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Spouse deciding to retire early, spending our savings

227 replies

bestcoffeepot · 17/11/2021 16:13

Not sure where to post this really, AIBU, relationships or money matters.

After being furloughed last year, briefly working again and then being made redundant, my spouse seems to have decided not to bother working any more. They are almost 55 so can start to draw the pension from former employers shortly.

They won't discuss the matter with me at all. Things went downhill fast in the relationship during their time on furlough when I naturally expected that they'd be doing the bulk of stuff around the house as I was having to work harder than ever at that time. They do about as much round the house as our teenage kids (don't get me wrong, the kids do enough but I'd expect a SAHP to do a great deal more than their own kids)

The thing is we'll be dipping into our savings every month if they are just receiving a reduced pension amount because of early retirement. The redundancy pay sum is half gone already having been used to balance the budget each month since they stopped getting a salary.

It's like we've saved all these years (a chunk of those savings are needed to contribute to the kids Uni years almost upon us) and, with no discussion at all, one of us has just decided to spend those savings now, on funding a "pottering about", retired lifestyle whilst the other has to keep working with no chance of a gradual decreasing of hours as they age/approach retirement (as we'll need every penny).

It's the lack of discussion over the matter that appals me. Those savings were created my me as much as them even though I was the lower earner as I covered most of the day to day house and child related stuff whilst also working full time.

I have lost all respect for them and I'm feeling trapped because having unburdened myself to a friend, they suggested that divorce will only increase our combined costs with 2 homes to run etc and cost us in solicitors fees too.

What can I do, realistically ?

OP posts:
BonneMaman15 · 17/11/2021 18:20

@Spunout agree with above. Move money now, decide what to do later. But for it would be the end.

LowlandLucky · 17/11/2021 18:21

Divorce now before you end up penniless

StrongArm · 17/11/2021 18:21

OP, one thing I learned the hard way is not to assume that people know what you're thinking, even those you are close to.

If your partner won't discuss it, can you tell them how you feel with the knowledge they may not respond? so literally 'I am thinking of leaving you because I can't cope with this'. 'Please tell me if there are any mitigating factors that I'm not seeing'.

I have huge sympathies for you because resentment builds so quickly and it's really hard to get it to go once it's there

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 17/11/2021 18:22

Sounds remarkably like my mother. Hmm

TooWicked · 17/11/2021 18:25

Honestly, I’d divorce and split the savings now, as my resentment would undoubtedly mean divorce further down the line anyway.

Better to get half of the savings now than half of nothing when your spouse has burned through all of your savings in their early retirement.

KatherineJaneway · 17/11/2021 18:26

@LowlandLucky

Divorce now before you end up penniless
Agree
Tallisimo · 17/11/2021 18:27

It really isn’t fair for you OH to decide this without any discussion. Have you asked them why they aren’t willing to talk about something so important, something that will have a big impact on you?

SenecaFallsRedux · 17/11/2021 18:27

OP, Could there be some mental health issues present with your spouse?
I say this because I know several people who are in counseling because they find being motivated in their work so hard as a result of things they have experienced during the pandemic. I don't know anyone who has walked away completely from work, but I know several who want to. I don't have any particular advice or suggestion, except maybe to explore this possibility in hopes that it could be remedied in some way.

Etinoxaurus · 17/11/2021 18:30

Why the 'spouse, them, their' malarky? You have dc, your sexes are pretty relevant. Who took ML?

Chloemol · 17/11/2021 18:30

I would I immediately move half the savings into an account they can’t touch, or even all of them

I would then have another conversation along the lines that you can’t pay for everything, that they have a responsibility to the children as well and need to step up

It may well be your kids may have to do what lots of others do and get full grants and find part time jobs

In the meantime they need to pay half the bills, without dipping into savings, if they choose to use redundancy money fine, but ask the question about what are they going to do once it’s gone.

But yes I would be getting ready to leave. Hopefully your money can support you and the kids, your spouse may need to pat child maintenance, but not being able to afford to live becomes their problem only

NigellaAwesome · 17/11/2021 18:33

Are you sure there isn't a medical issue at play that you haven't been told about? Did they get burnt out? Are they depressed?

Was the relationship already in difficulties before this?

It seems very odd that they won't tolerate any discussion at all.

hotmeatymilk · 17/11/2021 18:35

I agree. I would divorce over this.

I wouldn’t wait til everyone’s gone to bed to cry, though – I would show my spouse exactly what this behaviour was doing and explain the burden I was shouldering.

In the meantime, transfer half the savings out and look at what savings can be made and corners cut to prevent disaster. Particularly things that benefit them only and create costs beyond what their redundancy payout will pay for: ie if there’s X amount per month of redundancy left, that X pays for share of bills and food before it pays for magazine subs, clubs, etc.

whatwasIgoingtosay · 17/11/2021 18:35

I really dislike these 'gender blind' threads. Why call your 'spouse' 'they' so carefully?

CampagVelocet · 17/11/2021 18:39

It's very unfair of him or her to do this to you. Doing it without any discussion is borderline financial abuse I would say.

The gender blind writing is v distracting - I'm guessing you're a man and your spouse is a woman, and you're nervous about getting your arse handed to you here?

WTF475878237NC · 17/11/2021 18:43

Why aren't you saying the sex of your spouse? If it isn't relevant why omit it?

1forAll74 · 17/11/2021 19:06

I was wondering why this partner refuses to discuss this serious matter, that is now affecting your life.. it's a truly awful situation.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 17/11/2021 19:07

Early retirement would 100% need to be a joint decision if you’re not in a financial situation where you both don’t really need to work. I’d be nightly pissed off if my DH did this and he would be if I did too.

Magicalwoodlands · 17/11/2021 19:12

@WTF475878237NC

Why aren't you saying the sex of your spouse? If it isn't relevant why omit it?
Because he’s a man and the spouse is a woman.
KeyboardWorriers · 17/11/2021 19:12

Why are you so determined to be gender neutral throughout? It's excruciating to read.

My advice would be the same whether they are male or female. After work and essential chores are done you should both have an equal amount of leisure time (I specify "essential' because some people do a lot of non essential 'chores' in my opinion - ironing bedding for instance- and the non working spouse shouldn't feel they have to do those)

KeyboardWorriers · 17/11/2021 19:12

@Magicalwoodlands yes I am sure that will be the case too

CruellaDeVilla · 17/11/2021 19:14

@Rtmhwales

I'd be getting a divorce in this case and having half the savings. No way I'd be funding this without even so much as a discussion.
Yep, me too
CruellaDeVilla · 17/11/2021 19:15

We both earn similar amounts
Neither of us would think this was ok

Viviennemary · 17/11/2021 19:15

I would get a divorce. I'd rather be worse off than subsidise a selfish person.

Garriet · 17/11/2021 19:19

If my husband made a unilateral decision like this, he’d be on his own.
Agree with others, you need to lay out clearly that this would mean divorce imminently and before your joint savings were drained dry.

MrsJamPanMan · 17/11/2021 19:27

@StrongArm

OP, one thing I learned the hard way is not to assume that people know what you're thinking, even those you are close to.

If your partner won't discuss it, can you tell them how you feel with the knowledge they may not respond? so literally 'I am thinking of leaving you because I can't cope with this'. 'Please tell me if there are any mitigating factors that I'm not seeing'.

I have huge sympathies for you because resentment builds so quickly and it's really hard to get it to go once it's there

Yes, I agree. I have sympathy too.