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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WIBU to divorce due to DH quitting his job whilst I’m a SAHM?

483 replies

Ilovechristmasssssssssssss · Today 12:09

We have young children under the age of 5.

I’m a SAHM whilst DH works (which we are both in agreement with). He has a high earning role, but has been increasingly unhappy with the politics of the job.

He came home and announced that he is quitting tomorrow. Nothing lined up but says he will ‘make it work’. Worst case scenario we will have to sell our home and downsize.

Despite him having a well paid role, we have zero savings as our outgoings are high and due to some other factors. We have a minimum debt payment of £3,000 per month (DH brings home approx £10,000 per month).

I am considering telling him that it’s over between us if he does this. I am fed up of picking up everything family-wise for him to just throw our lives into turmoil like this.

OP posts:
Howmanycatsistoomany · Today 13:08

Ilovechristmasssssssssssss · Today 12:51

This was quite a while ago now and is nothing to do with his current role.

It shows a pattern of irresponsible behaviour though. He has a family to support and having already rattled up mountains of debt by leaving a job for a less well paid one, he's planning to leave another job without having another lined up.
He might want you to be a sahm but clearly he's not capable of reliably meeting your financial obligations.

I couldn't live with someone I couldn't trust with our finances. But if you leave, what would your plan be to finance yourself and your share of the debt?

HumberSquid · Today 13:08

Ilovechristmasssssssssssss · Today 12:20

DH’s ONE job is to provide and feed the kids. I pick up everything else related to our family.

You talk as though that's nothing. Your ONE job is to look after the home and family. Sounds about equal to me but you are clearly brimming with resentment.

Passaggressfedup · Today 13:08

I’m not ok with him having a tantrum and throwing the towel in meaning that we have 0 income
Why are you assuming that will be the case? It sounds like he's always work and will have little trouble getting a less stressful job just earning less.

So now is the time to discuss how you are going to bake it work going forward? Oh wait no, not enough money to maintain the lifestyle equals divorce for you!

Calliopespa · Today 13:09

OvernightOats101 · Today 13:08

YOU have 0 income full stop to be fair.

And having a very luxurious lifestyle. You are unreasonable to be so judgemental when you expect him working and looking for other jobs while you are having your nails done. Or feeding your poney, or whatever hobby you might have.

Every sahm I know rides a pony ...🙄

JLou08 · Today 13:09

Ilovechristmasssssssssssss · Today 12:34

It’s not hard. A big mortgage, car payments, school fees..

School fees for children below school age?

monkeysox · Today 13:09

Ilovechristmasssssssssssss · Today 13:00

i don’t have access to the account in which bills are paid from.

That's a red flag.

Esmeraldathe3rd · Today 13:09

Tinkalinkalink · Today 12:39

When you are married, the debt your spouse accumulates is your debt too. You are responsible for it equally. Having been in that situation it was absolutely horrendous - financial abuse - and if one spouse is saying I'm running up debt, tough you will have to suck it up too - that is an incredibly destabilising position to be in .

Op what is the debt? Does he have form for this?

This is not true. If the debt isn't in both names then you don't become responsible for someone else's debt just because you married them. The money was lent to one person, the loaner can't just start chasing someone else who didn't consent just because they're married.

MostlyChickpeas · Today 13:10

LoremIpsumCici · Today 13:07

She does know…£10k per month.
And she overspends, she’s the one that ´single handedly runs the household

The financial irresponsibility is on both of them.

She said that she doesn’t have access to the bank account that the bills come out of, which I am assuming is the same one that his salary is paid into.

She also states that she didn’t know he had taken a lower paid job, which suggests she doesn’t routinely have the information of how much they receive each month.

Backedoffhackedoff · Today 13:10

bugalugs45 · Today 13:05

Someone has already asked & you didn’t answer , but you have 2 children under 5 so how do you have school fees ? I’m smelling a rat here with this story, too many inconsistencies 🤔

There are obviously no school fees.. no one puts 2 children through private school on £150k Pa. I think OP was actually just giving examples of how people who earn a lot can spend it

LoremIpsumCici · Today 13:11

Remember, you cannot flog a horse to death just because you overloaded the cart.

This sums it up perfectly imho well said @GrandmasCat

Calliopespa · Today 13:11

bugalugs45 · Today 13:05

Someone has already asked & you didn’t answer , but you have 2 children under 5 so how do you have school fees ? I’m smelling a rat here with this story, too many inconsistencies 🤔

She might mean private nursery fees - which in some cases can be quite significant.

AnonyMumAuDHD · Today 13:11

JemimaTiggywinkles · Today 12:16

He needs to stay in work while you look for a job and he looks for alternative employment. And yes, I’d seriously consider divorcing a man who doesn’t have a plan for how to feed his own kids!

I think this is the issue - he absolutely should NOT hand in his notice until he has another job lined up, especially in this market. Depending on the age of your DC you could also start planning a return to work, even if it’s just part-time. You may have agreed that this was the way you wanted things years ago, before children, but things change, people change, work environments change. He economy has completely changed in the last 5 years. It’s not the same world as the one in which you made that original decision together that you would be a SAHM. You need to be able to review.

It sounds as though he is deeply stressed and feeling overwhelmed just now, so the thing to do is calm him down and make a plan before he does anything. Sit and work on his CV together this weekend, contact some headhunters/recruitment consultants (I assume at his level that this is how it works?). Get the ball rolling and at the same time, you brush up your CV and start looking at what jobs you might be able to do PT to segue back into work. Or can you explore retraining?

Often men who are the sole breadwinners actually feel especially burdened because they KNOW they if they lose their jobs, the family has no safety net. It’s an added pressure during difficult times to know that everyone is dependent upon you and that you are, in effect, trapped whether you like the job or not. Despite it being bloody hard work, being solely responsible for children in order to facilitate your DH’d career, it is - nonetheless - a privilege that his income has been able to afford you and his children. Many women do what you [and I, a fellow SAHM] do whilst juggling FT jobs and elderly/sick parents.

When you criticise his lack of involvement, you need to remember this is what you both agreed: his sphere of operation is work/funding the family; yours is the domestic environment. You can’t moan that he is not engaged when he is doing long hours and carrying 100% of the financial burden unless you are prepared to take on some of that in exchange for his doing more at home. And that is an okay discussion to have. It may make him feel less stressed if he knows you are planning to return to work/retrain once both kids reach a certain age; it may make you feel less vulnerable to know that you do have that second smaller PT income that, perhaps, you could start putting into savings?

My DH is in finance - the events of the last few years, globally and domestically, have made his job 10x more stressful that he’d anticipated. Financial regulations seem to be changing every bloody day (only to be U-turned upon several weeks later) so many companies have no idea which way is up.

I would, as many have suggested, NOT respond by ‘WTF, if you do this I am divorcing’ but by asking him to talk though what has triggered this scenario and discuss whether it would actually be any different in another company right now, given the political uncertainty. I’d ask whether perhaps arranging some counselling via your GP (you can actually usually self-refer so don’t even need to see a GP) so that he can have a safe space in which to download and decompress, because if you implode every time he loses it - and fan the flames of his stress and angst - that doesn’t help him. He needs a space where he can speak freely without fear of triggering you [and a divorce ultimatum - I mean, in his shoes, how does that look? As though you only want him in your life because of the money he brings home. That would make any human being feel like shit.] And then ask him what could change at home and in your marriage to help him cope with work, and perhaps explain that you also feel unappreciated and might like more support at weekends etc. You need to communicate and take this opportunity to renegotiate your marriage and relationship - not throw ultimatums at each other.

If once he’s explored counselling and job opportunities you still think the relationship isn’t working, then that is another separate discussion 6-12m down the line. Right now, you need to keep him in his job and focused on fixing the issue/finding a new one and then take the next step.

Reallyneedsaholiday · Today 13:11

Only you know if you want a divorce. Theres no right or wrong answer to that.
But it sounds as if your husband needs support right now. People don't just walk out of £10,000/ month net pay jobs. Its been a long time coming. Jobs with that kind of salary tend to be high stressed positions. IF you decide you DON'T want a divorce, then try and support him. Get counselling, together and individually.
Reality check, if you decide to divorce. He will be out of a job, so very minimal child support. You would be entitled to the majority of the equity in the house, assuming the children stay with you. You will need to get a job. You would probably get a portion of his pension, but that would be untouchable until you reach retirement age. You are in serious debt, which will affect your credit rating and ability to either purchase, or rent a property. An unamicable divorce would leave you further in debt. Just for info, my own cost ME (not my exDH) £36,000. I'm still paying it back, 10 years later. Don't burn your bridges on a whim. IF you decide its what you want to do, you can absolutely do it, and you CAN make it work. But it's not going to be an "easy fix" for your problems.

Gemilo · Today 13:12

Ilovechristmasssssssssssss · Today 12:48

Yes. Said he thought he’d get a higher paid role quickly but he didn’t. I was completely unaware.

So you were running up the debt because you were 'unaware' that he had a lower paid job. Do you not check your bank account, credit card balance or finances?

HelpMeGetThrough · Today 13:12

Nobodycares · Today 12:56

He's been sacked and doesn't want to admit it.

According to OP they wouldn’t want him to leave.

Many think they are indispensable, the reality is very different.

Highly likely he’s been “invited to pursue other opportunities” or is jumping before pushed.

Backedoffhackedoff · Today 13:12

Esmeraldathe3rd · Today 13:09

This is not true. If the debt isn't in both names then you don't become responsible for someone else's debt just because you married them. The money was lent to one person, the loaner can't just start chasing someone else who didn't consent just because they're married.

It’s true that the credit card company can’t chase OP but it will be considered a martial debt which generally means the starting point would be her paying half of it in the financial settlement.

the exception would be if he agrees she doesn’t need to pay or if she tries her hand in court proving that the £150k wasn’t spent on the family.

Passaggressfedup · Today 13:13

This is not true. If the debt isn't in both names then you don't become responsible for someone else's debt just because you married them
It is very true once you are maling an application for a financial order!

Hairyfairy01 · Today 13:13

Yet she doesn’t seem to know how they spend their 7k? Surely this is the first thing to be figured out?

Catmandoude · Today 13:13

Ilovechristmasssssssssssss · Today 13:00

i don’t have access to the account in which bills are paid from.

Tell him you want access !!
We aren’t in the 1950s .

GrandmasCat · Today 13:14

GrandmasCat · Today 13:05

I suppose you are the one holding the fort at home while he is doing all the highflying which he couldn’t have done if you were not supporting him by keeping the home operation running smoothly. That is fair.

What is unfair is assuming either of you can carry the home or finances load on your shoulders alone, you both can be burned out while the other is operating as if there was no problem on the other side.

But before you decide to join the ranks of women divorcees consider these:

  • Your earning potential: He may find another job quickly but you might not especially if the responsibility of taking care of the kids fall mostly on you.
  • Whether you have 2 children or 25, the maximum he is legally obliged to pay in child maintenance is 20% of his net income and that is only if your children don’t spend any nights with their dad. You can get more if you fight this in court but after a year of an order being made either of you can contact CMS and revert the payments automatically to what I mentioned above.
  • You cannot keep the house if you cannot take the mortgage on your own
  • courts will try to leave you both on an equal footing, he will never be expected to keep paying your mortgage if that leaves him unable to house himself at a similar standard. So say good bye to your house unless you have the money to buy him out.
  • If he decides to go high executive again and doesn’t have time to see the kids… there is nothing you can do to force him to take them as agreed.
  • You might battle against all the above if you have the money to sustain that battle. You may get support for a few hours of legal aid but that is nothing compared to the solicitor and barrister costs he can pay can manage in court. I don’t regret spending £10,000s in divorce legal and court fees but it is something to consider before you start.

If his only failing is to want to leave after climbing so high in the hierarchy at work, I would suggest to play the supportive wife role, sit with him to talk about the issue and decide what steps you can take TOGETHER to reduce expenses / stress until he is in a better place.

Remember, you cannot flog a horse to death just because you overloaded the cart.

Edited

Ps. Forgot to add.. his debts are also yours when it comes to splitting the assets.

bugalugs45 · Today 13:14

Calliopespa · Today 13:11

She might mean private nursery fees - which in some cases can be quite significant.

Perhaps, but realistically if she is a SAHM children don’t need to be in full time nursery ,but that’s a whole other thread

Passaggressfedup · Today 13:14

She might mean private nursery fees - which in some cases can be quite significant
That's the most likely scenario but then OP would have to come clean that her life is not half as hard work as she she is trying to make it out to be.

LoremIpsumCici · Today 13:15

MostlyChickpeas · Today 13:10

She said that she doesn’t have access to the bank account that the bills come out of, which I am assuming is the same one that his salary is paid into.

She also states that she didn’t know he had taken a lower paid job, which suggests she doesn’t routinely have the information of how much they receive each month.

To me the comments made on the theme once he had a job that was for lower pay and didn’t mention it are not the routine but the exceptions.

She usually knew his salary (as she has known for the duration of the current job) and she knew exactly how much was spent on what (so all outgoings as she single handedly ran the household). You don’t need to look at an account statement to know that racking up £7k a month in household spends is not sustainable when income is £10k/mo gross. There are all kinds of pay packet calculators online if she didn’t want to ask her husband for a copy of a payslip.

Beachtastic · Today 13:16

Nothing lined up but says he will ‘make it work’.

Perhaps he will? Give it some time, and see? I'm saying this as someone who jacked in my job, without any financial cushion, when it became unbearable. I'm now self-employed and earn heaps more than I ever did working for arseholes.

Banabay · Today 13:16

You don't have access to the finances and he is a spender that has accumulated debt?

This is financial abuse.

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