.

HalloumiGeller · 21/01/2024 23:05

This man is not an "absolute rock" at all. He's irresponsible and deceitful, I'd be fuming if my DP had done this! We are very open about our finances and will happily show each other our bank accounts! He's not telling you the full truth, hence why he won't show you his bank statements.

WineIsMyMainVice · 21/01/2024 23:07

Could you see if your mortgage company can give you a ‘mortgage holiday’ for a few months? Just in the short term….

yanbu to want to see all the details and paperwork etc. that’s the least you deserve.

good luck op

TheSilentSister · 21/01/2024 23:13

Save your GF's generous offer for yourself and your kids, not your feckless DH!
Honestly, if you let him bail you out, your DH won't learn. He's gone from one addiction to another and lying to boot.
You need some time apart (even a night or two) from him to reflect and see things as they are, without DH trying to manipulate you.
He's been burying his head in the sand and you would be too if you accepted your GF's offer of help.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/01/2024 23:17

Have you heard the expression, 'dry drunk'? Because that's what he is.

The substance isn't there but the behaviour all still is.

2jacqi · 21/01/2024 23:23

@UnicornAndSparkles you need to take charge of all the finances from hereon in. he needs to give you access to all accounts. (I take it that it was his own business which has gone belly up?) can you take on extra hours at all. when do the children start school. when you get access to all the accounts, remove his cards and change all the passwords so only you can deal with the money. doesnt matter whose money it is. he has not cheated and some people are just useless and bury their heads in the sand. contact the credit card companies and make an arrangement now. dont hesitate or you could be made bankrupt because it also sounds like he will be owing inland revenue too. accept family help if necessary with the proviso that you will repay it when you get back on your feet. also, i am not sure how it works but you might be able to get a mortgage holiday

Menomeno · 21/01/2024 23:25

rustlerwaiter · 21/01/2024 22:59

Your first point I agree with, the second not so much. It's not just bailing the OP's husband out, it's bailing the family out. While getting the finances at least on an even keel is doable why make it harder for everyone by not taking the help being offered.

What if Op’s grandfather gives them tens of thousands of pounds, but the debt is much worse than he’s admitting to and they lose the house anyway? GF would be throwing his money away. It’s madness to borrow a penny with no idea of how much the debt is.

UnicornAndSparkles · 21/01/2024 23:41

I'm so glad I posted tonight. I've been so naive.

I did an Experian report on him. Obviously he wasn't telling me the whole truth. He's £110k in debt. I did one on myself and it confirmed there's nothing in my name or our joint names. I checked and he hasn't remortgaged the house. All the debt is his and his alone. I went to confront him and he immediately confirmed what I'd found and showed me websites showing what is a serious gambling addiction. I questioned everything he told me and added it all up. He had no choice to accept it, I'd found out for myself. He started off trying to repay the alcohol debt, lost money and then tried to repay that loss. Over and over. And now £110k is gone. It's all there is black and white. The money wasn't spent on fancy things, it was gambling and then more gambelling when the initial win didn't come. What a mess.

He's handed over control of all his incoming finances to me and when he gets a new job will have our joint account as the payee and I'll be giving him money to spend and will have control of all debt repayments. Again these are his to repay and nothing is in my name or our joint names but he clearly cannot be trusted to be responsible for repayment. All of my earnings will continue to go into my sole bank account and I will transfer the percentage I pay towards our outgoings, as I have done for the past 15y. Nothing changes for my finances but I have total control over his. He offered this as he's clearly worried about me leaving with the kids. As he bloody should be.

He's blocked all the gambelling sites from his phone and laptop and home computer and I'll be checking intermittently. I feel like I'm living with a teenage boy now.

I told him if we didn't have kids he'd be out the door tonight.

I genuinely didn't think I could hit this rock bottom with a decent man. What a idiot.

I don't know what else I can do other than the above if I'm going to stay with him. He knows this is the last chance. I love him but genuinely if it wasn't for the kids I'd tell him to leave as I cannot trust him. But I do love him. This is the only issue in our marriage, and I accept it's a huge one. Hopefully having full control over finances will help regain some of this but it'll be a long process.

What else can I do?

OP posts:
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