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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Being so tight with money?

984 replies

Rockrose94 · 08/07/2024 21:31

For context I have been with my boyfriend for 4 years, we live together and split the rent / bills 50/50. Our take home pay is very similar and I have an extra outgoing of my car finance which he does not. We effectively keep our finances completely separate, I worry how this will work long term as he has said he does not want to share finances at all as he has more savings.

Anyway the main issue just now is 1) he has bought me dinner once in 4 years, for my 30th birthday present. I took him on a foreign holiday and presents for his 30th. I have paid for nights away and meals for us several times when he has said he can't afford it as I wanted to treat him. I don't do this often any more as it's never been reciprocated 2) we split all food shops evenly but usually do our own meals during the week as I am dieting. He just stood for half an hour itemising up every item on the food shops over the weekend to come to the point that I owe him £2.50. Note that he will charge me half of the food we share but he would likely eat 2/3 of the meal. AIBU to be tired of this? It feels so tight , do other people itemise everything and charge their partner almost to the penny?!

OP posts:
Blackthorne · 08/07/2024 23:26

Oh that's awful OP.

Although money is not love, I feel like there's a flow between the two, some sort of synergy. If you love someone you want to spend money on them. It's like you could never spend enough on them, if you had the means.

He's awful. He's made you feel worthless in some sort of way. Like you're not worth spending on which is completely wrong. Of course you are.

Saying I love you all the time - well they are just words. Actions speak louder than words.

Do you still have sex? Or is he equally miserly with orgasms too?

PadstowGirl · 08/07/2024 23:26

Oh my! This isn't love is it 😥 love keeps no scores.

Dweetfidilove · 08/07/2024 23:27

Why, why, why are so many women with these stingy men 🤦🏾‍♀️.
This is why I wouldn't go on a second date with some of the people I see on here arguing about paying for a coffee and half a slice of cake.
It leads to shit like this.
I cannot for the life of me find what is attractive about this kind of man that has you itemising what's yours from a shopping receipt. I could cry 😢.

Rockrose94 · 08/07/2024 23:28

Blackthorne · 08/07/2024 23:26

Oh that's awful OP.

Although money is not love, I feel like there's a flow between the two, some sort of synergy. If you love someone you want to spend money on them. It's like you could never spend enough on them, if you had the means.

He's awful. He's made you feel worthless in some sort of way. Like you're not worth spending on which is completely wrong. Of course you are.

Saying I love you all the time - well they are just words. Actions speak louder than words.

Do you still have sex? Or is he equally miserly with orgasms too?

That is probably the only area where he is generous funnily enough but my desire to have sex with him has really dwindled so happens much less often now

OP posts:
Quirkyme · 08/07/2024 23:28

Dweetfidilove · 08/07/2024 23:27

Why, why, why are so many women with these stingy men 🤦🏾‍♀️.
This is why I wouldn't go on a second date with some of the people I see on here arguing about paying for a coffee and half a slice of cake.
It leads to shit like this.
I cannot for the life of me find what is attractive about this kind of man that has you itemising what's yours from a shopping receipt. I could cry 😢.

This.

Your first sentence is exactly what the OP needs to ask herself. I woulda thought just writing the post out would inform her she needs to leave, but clearly not.

ThinWomansBrain · 08/07/2024 23:31

YABU for putting up with it for FOUR years - and still 'treating' him and paying for breaks and holidays when you know that he doesn't reciprocate.

If you have the misfortune to still be with him on his next birthday, if you have shared calendars/diaries, mark out time for a Birthday Surprise, name a grat restaurant. The surprise is you're going by yourself, he's not invited.😁

Rockrose94 · 08/07/2024 23:40

Quirkyme · 08/07/2024 23:28

This.

Your first sentence is exactly what the OP needs to ask herself. I woulda thought just writing the post out would inform her she needs to leave, but clearly not.

The responses have very much informed me of that

OP posts:
plimbow · 08/07/2024 23:40

Someone who is mean ends up making you mean too. A good partner brings out the best in you, not the worst.

Busybeemumm · 08/07/2024 23:41

OP you have read people's responses. What is your plan now? What are you going to do?

This is financial abuse as he is being controlling and a form of domestic violence. It might be entrenched in his upbringing or his experience of former relationships but he will not change. Your only job is to plan your exit. You know deep down that you need to end it. You will feel so much better with this headache out of your life. After you have split your belongings and got out of the rented property you are free.

What do your friends/family IRL say to you?

FantasticButtocks · 08/07/2024 23:42

What have I just read? £2.50? I would literally laugh in the face of a man who tried to get me to pay him £2.50 as my share of anything! How can he look himself in the mirror and not be thoroughly ashamed of himself? What a shocking attitude, so mean. Extremely unattractive trait.
And you're in a serious relationship with him and his bad thoughts of you being on the take? Sounds like you're had enough. He absolutely can't be worth it.

swimlyn · 08/07/2024 23:44

Miserliness.

The ultimate ugly.

Dweetfidilove · 08/07/2024 23:45

Quirkyme · 08/07/2024 23:28

This.

Your first sentence is exactly what the OP needs to ask herself. I woulda thought just writing the post out would inform her she needs to leave, but clearly not.

Hopefully our collective responses will urge her to action as any future with him will be so miserable. Lord knows how this has stretched to 4 years without OP despising him.

Spendysis · 08/07/2024 23:50

I understand not wanting to be ripped off by girlfriends but you have been together 4 years live together are partners and you are paying your share of the bills plus paying if you want to do anything like go out for meals days out he doesn’t split that 50 / 50 so you are being ripped off

the money he’s saving he isn’t classing as joint savings for you to buy a property together or to cover maternity leave if you have a child together it’s his savings.

Atsocta · 08/07/2024 23:52

Omg! Start running !!!!

cushionstar · 09/07/2024 00:00

This happened to my sister. She moved in with him and became depressed. He ended up buyin only yellow label sticker food and asking my sister for the 87p she owed him and that was the last nail in the coffin!
So please rethink your life and future he sounds pathetic and immature over 2.50!

U are still young and can meet
Someone else u need to run. This isn't love sorry @Rockrose94

Dibbydoos · 09/07/2024 00:01

Get out now.

He is financially abusing you.

Moveoverdarlin · 09/07/2024 00:02

Rockrose94 · 08/07/2024 22:59

Yeah I mean he will go to the shops and even if he only bought me a bottle of coke and a few joint things for the house he'd ask me for that few quid. Obviously I haven't discussed this with friends as think I was a bit embarrassed of it and also I don't think I really knew if it's unfair until I've just had this resounding response. He has normalised it a lot. Honestly I feel like this is the glass shattering moment of WTAF am I doing.

I’m flabbergasted at this. If I nipped to the shop and bought a bottle of coke, a Mars bar and a tube of Pringles for a fucking stranger I don’t think I’d take the money off them, let alone the person I love.

My DH can sometimes be a bit tight, but with me and our children he’s generous. Sometimes he doesn’t get it and I have to say things like ‘you get the first round’ ‘spend 30 quid on flowers for your Auntie’ ‘Don’t ask for the money back from that young lad in the office’ and he always listens.

Bit what you’ve described is odd, it’s such a turn-off. If a partner of 4 years asked me to repay him £2.50 i would tell him to go and fuck himself.

Runsyd · 09/07/2024 00:05

Honestly, it's beyond me how you could ever bring yourself to have sex with him any more. This kind of nit-picking miserliness is one of the biggest turn-offs I can imagine.

Ohfuckwhatdoidonow · 09/07/2024 00:05

Mean with money, mean with everything else

Quirkyme · 09/07/2024 00:05

Runsyd · 09/07/2024 00:05

Honestly, it's beyond me how you could ever bring yourself to have sex with him any more. This kind of nit-picking miserliness is one of the biggest turn-offs I can imagine.

This.

Thepossibility · 09/07/2024 00:12

He treats you like an acquaintance, not even a friend. He definitely loves his money more than he does you and is not a safe place for you to fall when shit hits the fan. And eventually it will with kids, illness, age...just life! You can't live the rest of your life like this, how depressing.
And he seems happy for you to treat him but never treats you, eww yuck.

Nanaof1 · 09/07/2024 00:13

Rockrose94 · 08/07/2024 21:31

For context I have been with my boyfriend for 4 years, we live together and split the rent / bills 50/50. Our take home pay is very similar and I have an extra outgoing of my car finance which he does not. We effectively keep our finances completely separate, I worry how this will work long term as he has said he does not want to share finances at all as he has more savings.

Anyway the main issue just now is 1) he has bought me dinner once in 4 years, for my 30th birthday present. I took him on a foreign holiday and presents for his 30th. I have paid for nights away and meals for us several times when he has said he can't afford it as I wanted to treat him. I don't do this often any more as it's never been reciprocated 2) we split all food shops evenly but usually do our own meals during the week as I am dieting. He just stood for half an hour itemising up every item on the food shops over the weekend to come to the point that I owe him £2.50. Note that he will charge me half of the food we share but he would likely eat 2/3 of the meal. AIBU to be tired of this? It feels so tight , do other people itemise everything and charge their partner almost to the penny?!

It sounds like you have spent thousands on your BF and your BF has saved thousands and spent next to nothing on you. He is cheap, selfish, greedy and self-centered. What does he DO to show you he loves you and cherishes you?

If, when you have separate finances, you don't share in costs for holidays, treats, meals out, etc., it becomes "joint" on one side and separate on the other. Like you and your BF. You deserve so, so much better!

Until you can either get him out or you decide to leave, I would change a bit, even if it might make you feel bad. When you split the cost of a dinner one of you makes, divide it exactly in half. Tell your NVDP, "I paid for half, so half I get. I will keep what I don't eat for my meal tomorrow." If half isn't enough for you to eat, feel free to go out and get yourself something. One day, when he makes the meal and wants half of the money, look at it and say, "No thanks. I'll go get takeout instead." Yes, it is petty. Perhaps, though probably not, he will get a clue how it feels and it will open up a frank discussion.

Best thing to do though, stop treating him at all and get your ducks in a row and toss him aside for a chance at real love, friendship, sharing and commitment.

GoneFishingToday · 09/07/2024 00:16

OMG! How do people like you put up with this OP? I really cannot understand it, and certainly wouldn't tolerate it. He's an arsehole of the worst kind. Get rid of him and find someone who REALLY wants to share their life and their money with you, anything else is just a waste of your life.

SimplyTheGuest · 09/07/2024 00:17

I wouldn't even tell him I was leaving, I'd pack & go while he was at work & leave him to pay the bloody rent on his own! I might even cut everything jointly owned in half first just for the hell of it 😄
OMG OP PLEEEASE GET OUT NOW! When he says "I love you" he may be looking at you but its his bank balance that's going through his mind! This man does not deserve you, you sound like such a lovely person, my heart bleeds for you 😢
Once you leave you will feel liberated I promise you, be brave & take your life back xx

Venice241 · 09/07/2024 00:19

4 years wasted of a precious life spent with such an absolute horror.
So sad.

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