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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:
LakieLady · 22/01/2024 14:18

So sorry your "D"H is putting you and your kids through this.

You've had great advice upthread, I hope you're able to take it.

FWIW, it would be a deal breaker for me.

TitusMoan · 22/01/2024 14:45

Can I echo what ttattooedlady said. You cannot manage his addiction. You cannot fix him. You will also drive yourself mad trying. Get legal advice, go to StepChange, go to Gamcare and treat the whole situation as if he will never be able to stop. If he eventually does sort himself out, all well and good, but in the meantime you need to assume that he never will. That is the only way of proceeding.

Addicts lie and lie and lie. You would be wrong to think that now you’ve found out about his gambling that it will stop. You have just got more lies coming your way.

TitusMoan · 22/01/2024 14:49

@SpidersAreShitheads said OP will have to treat him like a child and monitor everything for a very long time

With respect, because I’m sure you mean well, this is terrible advice. Futile.

pikkumyy77 · 22/01/2024 14:57

F

SpidersAreShitheads · 22/01/2024 15:06

TitusMoan · 22/01/2024 14:49

@SpidersAreShitheads said OP will have to treat him like a child and monitor everything for a very long time

With respect, because I’m sure you mean well, this is terrible advice. Futile.

I think maybe my meaning didn’t come across terribly well.

My point was with the level of deceit there is, that’s the only way to make sure he’s not lying again. And checking up to this degree is not really desirable, practical, realistic, or sustainable.

In no way was I suggesting this as a recommended course of action. I was pointing out the futility of staying with him.

LAMPS1 · 22/01/2024 15:12

OP, please don’t accept money from your family or anybody else to bail him out. You will be throwing their money away and will feel forever guilty about that.

This is a terrible situation for you but it’s only just starting and will get worse so the best thing you can do is separate yourself from him legally and financially as soon as you can ( even though you feel you can’t stop loving him) Then, you need to down-size and become completely financially independent. It will be hard but it’s all for your own protection.
Only then can you accept financial help from your grandfather as it will be safeguarded for you and the children and your DH won’t ever have access to it.

Addicts always find a way to continue and to lie. They only ever drip feed tiny bits of the truth at a time. There’s always more you don’t know about.
You trust they have unburdened it all and that you are completely in charge of finances but while you are slogging away at work and trying to stay within your tiny budget he will be growing more debt elsewhere for you to be responsible for if you remain married to him.

If you can realise that one fact now, (even though you can’t stop loving him) you will help save yourself more heartache down the line and might have a chance to save yourself and the children from utter despair. At least you and the children will have a roof over your heads.

Mirabai · 22/01/2024 15:16

My personal line would be to take immediate action to separate and protect finances & that of my kids with a divorce. In terms of the emotional relationship it may be possible to continue IF he manages to get himself sorted out and stick to it long term. It’s not something I would pursue, but some women want to.

UnicornAndSparkles · 22/01/2024 15:37

Thank you for all the advice.

We've had multiple discussions. He's accepted full responsibility. All the debt is in his name (thankfully, but we share a mortgage so it does impact me and I'm alive to this). He's contacted Step Change and I've seen the initial information he's shared on his account and the call log on his phone confirming he had a 32 min call with them today. He's also shown me that he's contacted Gam Care.

He's given me his cards including the joint account card that we pay our mortgage and all bills from. He has access to nothing. I will give him the money he needs, like a child. I can't believe it's come to this but it's necessary. I'm encouraging him to tell his immediate family to garner their support. He's told his sister thus far and she is alive to the fact that we both need support.

He's basically begged me to stay and has told me he will prioritise our relationship and that of our children. He has agreed to all of my terms, blocking all gambling sites, handing over all cards, allowing me to see his search history on the computer, his laptop and phone whenever I ask. He did this willingly, but I told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn't I'd be packing his bags today and he'd be out.

I need financial advice as to what to do about the mortgage we share. I don't know if it's sensible to have it in my sole name now. I don't want to come across as money grabbing but in the circumstances I can't trust that he won't remortgage without my knowledge. Obviously my priority is our kids and their security. I haven't broached this with him but he was shocked when I asked if he'd remortgaged the house or taken anything out in my name, saying he never would. And he hasn't. But I'm alive to the fact that he is an addict and so there is always the possibility. Everything at the moment is through credit cards and unsecured personal loans in his name. I have checked my Experian and there's nothing untoward. His is obviously ruinous.

Is there anything else I can do? Please don't tell me to leave him as I have decided to give him a second chance. He's an addict but he's a good person and I hope he can overcome this. He's taking steps to get help. He deserves one last chance and I have said in no uncertain terms that he will be out if he messes up.

OP posts:
Alwaysalwayscold · 22/01/2024 15:43

Have you asked for proof that he's not lying about his job not paying him for 6 months?

TreetopsSun · 22/01/2024 15:43

@SpidersAreShitheads your views were spot on and as mentioned above this was what I was advised to do by a leading psychiatrist in addiction - take control of all the money and monitor bank accounts. It does mean you become a mother to a badly behaved child. It drains you totally, you live on edge. I ended up having to open up post that came. My DH would lie about payments going out of account (he spent loads of money on computer games and so would buy vouchers at the supermarket and say it was groceries). I then had to demand receipts.

I think some posters have nailed it on the head here, you can’t make him change. He may say things but the fact he won’t show you bank statements/isnt presenting you with a plan (he’s gone to something like AA, he’s taken a temp job to get some money in, he’s selling his valuables to pay off debt).is a massive problem. He needs to want to change.

I alway think what will it take my DH to change, I think when I leave that will have no impact (it will be my fault “he tried to change and it wasn’t good enough for me”). Im not sure bankruptcy would help either (debts would be written off) and start again. Maybe i will be surprised and me leaving will do it - and then as I say we would have all been better off if I’ve done in the first place.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 22/01/2024 15:45

He didn't come to you to tell you about this, he left you to find out about it and lied repeatedly. You believe him that he's 'taking steps' now?

You can still love him but that doesn't mean that you have to be tied to him financially. If he had anything about him - having realised that he's created this mess - he'd be grateful for you to protect yourself and your children, insulate you and them from his mess but, he's there, like another child waiting to be taken care of.

You will never stop looking over your shoulder, living on 'hope'. Addicts are liars and your husband has proven this to you, again and again.

You've made your decision and I wish you well. I hope you're not posting back here in a year or so, wishing that you'd made another choice. Be well and be careful. Protect yourself and your children from him.

Mirabai · 22/01/2024 15:46

Good to hear that all the right noises have been made.

However this is only the first step OP and the easiest one. The real nitty gritty will be committing to a 12 step programme and actually sticking to it.

Wanting to and actually treating an addiction are 2 different things.

You will not know for some time whether he is sincere and even if he is whether he will fall off the wagon. It be white knuckle for a considerable time yet.

NameChange210 · 22/01/2024 15:50

It sounds like he's accepted his actions which is a good first step.

My STBXH did exactly the same. He was apologetic for a few months but then slowly slipped back into old habits and I ran a credit check on him a few months later and found he'd taken out more credit cards I knew nothing about.
I'm not saying to leave him, but please remember you caught him out rather than him admitting everything to you. He is well versed in lying and hiding things from you. They don't do it on purpose to hurt you, but people who are like this with money rarely manage to change overnight so please protect yourself. Take care x

hellsBells246 · 22/01/2024 15:54

Bloody hell. He's not a wonderful partner at all.

He's brought you to the edge of bankruptcy! You could lose your house! And he has lied to you again and again and again - and he STILL won't shoe you his bank statements, so the debt is much worse than you fear.

I'd seriously be thinking about leaving him over this.

I'd separate all my bank accounts from him and i'd never trust him with money again. I'd never ever give him any of my money.

I'd accept money for you and the dc from your family, but ensure the money is ringfenced so your lying H can't touch it.

He will bring you all down with him.

hellsBells246 · 22/01/2024 15:57

Sorry, I should have RTFT.

You sound very sensible and switched on. Only you can decide if this marriage will be sustainable. Take care. I hope you have RL support? 💐

Aquamarine1029 · 22/01/2024 16:00

I see you've decided to give him a second chance, (actually it's about the fourth or fifth chance you've given him but I've lost count), and I hope you're ready for it. Micromanaging a grown man as though he's an infant is not something I would ever do. How utterly soul destroying.

Right now, he is Mr. Agreeable, accepting all of your terms and conditions because he's desperate to save his own arse and keep his happy life. I guarantee you, Mr. Agreeable won't be around for long. His addictions are soon going to be pounding at his door, and the monkey on his back will refuse to be ignored. He's an addict and a pathological liar. That's just who he is. Also, there is far more to come that you don't know about. There always is.

Don't forget that it's 100% ok to throw in the towel, anytime you want to, and refuse to live like this any longer. He's the one who ruined everything, not you.

LeGinge · 22/01/2024 16:05

I'm sorry if this is genuine but to me it reads like an AI generated thread.

ttattooedlady · 22/01/2024 16:12

Again I don't want to be miss downer and I do hope that he continues his commitment to change and follows through with all that he has said. However, a friend of mine mine put up with this for years and years. Her dh told her he wasn't getting paid at work due to some issue or other. Every month he was apparently working for free. She believed this at first but it's a very common lie people tell. First it was gambling then alcohol then she discovered drugs and debts to dealers. Someone burgled her house with her and the dc in bed and it turned out this was related to her dh. Eventually she found out he was waking up during the night while her and their dc slept to gamble and take drugs. She like you stayed and listened to the promises but unfortunately in the end she had to leave as she was unable to stay and keep a roof over her dc heads. She has never recovered financially and had to move house and disrupt her whole life. She took charge and he even went to rehab but it was never enough and he would find money despite her controlling all their finances. Very sad.

tuvamoodyson · 22/01/2024 16:27

Alwaysalwayscold · 22/01/2024 15:43

Have you asked for proof that he's not lying about his job not paying him for 6 months?

Has he even had a job for the last six months??

adultchildofalcoholicparents · 22/01/2024 16:33

Please don't tell me to leave him as I have decided to give him a second chance.

You've made your decision and I respect that you're selecting hope over the experience and tribulations of others who've lived through similar revelations and circumstances.

Please return and ask for support and advice if this goes awry for you. Posters here would understand.

Mirabai · 22/01/2024 16:39

tuvamoodyson · 22/01/2024 16:27

Has he even had a job for the last six months??

Well that’s my question, I wonder if he’s been fired.

sterli2323 · 22/01/2024 16:45

UnicornAndSparkles · 22/01/2024 15:37

Thank you for all the advice.

We've had multiple discussions. He's accepted full responsibility. All the debt is in his name (thankfully, but we share a mortgage so it does impact me and I'm alive to this). He's contacted Step Change and I've seen the initial information he's shared on his account and the call log on his phone confirming he had a 32 min call with them today. He's also shown me that he's contacted Gam Care.

He's given me his cards including the joint account card that we pay our mortgage and all bills from. He has access to nothing. I will give him the money he needs, like a child. I can't believe it's come to this but it's necessary. I'm encouraging him to tell his immediate family to garner their support. He's told his sister thus far and she is alive to the fact that we both need support.

He's basically begged me to stay and has told me he will prioritise our relationship and that of our children. He has agreed to all of my terms, blocking all gambling sites, handing over all cards, allowing me to see his search history on the computer, his laptop and phone whenever I ask. He did this willingly, but I told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn't I'd be packing his bags today and he'd be out.

I need financial advice as to what to do about the mortgage we share. I don't know if it's sensible to have it in my sole name now. I don't want to come across as money grabbing but in the circumstances I can't trust that he won't remortgage without my knowledge. Obviously my priority is our kids and their security. I haven't broached this with him but he was shocked when I asked if he'd remortgaged the house or taken anything out in my name, saying he never would. And he hasn't. But I'm alive to the fact that he is an addict and so there is always the possibility. Everything at the moment is through credit cards and unsecured personal loans in his name. I have checked my Experian and there's nothing untoward. His is obviously ruinous.

Is there anything else I can do? Please don't tell me to leave him as I have decided to give him a second chance. He's an addict but he's a good person and I hope he can overcome this. He's taking steps to get help. He deserves one last chance and I have said in no uncertain terms that he will be out if he messes up.

StepCgange are good but they are funded by the creditors and are known for recommending IVA's when there are other solutions. I would post on MSE where there are many knowledgeable posters and lots of information on dealing with debt whilst protecting assets. Debt-free wannabe — MoneySavingExpert Forum
Regarding the mortgage you can put a restriction on at land registry which would stop him remortging with a different provider or borrowing against the house.

Debt-free wannabe

Mutual support and help for those on their journey to becoming debt-free.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/debt-free-wannabe

Ellie56 · 22/01/2024 17:27

Is there anything else I can do? Please don't tell me to leave him as I have decided to give him a second chance. He's an addict but he's a good person and I hope he can overcome this. He's taking steps to get help. He deserves one last chance and I have said in no uncertain terms that he will be out if he messes up.

@UnicornAndSparkles

It's not really a second chance though is it? From all your other posts, it sounds like you've given him multiple chances over the years.

You are now in debt to the tune of £110k. And he didn't tell you about that. You had to find out for yourself. Four years ago it was only £10k. What will it be next year? Because as PP say the gambling won't suddenly stop. He's in too deep for that. He will find ways to get money and will continue to lie and put you and your children at risk. This is who he is.

Go back and reread the posts by the posters who really understand these things, who work with addicts, or have lived through similar themselves.

I do hope for your children's sake you don't live to regret giving him a so called "second chance".

cheddercherry · 22/01/2024 17:32

In that case shore up the house and yes I’d put it in your sole name. You’re now the one gambling on him (and in his own family’s words he’s always been this way so the odds aren’t in favour of him suddenly changing - remember you caught him out, he didn’t come clean and even when he did it wasn’t the actual truth) so you’ll need to make sure for the kids sake you’re well protected.

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 22/01/2024 17:46

You need legal advice.

Quite simply, you have to protect you, your kids and your home as s priority.

While I wouldn't stay with him,wouldn't trust a single word he says and would resent the babysitting - you have said you want to stay with him, and a divorce still might be the best thing for you and your children.

Not necessarily never see him again and severe all ties but still a divorce.

Get legal advice and listen to it.

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