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.

Is my marriage over

7 replies

Wornout12 · 27/07/2025 15:46

Is my marriage over. When I met my husband, I didn’t know he was in a lot of debt until he tried to sell his house and the debt was more than the house was worth. In all the time we have been together 18 years he has never saved. I’ve had lots of conversations over the years about saving. Our finances are separate. He has always paid most of the bills, rent then mortgage, I used to pay him a small amount each month and paid my own bills, I was a stay at home mum on esa. Before we moved to this house I found out he was again in debt and this had to be added to the mortgage. The mortgage is more each month and I did question whether this was doable but he said he would be better off each month as he wouldn’t be paying back loans and credit cards. We talked about how we couldn’t risk getting into debt again with the mortgage been higher. He agreed that when we moved that he would work out all his outgoings, write them down and we would work out how much we could save a month for stuff like holiday, if something broke, for stuff the house would need. I said I couldn’t do it again where the house would stay the same as when we moved in for years, I was the one who paid for flooring, kids beds and other things because otherwise the house would have stayed the same, wouldn’t have been decorated, carpets wouldn’t have been replaced etc. four months down the line in the new house, he still hasn’t worked out his outgoings. Then I find today he is in debt again on credit cards because he said his wage isn’t covering outgoings. He said he didn’t tell me with me been unwell. I’ve been on sick leave from work because of my mental health since October. I said that if he had talked to me I could have sent him some money, for example our son has afrid and will only eat Mac Donald’s and that’s twice a day. I get dla for him, I said I could send him the money, the dla is to pay for things that our son needs. I did send him some s couple of weeks ago. I also said I could have seen about paying towards the bills. That if it worked out that he wouldn’t be able to save and I would only be the one able to save then we would do that. I’ve tried explaining that we are meant to work together. He has now said he will work out his outgoings, but I’m tired of having the same conversations, it’s not just this, it’s other things with our marriage. He just gets defensive when I try to speak to him. He knows I’m not happy with our marriage and I haven’t for at least two years now.
I feel if we had worked together in terms of of finances then things would have been different. I have nothing to look forward to for the future. I just feel it will carry on been the same, won’t be able to buy things we need for the house, even going for a meal together. My name isn’t on the mortgage due to my poor credit rating. I don’t have anywhere me and my two children can go.

OP posts:
takealettermsjones · 27/07/2025 16:06

... I don't know about your marriage, to be honest - if you still love him then maybe this can be salvaged with effort and counselling etc. But you both really, really need some robust financial and budgeting advice because it's a mess that will only get worse.

tulippa · 27/07/2025 16:09

I don't understand how he has all the debt but you have the poor credit rating?

LetGoLetThem1234 · 27/07/2025 16:18

What has he spent the money on? Anything that could be sold perhaps?

PIayer456 · 27/07/2025 16:28

I think you need to give more details.

Sounds like he’s the only one bringing in an income consistently. Are you (plural) living beyond your means, or is it a case that he just cannot earn enough to support your family?

Sounds like he’s under a lot of pressure but, like I said, hard to know for sure without more info.

AbzMoz · 27/07/2025 16:46

There are a lot of red flags in this. You’ve handed over financial control to someone who you know has poor financial history. You’ve got a child with afrid who only eats expensive junk food. You say you cannot work due to MH. You have no visibility around these costs. Does he drink? Gamble?

There is zero use in saying if we had done x then we’d be better off. You didn’t do it, so you are where you are. The best you can do is figure out how to come up with a plan for you / your child / your DH (in that order).

This involves using proper budgeting tools and getting reciepts for in- and out-goings. It also means making big decisions and commitments around how to get out of debt, returning to work, and thinking about consequences if you/he doesn’t deliver on the plan.

Lmnop22 · 27/07/2025 16:47

This is not just his problem. If you’re not able to work and his income is trying to cover everything and it leaves you short every month and needing to use credit cards then that’s a family problem which needs to be sorted out by reassessing your outgoings and incomings and making changes together.

Just because it’s his wage and the cards are in his name does not make it a him problem (unless he’s spending the money on hobbies/alcohol/gambling/stupid purchases).

Also, I know how difficult eating issues can be with children and I say this kindly, but McDonalds twice a day every day for your DC is something that just can’t continue - either financially or for their health and wellbeing!

Createausername1970 · 27/07/2025 16:55

I am not sure.

On the one hand he is coming across as very financially unreliable, but on the other you say he has paid the mortgage/rent and most of the joint bills.

So, to me, it seems as if you have been happy to leave him to pay the bulk of everything, not consistently contributed, and not paid any attention to the finances (it's yours and your child's home at risk) then act all surprised when he is in debt again because he can't cover the outgoings on his salary.

Neither of you are coming out of this very well. Both of you need to go and see a financial planner and get something worked out as neither of you come across as being financially aware.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread