Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think it’s a little unfair although I can see the reasoning!?

42 replies

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 20:33

I am moving in with my partner. I live in Ireland and I get a small amount of benefits (less than €50 a week) I also have an element of extra tax credits so my pay is a little more than If I wasn’t single so I think the difference is about 40per week.

I am moving in with my DP (not dc’s dad) and so because of this I will loose about €90 per week. I know I know…i get the reasoning but it’s still hard to take a bit.

I will take home about 3100 per month (I can do OT to top up also) and dp’s is about 4100, he is very kind and we are paying pretty much half of everything except a few bills which he will pay so it will even it out. I can see I’ll be better off. But he’s not their dad and what if he wasn’t so kind about money? I’m sure there’s men out there who are not!

OP posts:
Pessismistic · 22/06/2025 20:37

Have you been together long. This s very important as if things go wrong where will you live?

nomas · 22/06/2025 20:39

You should never be worse off financially when moving in with a partner.

€90 per week is not nothing.

Glad you have found a compromise.

RandomMess · 22/06/2025 20:42

If he wasn’t reasonable about you both being better off by living together then surely you would choose to live apart and reconsider whether he was kind or not.

Also state support is aimed at providing the minimum required.

Confusedbylifeingeneral · 22/06/2025 20:43

Just don’t move in then?

SupposesRoses · 22/06/2025 20:46

Hopefully your expenses are going down too with another adult to share things with?
Much heartache would be saved if women just didn’t move in with men who aren’t kind.

TheyFuckYouUpYourMamAndDad · 22/06/2025 20:48

I don’t know what your question is?

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 20:49

Pessismistic · 22/06/2025 20:37

Have you been together long. This s very important as if things go wrong where will you live?

If it goes wrong we sell the house and get our deposits back and move on.

OP posts:
Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 20:49

SupposesRoses · 22/06/2025 20:46

Hopefully your expenses are going down too with another adult to share things with?
Much heartache would be saved if women just didn’t move in with men who aren’t kind.

Yes they are! Definitely are!

OP posts:
MuddyPawsIndoors · 22/06/2025 20:52

But he’s not their dad and what if he wasn’t so kind about money? I’m sure there’s men out there who are not!

Is the answer not really really obvious?

If a single parent can't afford to live to the same standard because they want to move their boyfriend/girlfriend in, then they don't do it.

They wait until such a time where benefits are no longer involved.

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 20:57

MuddyPawsIndoors · 22/06/2025 20:52

But he’s not their dad and what if he wasn’t so kind about money? I’m sure there’s men out there who are not!

Is the answer not really really obvious?

If a single parent can't afford to live to the same standard because they want to move their boyfriend/girlfriend in, then they don't do it.

They wait until such a time where benefits are no longer involved.

it will even out to be fair and I am paying a mortgage for my own home so there’s that benefit too as I was paying rent. Once my pay goes up next year I wouldn’t be entitled to any benefits anyway so it’s good timing…

OP posts:
Psychologymam · 22/06/2025 21:01

Surely if he wasn’t kind and you were going to be worse off financially then you wouldn’t move in with him? The majority of benefits aren’t yours for life, they are designed to support you for a time period if you’re not able to support yourself. Maybe you shouldn’t take the pay rise either because then you’ll get less benefits? Doesn’t make sense when you put it like that.

Pessismistic · 22/06/2025 21:01

You say that like it’s so simple what about your dc are they of an age where this will not affect them in anyway?

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:05

Psychologymam · 22/06/2025 21:01

Surely if he wasn’t kind and you were going to be worse off financially then you wouldn’t move in with him? The majority of benefits aren’t yours for life, they are designed to support you for a time period if you’re not able to support yourself. Maybe you shouldn’t take the pay rise either because then you’ll get less benefits? Doesn’t make sense when you put it like that.

I can’t opt out of the pay rise, it’s automatic. And you’re right they were great when I needed them…I don’t really need them anymore so it’s ok. I just worry for others who don’t have the same kindness in a dp etc I suppose

OP posts:
Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:05

Pessismistic · 22/06/2025 21:01

You say that like it’s so simple what about your dc are they of an age where this will not affect them in anyway?

Where what will not effect them?

OP posts:
MuddyPawsIndoors · 22/06/2025 21:08

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:05

I can’t opt out of the pay rise, it’s automatic. And you’re right they were great when I needed them…I don’t really need them anymore so it’s ok. I just worry for others who don’t have the same kindness in a dp etc I suppose

I just worry for others who don’t have the same kindness in a dp etc I suppose

Why do you keep talking about 'kindness' like this, it's starting to come off as a bit strange.

He's met a woman with DC, he wants to live with this woman and her DC, so he has to make that work.

It's called finding a practical solution, not 'kindness'.

There's no need to keep worrying about other women like they don't have minds of their own.

If you're going to worry about anyone, worry about all the kids who get no say in who their parents choose to live in their homes.

PollyannaGladGame · 22/06/2025 21:10

In all honesty, if anyone moving in with a new partner when they have kids already has any doubt the new partner is not “kind” enough to make sure finances are fair and balanced then they should not be doing it.

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:10

PollyannaGladGame · 22/06/2025 21:10

In all honesty, if anyone moving in with a new partner when they have kids already has any doubt the new partner is not “kind” enough to make sure finances are fair and balanced then they should not be doing it.

I agree…

OP posts:
Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:11

MuddyPawsIndoors · 22/06/2025 21:08

I just worry for others who don’t have the same kindness in a dp etc I suppose

Why do you keep talking about 'kindness' like this, it's starting to come off as a bit strange.

He's met a woman with DC, he wants to live with this woman and her DC, so he has to make that work.

It's called finding a practical solution, not 'kindness'.

There's no need to keep worrying about other women like they don't have minds of their own.

If you're going to worry about anyone, worry about all the kids who get no say in who their parents choose to live in their homes.

My dc had a say don’t worry…

OP posts:
Psychologymam · 22/06/2025 21:13

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:05

I can’t opt out of the pay rise, it’s automatic. And you’re right they were great when I needed them…I don’t really need them anymore so it’s ok. I just worry for others who don’t have the same kindness in a dp etc I suppose

But again - why would anyone move in with someone who wasn’t kind and if the move made them less well off financially? It posts a picture of financial abuse and overt control and really that would be the problem, not the benefit structure. Well you could give up work and then you’d get more in benefits?
never really makes sense to try be less well off does it. Although your honesty is commendable because I think a significant proportion of people lie about it.

Pessismistic · 22/06/2025 21:13

If you split up and had to move houses, schools dc gets used to dp then he’s not there. Have considered any of this.

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:15

Pessismistic · 22/06/2025 21:13

If you split up and had to move houses, schools dc gets used to dp then he’s not there. Have considered any of this.

Would have to move house yes but not school. Of course I have considered it.

OP posts:
MuddyPawsIndoors · 22/06/2025 21:15

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:11

My dc had a say don’t worry…

I wasn't worried.

But since you mentioned it, how old are they?

And would they really be likely to be heard if they said no?

Inheritancequery1 · 22/06/2025 21:16

MuddyPawsIndoors · 22/06/2025 21:15

I wasn't worried.

But since you mentioned it, how old are they?

And would they really be likely to be heard if they said no?

Old enough to have an opinion and yes they were heard. They are always heard.

OP posts:
MuddyPawsIndoors · 22/06/2025 21:21

Ok well, your gratitude over his 'kindness' is a bit of a worry as it comes across as though you have quite a low bar.

He wants to live with you and your children and needed a solution to make that work.

He's not showing 'kindness' so don't feel as though you and your kids are beholden to him.

CopperWhite · 22/06/2025 21:25

But he’s not their dad and what if he wasn’t so kind about money? I’m sure there’s men out there who are not!

Mothers should avoid moving in with these men then. A child’s risk of abuse increases significantly when they are made to live with a step parent.