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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Will we lose our home ? Should I lose a husband

189 replies

Derrygirl09 · 28/01/2025 20:10

Hi everyone 👋
I'll try and keep this short , we bought our first house 3 years ago , since then , me and my husband had a separation of 9 months , things had been bad tbh and I never would have bought a home with him but we found ourselves in need of somewhere new to live and had the means to buy a home , anyway , we decided to work through our issues and things have been going well since Christmas... Today I found letters he has hidden from me from land and property and turns out he has never paid the rates , like ever 🥺, we agreed that he would be responsible for them and he's told me numerous times they were paid for , we now owe 1000s and we honestly don't have the money., he's ignored the last letter that would have given him the option to pay off in installments, he's been working overtime every weekend for 5 months and I also buy all food , all school meals , all kids clothes ect I worked out he should have few hundred left at the end of the month after the bills he pays NOT Inc overtime ,and now he tells me NOW he tells me he couldn't afford it 😡 have I a right to be livid , and what will happen to the home now ? Is this unforgivable to you ?

OP posts:
Derrygirl09 · 30/01/2025 14:26

WhenTheyComeForYou · 29/01/2025 20:40

What world are you living in? Most couples commit to joint housing costs which outweigh any single earning potential; that’s why people get critical illness and life cover.

Where I live, 3 bed houses start at around £350k for a shabby small one and £550k for a decent one. I earn £50k and couldn’t afford either option on my own when you add in all other bills.

OP sends her kids to clubs because she’s reassured that all bills are paid and she has excess. Clubs are a nice enhancement to her children’s lives which she thinks she can afford. Sadly, with a secretive, lying husband, it’s now transpired that she may not be able to afford it.

Thats not her fault. You can plan for someone having secret bills/payments. When you’re married, you have to assume your partner is honest.

I can’t believe you’re trying to make out this is OPs fault - what a stretch!

Thank you 🙈 yes exactly, we decided jointly if we could afford to buy the house based on both wages coming in as a family , then I decided if I could afford the kids clubs ect with money I had after all my bills were paid after being reassured that his side was taking care off , I mean we both decided swimming would be a good idea , our daughters would enjoy horse riding ect he did have a saying in it all , not like I disregarded any bills so that I could put my children into clubs , I decided to put my children into clubs with money that I thought was left over after all bills were taking care off , nobody just sits on money and lets their kids go without just incase their husband is telling them he's paid an important bill to keep their house and he's lying about it 🙈, for what's it worth no I woudlnt be able to afford the entire house by myself but the rates are only about 10 pound a week or so I could have afford that so I had to assume he was paying it , he was paying the mortgage but not the 10 pound a week in rates 🥺

OP posts:
daleylama · 31/01/2025 22:51

Derrygirl09 · 28/01/2025 22:54

Yh I suspect he's a narcissist tbh , he was amazing at first tho he's like a different person now

Take this person's advice seriously. Narcissist shmarsisist, cod psych labelling solves nothing, you need to sort this out.

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 31/01/2025 23:43

OP, if you were to sell the house, presumably having done a new kitchen, bathroom, etc., it will be worth more than you paid for it? So if you then paid off the items you have on finance, and any other debts, from the proceeds of sale, would it then leave YOU enough money each month to buy a smaller/cheaper house for you and your kids to live in, if it's so difficult to find a rental where you are? Just a thought, you've probably already worked it out, as you sound VERY savvy, unlike some posters have been trying to make out.

With regard to your DH, is he going to pay you the money for the rates back, now that you've set up the payment plan?

I think somewhere I read that you said you can't kick him out, presumably that's by law, is it? Only under circumstances like this, I would definitely want to kick his arse out, so if you were to say to him that he's told you lie after lie, put your home at risk, and still won't tell you where his money is going, then he owes it to his kids to move out, as you can't bear the sight of him, and will be tempted to knife him in his sleep if he stays, do you think he would move out then?

Finally (for now, lol) when you separated, but lived in the same house for 9 months, did YOU still pay for everything except the mortgage OP, or did he stump up half the bills, pay for his own food, etc?

SeaStoat · 01/02/2025 12:19

I am so sorry you are in this situation. He's betrayed your trust with this financial abuse.

You are in debt if you still owe money on a kitchen, Argos card and a sofa or have a car payment - even if at 0%. These are expenses that you didn't have money to pay for when you bought the item, and do not have the money to pay off today.

Lots of good advice above. If you are staying in your marriage, he needs to go to marriage counselling with you, have open book accounts and letters re anything financial including pensions, to add your name to the rates and any other communications that affect you. He also needs to explain his financial support for his parents so you can make a plan for that, repaying the rates debt, pensions and household management (including emergency funds) you are both agreed on.

I would credit check yourselves - him and you, just to rule out credit cards you don't know about. People who are bad with credit are profitable, so him having a card doesn't mean anything about his credit status. Check the house is in joint names and that there are no charges on it (security for debts that must be paid first if the house is sold). You also need wills and your name on any death in service benefits and pensions he may have - so you are sure what happens if he dies. If you are staying, you need a plan about pension provision - as you'll be looking after his financial needs when he stops work. Financial management and planning must involve both of you.

I've learnt a lot from using YNAB. It's a budgeting/money management app that has helped me realise how much we need to have, not just for maintenance of our house, car etc but also replacement of white goods, tech and our car and if our income stops. I've found debt reduction style youtube videos useful. I don't agree with Dave Ramsay's religious views and that marriages must have fully joint finance - but there's lots of useful process to learn from his channel, not just about digging oneself out of debt, but also target savings for replacements, Christmas, and pleasure (holidays, adult and children's hobbies and activities and doing up the house or having a new sofa etc), pension provision, living expenses if one or both partners lose their job or can no longer work. This will enable you to understand what will keep the kids' home safe - even if for a while the extras for the kids and meals out are stopped or reduced for a season. It's their security and your sanity that matters most.

You sound like an amazing mum, and have great skills to get you and the children through the next bit. I hope you have friends and family who can support you when you know whether he will work with you, and as you develop your plan to manage. Good luck with managing this and your job.

daleylama · 02/02/2025 08:00

SeaStoat · 01/02/2025 12:19

I am so sorry you are in this situation. He's betrayed your trust with this financial abuse.

You are in debt if you still owe money on a kitchen, Argos card and a sofa or have a car payment - even if at 0%. These are expenses that you didn't have money to pay for when you bought the item, and do not have the money to pay off today.

Lots of good advice above. If you are staying in your marriage, he needs to go to marriage counselling with you, have open book accounts and letters re anything financial including pensions, to add your name to the rates and any other communications that affect you. He also needs to explain his financial support for his parents so you can make a plan for that, repaying the rates debt, pensions and household management (including emergency funds) you are both agreed on.

I would credit check yourselves - him and you, just to rule out credit cards you don't know about. People who are bad with credit are profitable, so him having a card doesn't mean anything about his credit status. Check the house is in joint names and that there are no charges on it (security for debts that must be paid first if the house is sold). You also need wills and your name on any death in service benefits and pensions he may have - so you are sure what happens if he dies. If you are staying, you need a plan about pension provision - as you'll be looking after his financial needs when he stops work. Financial management and planning must involve both of you.

I've learnt a lot from using YNAB. It's a budgeting/money management app that has helped me realise how much we need to have, not just for maintenance of our house, car etc but also replacement of white goods, tech and our car and if our income stops. I've found debt reduction style youtube videos useful. I don't agree with Dave Ramsay's religious views and that marriages must have fully joint finance - but there's lots of useful process to learn from his channel, not just about digging oneself out of debt, but also target savings for replacements, Christmas, and pleasure (holidays, adult and children's hobbies and activities and doing up the house or having a new sofa etc), pension provision, living expenses if one or both partners lose their job or can no longer work. This will enable you to understand what will keep the kids' home safe - even if for a while the extras for the kids and meals out are stopped or reduced for a season. It's their security and your sanity that matters most.

You sound like an amazing mum, and have great skills to get you and the children through the next bit. I hope you have friends and family who can support you when you know whether he will work with you, and as you develop your plan to manage. Good luck with managing this and your job.

Such excellent advice. Thanks for taking the time to lay it out

Derrygirl09 · 02/02/2025 20:17

daleylama · 31/01/2025 22:51

Take this person's advice seriously. Narcissist shmarsisist, cod psych labelling solves nothing, you need to sort this out.

I wrote that lol

OP posts:
Derrygirl09 · 02/02/2025 20:18

daleylama · 02/02/2025 08:00

Such excellent advice. Thanks for taking the time to lay it out

I did have the money to pay it off again he said he could pay the rates , I did the calculations it's not my fault when I bought these items I didn't factor in the fact my husband was a liar 🤷 thank you that means alot I'll defo take your advice on board 😊

OP posts:
Derrygirl09 · 02/02/2025 20:31

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 31/01/2025 23:43

OP, if you were to sell the house, presumably having done a new kitchen, bathroom, etc., it will be worth more than you paid for it? So if you then paid off the items you have on finance, and any other debts, from the proceeds of sale, would it then leave YOU enough money each month to buy a smaller/cheaper house for you and your kids to live in, if it's so difficult to find a rental where you are? Just a thought, you've probably already worked it out, as you sound VERY savvy, unlike some posters have been trying to make out.

With regard to your DH, is he going to pay you the money for the rates back, now that you've set up the payment plan?

I think somewhere I read that you said you can't kick him out, presumably that's by law, is it? Only under circumstances like this, I would definitely want to kick his arse out, so if you were to say to him that he's told you lie after lie, put your home at risk, and still won't tell you where his money is going, then he owes it to his kids to move out, as you can't bear the sight of him, and will be tempted to knife him in his sleep if he stays, do you think he would move out then?

Finally (for now, lol) when you separated, but lived in the same house for 9 months, did YOU still pay for everything except the mortgage OP, or did he stump up half the bills, pay for his own food, etc?

O god no it's just a figure of speech Id end up in jail , I woudlnt actually hurt him 🤣🤣🤣 no he didn't at all , infact he didn't go anywhere with me and the children seeing Santa pumpkin patches all that kinda stuff so obviously he wasn't there to pay on occasion or be the one who paid petrol any of that so it was worse then , I can't kick him out because he literally refuses to leave and unless I make a police report saying he's abusive the police won't force him out , which despite everything I don't want to do , thank you yes I am very good with my money , I factor in absolutely everything before I make any purchase outside of our basic needs , school meals , money for winter clothes when time comes , food obviously, electric, gas , school uniform and factor in the fact they tend to outgrown them mid year and need whole new one ... I don't blindly spend I work hard and I go without so my kids can have these things , I save a bit every week and I know in x amount of weeks I'll have money for next years pantomime, after that I'll start saving a bit for Halloween and those activities, as someone who really has it together in that regards I find the comments about insulting when they say you bought all these things you can't afford 🤣🤣 I know down to the penny what's coming in and out , I actually have a chart , I know what I can and can't afford , if only they knew 🤣🤣

OP posts:
Derrygirl09 · 02/02/2025 20:32

Derrygirl09 · 02/02/2025 20:31

O god no it's just a figure of speech Id end up in jail , I woudlnt actually hurt him 🤣🤣🤣 no he didn't at all , infact he didn't go anywhere with me and the children seeing Santa pumpkin patches all that kinda stuff so obviously he wasn't there to pay on occasion or be the one who paid petrol any of that so it was worse then , I can't kick him out because he literally refuses to leave and unless I make a police report saying he's abusive the police won't force him out , which despite everything I don't want to do , thank you yes I am very good with my money , I factor in absolutely everything before I make any purchase outside of our basic needs , school meals , money for winter clothes when time comes , food obviously, electric, gas , school uniform and factor in the fact they tend to outgrown them mid year and need whole new one ... I don't blindly spend I work hard and I go without so my kids can have these things , I save a bit every week and I know in x amount of weeks I'll have money for next years pantomime, after that I'll start saving a bit for Halloween and those activities, as someone who really has it together in that regards I find the comments about insulting when they say you bought all these things you can't afford 🤣🤣 I know down to the penny what's coming in and out , I actually have a chart , I know what I can and can't afford , if only they knew 🤣🤣

No he will not move I told him me and the kids were going to have to go to a hostel and he still hasn't budged 🙈

OP posts:
Lighteningstrikes · 02/02/2025 20:38

I really feel for you. There’s nothing worse than a deceitful liar 🤥 I hope you work things out for you and your kids.

SALaw · 02/02/2025 20:40

"have I a right to be livid"? No, none whatsoever

Derrygirl09 · 11/02/2025 11:10

SALaw · 02/02/2025 20:40

"have I a right to be livid"? No, none whatsoever

I'm curious after reading the comments why you think that

OP posts:
RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 11/02/2025 12:23

SALaw · 02/02/2025 20:40

"have I a right to be livid"? No, none whatsoever

What a RIDICULOUS comment!!

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 11/02/2025 12:24

OP, is there any update?

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