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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to leave a man because of financial reasons

307 replies

Whatwouldyoudo26 · 28/12/2024 20:27

(Apologies with how long this is, trying to sum it all up)

I've been with my boyfriend for almost a year now.

He's funny, affectionate, social, good communication etc. I'm just struggling with the financial situation that is making me want to break it off.

So I'm 26 and he's 40. He quickly moved in with me when he didn't actually have his own place.. not planned but just happened.

He promised to pay towards rent, only did for less than 2 months. He was then asked to leave because he kept promising payment that never came.

Fast forward and we're still seeing each other, only it's nice to have my home back.

He then took my car over a toll bridge and didn't even have the £2.60 to come back over it again - I then got lumbard with the £60 fine. I kept asking for him to pay, he never did.

We went for a meal with his friends that he said he was paying for. I ended up having to foot the bill with him saying he'll pay me the next day as the money hasn't gone in his account or something, he never did.

He then promised he will pay for a set of nails in return for a big favour I did for him and nothing despite having asked since. This might sound trivial but it's the whole saying things and never going through with any of it.

He showed me where we were going to go on a family holiday (I have one child, he has two) - in the end his children's mum took them instead because she probably knows what he's like!!

He showed my parents this beautiful hotel he said he was going to take me to as my birthday treat back in July. Still waiting. Although before this he got me excited showing me a different trip up country and enjoyed telling everyone about it without delivering on it.
Heck, there's even a restaurant he said he will take me to for our first date.. still waiting.

I do feel he's got good intentions but I'm not sure how much longer I can go on with a carrot dangling. He hasn't written any of these things off, it's still in the pipeline because they cost money. Fair enough I thought as I like him for him (clearly not his wallet!) but it doesn't stop me feeling let down and disheartened by it all.

I feel like I've spent the year of our relationship just waiting for things to happen. Coming to me excited about things and holidays only for nothing to ever materialise - I'd rather him just not mention it at all than get my hopes up.

Now he wants to book for us to go to a hotel for New Year's Eve. Of course I would love this but with him owing me money (and other people money), I'd feel more respected if he sends that back to me than keep splashing the cash. Honestly I think I'm going to feel rather resentful if I do accept the hotel offer before he has paid me back what I'm well overdue.

Do I just end things here? I have quite a list accumulating and I keep holding on for the best but not sure how much longer I can carry on.

YABU - you like him as a person and I should be more understanding over the current financial situation.

YANBU - it's not fair to feel consistently let down through empty promises.

OP posts:
MadmansLibrary · 28/12/2024 20:45

My ex is 44 and currently leaching off his significantly younger girlfriend, who is working two jobs to make ends meet. With any luck she won't waste ten years of her life on his empty promises like I did.

Ditch the boyfriend.

BIossomtoes · 28/12/2024 20:46

Get shot.

Ridelikethewindypops · 28/12/2024 20:47

Dump dump dump.
He sounds deeply deeply unattractive.

Neveranynamesleft · 28/12/2024 20:47

How many times do you need someone to say get rid of this user before you actually will get rid. Give your head a wobble.

Chonk · 28/12/2024 20:47

Stop wasting your money on this loser when you have a child to support.

persisted · 28/12/2024 20:49

You can't spend your life just waiting around for him.

You can either tell him very clearly, I need xyz paid by this date as you promised, and ditch him when he doesn't. Or just get on with it, you need to be in charge of your life.

Butchyrestingface · 28/12/2024 20:49

I do feel he's got good intentions

He really doesn't.

TheoriginalMrsDarcy · 28/12/2024 20:50

He brings nothing to the table, just dump him.

Imagine being with him in 5 years time and with 2 kids in tow... what will he be contributing then other than sperm?

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 28/12/2024 20:50

All I can say is the sex must be good 🤦🏻‍♀️

Crumpleton · 28/12/2024 20:50

He then took my car over a toll bridge and didn't even have the £2.60 to come back over it again - I then got lumbard with the £60 fine. I kept asking for him to pay, he never did.

He must have known that not paying the toll would result in you, as the owner of the vehicle getting a fine yet still continued giving no thought to you, even knowing full well he'd never pay you back.

He's a chancer, a dreamer and he's leading you a merry dance which for now you seem to be dancing along with.

He's funny, affectionate, social, good communication etc.

He's also a charmer
He's been chatting the same old speel for ages now, he talks the talk, tells you what you want to hear, it's now up to you to tell him to either show you if he can walk the walk or you to just tell him to walk and keep walking.

CoastalCalm · 28/12/2024 20:50

Fuck that , start the New Year prioritising yourself and get rid before you end up stuck with him

LostittoBostik · 28/12/2024 20:51

A billion red flags. You are so young.

Break free now while you can you're still young enough that it's only your own heart you need to rebuild.

A much better life than this is waiting for you....

Butchyrestingface · 28/12/2024 20:52

Does he have a job, like? Does he know what a job is?

JHound · 28/12/2024 20:52

Whatwouldyoudo26 · 28/12/2024 20:27

(Apologies with how long this is, trying to sum it all up)

I've been with my boyfriend for almost a year now.

He's funny, affectionate, social, good communication etc. I'm just struggling with the financial situation that is making me want to break it off.

So I'm 26 and he's 40. He quickly moved in with me when he didn't actually have his own place.. not planned but just happened.

He promised to pay towards rent, only did for less than 2 months. He was then asked to leave because he kept promising payment that never came.

Fast forward and we're still seeing each other, only it's nice to have my home back.

He then took my car over a toll bridge and didn't even have the £2.60 to come back over it again - I then got lumbard with the £60 fine. I kept asking for him to pay, he never did.

We went for a meal with his friends that he said he was paying for. I ended up having to foot the bill with him saying he'll pay me the next day as the money hasn't gone in his account or something, he never did.

He then promised he will pay for a set of nails in return for a big favour I did for him and nothing despite having asked since. This might sound trivial but it's the whole saying things and never going through with any of it.

He showed me where we were going to go on a family holiday (I have one child, he has two) - in the end his children's mum took them instead because she probably knows what he's like!!

He showed my parents this beautiful hotel he said he was going to take me to as my birthday treat back in July. Still waiting. Although before this he got me excited showing me a different trip up country and enjoyed telling everyone about it without delivering on it.
Heck, there's even a restaurant he said he will take me to for our first date.. still waiting.

I do feel he's got good intentions but I'm not sure how much longer I can go on with a carrot dangling. He hasn't written any of these things off, it's still in the pipeline because they cost money. Fair enough I thought as I like him for him (clearly not his wallet!) but it doesn't stop me feeling let down and disheartened by it all.

I feel like I've spent the year of our relationship just waiting for things to happen. Coming to me excited about things and holidays only for nothing to ever materialise - I'd rather him just not mention it at all than get my hopes up.

Now he wants to book for us to go to a hotel for New Year's Eve. Of course I would love this but with him owing me money (and other people money), I'd feel more respected if he sends that back to me than keep splashing the cash. Honestly I think I'm going to feel rather resentful if I do accept the hotel offer before he has paid me back what I'm well overdue.

Do I just end things here? I have quite a list accumulating and I keep holding on for the best but not sure how much longer I can carry on.

YABU - you like him as a person and I should be more understanding over the current financial situation.

YANBU - it's not fair to feel consistently let down through empty promises.

The one reason to date a much older man is financial stability.

There is no way I would be wasting my youth on a broke older man.

13Ghosts · 28/12/2024 20:53

My ex did that, all full of promises to pay back. Ended up four grand in debt after a year living with him. He took out loans in my name. He was abusive in other ways too.

Get rid of yours now before he gets you into debt.

Penguinmouse · 28/12/2024 20:53

I opened this thread ready to tell you to be open minded but have just got to the end of it - he is a complete freeloader and you should break up with him. He’s ripping you off.

ShatDiamond · 28/12/2024 20:53

You're 26 why are you with a poor dusty old man?

GG1986 · 28/12/2024 20:57

Yup time to get rid!! An old friend of mine was with a guy like this and ended up using some of her inheritance money to pay off his 25k debts that he had before meeting her!! Few years later after living with her rent free and refusing to get a job they split up. Don't waste anymore time on him.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 28/12/2024 20:58

I don't believe that he didn't have £2.50 for a toll bridge that he crossed in someone else's car. I just don't believe it.

babbi · 28/12/2024 20:58

Get rid immediately…
please don’t be like a friend of mine who refuses to kick out her freeloader who is just about to “ make it big “ … always some mad reason why she will get money from him soon …
4 years later , he hasn’t paid a penny in rent and stays there … owes her more than 23k ( I have not asked for the latest total in a while )

I will never understand why she puts up with this when she has 2 children ..

get out now OP please .

claudiawinklemansfringetrimmer · 28/12/2024 20:58

Nah, dump him. It’s not about his income, it’s about his attitude to money (primarily YOUR money!) and constant sponging.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 28/12/2024 20:59

What can he afford for himself, OP? Whilst he's running up fines in your name and failing to pay his rent?

Pelagi · 28/12/2024 20:59

You’re only 26. There is zero need for a relationship to be this much hard work - at any age! So have no more truck with his nonsense. It’s irrelevant whether he has good intentions. (The road to hell is paved with good intentions, after all). His actions are what count and his actions are hopeless.

MrsTigerface · 28/12/2024 20:59

As others have said, this guy is a total and utter freeloader and leach.

You know, don’t you, that if you go to this hotel for NYE, you’ll be the one paying. You’ll never see that money again, along with the other cash he owes you.

Get rid of him asap, and block him on everything. You deserve so much more than this my lovely - set yourself free xxx

Whatwouldyoudo26 · 28/12/2024 20:59

Thank you for your responses already. It's obvious what I need to do. I think that's why I posted, I just need a push in the right direction because I've still got him promising things and I feel silly for clinging onto them.

Not sure how I'm going to approach this conversation so suggestions welcome.
It's not like we're breaking up over one big argument that is easily explainable, it's all these things mounting up over time.

OP posts: