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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I've been a fool. I'm stuck and I need advice :-(

120 replies

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 12:48

NC for this.

Please be gentle I'm extremely fragile over this situation atm and understand I look foolish to anyone reading. I'll try and keep it as short as I can.

Been with P for 7 years, have DC - toddler.

I am in an abusive relationship and I only faced facts the year my toddler was born, that it was emotional, coercive and financial abuse (told me he would leave if I gave him money, I did, and he didnt leave). I can't go into detail or this would go on forever. I have very low self esteem and thought we had a relatively happy relationship prior to DC because I was so blinded by the good, when it was good. I quickly buried my head about the bad and accepted that I had made him act the way he did etc.

I used to own my home before DC, P lived with a friend and was a first time buyer and was able to find a "do-er upper" with a garden etc, and was accepted to buy with a low deposit. I gave them half of the deposit and lawyers fees to do this.
I then sold my flat (tenement was owned by social housing and they refused to contribute to repairs badly needed on the building) I felt I had no choice but to sell asap before it got worse. The proceeds of my sale went to Ps house renovations and I also pay for all bills, apart from mortgage & council tax. The promise was that my name would also go on the house. That hasn't happened. He dangles this over my head.

He earns £52k + and I earn £42k. He said the fairest way to split bills was that I pay 40% and he pays 60% - I genuinely don't know if this is OK as I struggle with numbers massively.

The problem is he is a relentless bully, I can't take the absolute lies and verbal abuse he gives me. He is narcistic and never takes the blame for anything and will down right lie his way out of anything he is challeneged about. The worst is, people on the outside would be shocked if they even scratched the surface as he appears this really likable guy to everyone else. I tried to leave him before and was successful but the situation wasn't ideal, I was living in my mums with a small child and barely a thing of my own, and was an absolute nervous wreck due to his intimidating behaviour and constant verbal abuse about everything I done, I didn't react to any of this and kept as calm and composed as possible at all times. He eventually calmed down and started (which I now know as) "love bombing" me. I genuinely thought he'd changed. And I genuinely thought this could work and would be best for DC to have us all live together and a new start.

Clearly I'm posting here because a leopard never changes its spots.

Any time there's an argument he tells me to "fuck off out" "it's his house" "I pay for nothing" (the bills mentioned above equate to £1400 and I pay for all DC expenses as well as household products etc) he has such a sense of entitlement and takes everything I do for granted (I work FT and do every bit of housework and DIY). He is a hands on dad and I tried to settle with this to justify to myself that this is all ok and as long as he's a good dad I can put up with the rest for my DC.

I don't have much in the way of savings as the house has had constant renovations, and I know for a fact he'd do everything in his power to not pay me a penny in CMS.

FWIW I could genuinely spew looking at what I am about to post, I can't believe this is my life and I desperately need some help/advice from anyone who's been in a similar situation or has any advice as to what I could do from here. I am already beating myself up as I feel I have failed my DC from being in this situation and I know how financially stupid I have been. I feel like I can't tell my parents due to the shame and embarrassment of this and I wouldn't know where to begin in telling a friend.

Posted in AIBU for traffic.

OP posts:
Neodymium · 22/01/2025 12:55

Are you married?

ohfourfoxache · 22/01/2025 12:56

You need legal advice ASAP Flowers

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 12:57

Neodymium · 22/01/2025 12:55

Are you married?

No, sorry I should have said that.

OP posts:
Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:02

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 12:57

No, sorry I should have said that.

He did propose when we found out about DC, but tbh it was me who decided not to push a marriage as I just couldn't settle with how he was at times. Unbeknown to me it would get worse the more "stuck" I got.

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 22/01/2025 13:06

Go to your mum's again. Contact a solicitor. Tell him it's over and your reporting him to the police for coercive control. Then do so, and block him on everything. No matter how awkward it is in the short term it's going to be better for you and your child to get away from him and his behaviour. I hope you can be strong and stick to your plan. No matter what he says or does.

startingoveragainagain · 22/01/2025 13:07

You earn a good salary you can unstick yourself. You need legal advice and a plan. I didn't leave an abusive relationship but 2.5 years ago I decided I wanted to end the marriage I had no job and had to start again. We are in the process of selling our house, and I now have a full time job, everything is do able... accept you made some mistakes (I made loads in my life) but just move on with a plam - you'll get there.

InkHeart2024 · 22/01/2025 13:08

Agree with above. Gather as much paperwork as you can. Get out of the house. Report him to police for coercive control and get a solicitor to help you take him to court for your equity.

Rainbow450 · 22/01/2025 13:12

I don't know if I can add to the replies above as they're good advice but please move to your mum's for the sake of your child. Good luck.

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:14

Thank u for being so kind everyone. Literally made me cry. It's been a heavy weight to get off my chest x

OP posts:
Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:17

I meant to add, does anyone think I'd be wasting my time/money on trying to tackle this in court? I feel as if everywhere I've read looks as if I don't have a leg to stand on.
And although I pay the rest of the bills, I don't "contribute" to the mortgage as it would look on paper. This does me no favours what so ever.

OP posts:
theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 22/01/2025 13:21

How much did you put into his house? Have you any way of proving it? I really think you need good legal advise, but the money I don't think you will have a leg to stand on with.

You may have to cut losses just to get away from him, but yes, legal advice and report him to the police

Walkden · 22/01/2025 13:22

"The proceeds of my sale went to Ps house renovations and I also pay for all bills, apart from mortgage & council tax"

So you are not on the mortgage, but have paid for repairs etc?

This was not wise but if you can prove the contributions you made you can establish a claim but need to get legal advice asap

I don't get why you believed he would leave the house if you paid him money if he has convinced you it should only be in his name?

In a healthy relationship 60 :40 would sound about right as many couples pay bills proportionally, but buying/ renovating a house together as you have without being married is v risky ..

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:26

Walkden · 22/01/2025 13:22

"The proceeds of my sale went to Ps house renovations and I also pay for all bills, apart from mortgage & council tax"

So you are not on the mortgage, but have paid for repairs etc?

This was not wise but if you can prove the contributions you made you can establish a claim but need to get legal advice asap

I don't get why you believed he would leave the house if you paid him money if he has convinced you it should only be in his name?

In a healthy relationship 60 :40 would sound about right as many couples pay bills proportionally, but buying/ renovating a house together as you have without being married is v risky ..

Maybe around 25k and the DD for the new kitchen comes out of my account.

Paying him to leave was during a time at my house before I sold it. This should have been the only red flag I needed. But I wasn't in a fit state of mind after a difficult pregnancy and very premature birth.

There is no one feeling more foolish than me now.

OP posts:
Bristolinfeb · 22/01/2025 13:30

“He earns £52k + and I earn £42k. He said the fairest way to split bills was that I pay 40% and he pays 60% - I genuinely don't know if this is OK as I struggle with numbers massively.” - This is the only thing he is doing right, to be proportional equal would see him paying 55% and you paying 45%. But that is irrelevant, please go to your Mums and keep you and your little one safe.

Walkden · 22/01/2025 13:31

What was the house bought for?

At some point you will need an updated valuation to see how much value the renovations have added i'd imagine.

Consult a solicitor about next steps and find out what your options are.

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:33

Bristolinfeb · 22/01/2025 13:30

“He earns £52k + and I earn £42k. He said the fairest way to split bills was that I pay 40% and he pays 60% - I genuinely don't know if this is OK as I struggle with numbers massively.” - This is the only thing he is doing right, to be proportional equal would see him paying 55% and you paying 45%. But that is irrelevant, please go to your Mums and keep you and your little one safe.

Thank u for this. I embarrassingly had no idea how to work that out and at least that's one small positive.

OP posts:
commonsense61 · 22/01/2025 13:37

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

ViolettaDePensy · 22/01/2025 13:39

BobbyBiscuits · 22/01/2025 13:06

Go to your mum's again. Contact a solicitor. Tell him it's over and your reporting him to the police for coercive control. Then do so, and block him on everything. No matter how awkward it is in the short term it's going to be better for you and your child to get away from him and his behaviour. I hope you can be strong and stick to your plan. No matter what he says or does.

This. Absolutely this.

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

He just dragged his heels and kept saying "obviously he would" but never, and throws it in my face over the smallest and most irrelative disagreements etc.

OP posts:
Lellochip · 22/01/2025 13:39

You're paying the DD for the new kitchen, is your name on the contract for it?

Whatafabulousoaktree · 22/01/2025 13:40

Have a look at rightsofwomen.org.uk
Lots of really useful help and advice there, including legal stuff, and a helpline. Good luck, OP, take a step now.

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:40

Lellochip · 22/01/2025 13:39

You're paying the DD for the new kitchen, is your name on the contract for it?

Yes

OP posts:
Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:40

Desperatelystuck · 22/01/2025 13:39

He just dragged his heels and kept saying "obviously he would" but never, and throws it in my face over the smallest and most irrelative disagreements etc.

Irrelevant**

OP posts:
Lellochip · 22/01/2025 13:40

Ah ok, just thought I'd check in case that was one thing you could immediately cut off

commonsense61 · 22/01/2025 13:42

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.