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Parenting

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Partner wants to share bank account

384 replies

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 13:42

My partner has started saying he thinks we should put all of our salaries into one bank account which both can have access to spend from as they see fit. All bills etc would come out of this account. I earn about £1000 more than him per month and I get a small amount of maintenance from my ex which my partner also wants to go into this joint account. Currently I pay 70% all household bills and most meals out and activities etc. I feel it is unfair as he is bad with money and has several debts he incurred before we met for example his flash car, and for music equipment he bought on finance. I don’t think I should have to pay for his poor choices. Also I have a very demanding job and worked really hard to get to where I am in my career. He chose to go travelling instead of getting an education, again I don’t see why I have to give up my hard earned money because he decided not to get an education or pick a career. I don’t expect him to pay my way and I buy most things for our son and everything for my own son from a previous relationship. He says I am being unreasonable and selfish, what are other people’s perspectives on this?

OP posts:
RP1176 · 09/01/2024 15:47

Also if he was a higher earner I still wouldn’t want to do the salaries in one pot thing. If someone is a higher earner it means nothing if they are also the higher spender

OP posts:
Wemetatascoutcamp · 09/01/2024 15:48

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 14:45

There are plenty of people on here saying they do this so I don’t think it’s that unusual which is why I am unsure if I am being unreasonable saying no or not. I was married to my ex and we never did this: we split all bills 50:50 and both paid the correct amount into a joint account. There was never even a discussion of who earned more or had more left over. We just both kept the remainder of our own money. My partner says this is why my previous relationship didn’t work out

Didn’t see this post when I posted before. Yes lots of people will have joint accounts whether they are married or just cohabiting just the same as plenty married/cohabiting people (myself included) don’t. The important thing is you respect each other and financially support each other- this man wants to financially abuse you and is gaslighting you into agreeing. If he was being genuine he would never mention subsidising your DC’s baths and whatever other nonsense he’s spouted.
From what you’ve said he has plenty of disposable income- he’s the greedy one wanting to get his hands on more!

Mrsttcno1 · 09/01/2024 15:48

I’m not suggesting he doesn’t have faults, and personally I wouldn’t be with someone who would be petty enough to use my child in any kind of argument because he lives/eats/bathes there- BUT in general terms, OP & him are not at all functioning as a family unit financially, they are still just like room mates really, or rather DP is like a lodger. As evidenced by the fact OP has said she pays for days out, she pays for nappies, household things etc. There is a much much bigger conversation to be had here about finances in my opinion.

You are a family, you’re living together, share a child, thinking of marriage- at that point you really need to be sitting together and sorting finances out first. It shouldn’t be you paying for everything and him just making a set contribution of £500, you need to be sitting and even just go over your statements for a month and write down every single nappy, tub of formula, pack of wipes, toilet roll, toothpaste, kitchen toll, muslin, blanket, loaf of bread- EVERYTHING and see how much that comes to in a month. He shouldn’t just be giving you £500 of his wages towards ALL of that plus rent etc, you should be sharing these costs much more than you are because I’m positive that £500 does not even cover a third of what you are currently spending.

He is not wrong in saying that for most married couples, regardless of your individual set ups, money IS “family money”. If you’re not going to combine money and you don’t trust him to do that, then as a minimum you do need to be sitting down and having a proper conversation about how your finances as a unit look. Show him what it would look like to ACTUALLY be “sharing” the family costs by using a different method of “sharing” rather than one big pot.

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Namerequired · 09/01/2024 15:48

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 14:45

There are plenty of people on here saying they do this so I don’t think it’s that unusual which is why I am unsure if I am being unreasonable saying no or not. I was married to my ex and we never did this: we split all bills 50:50 and both paid the correct amount into a joint account. There was never even a discussion of who earned more or had more left over. We just both kept the remainder of our own money. My partner says this is why my previous relationship didn’t work out

Even those saying they do it are saying not a chance they would do it in your circumstances

IMustDoMoreExercise · 09/01/2024 15:48

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 13:49

Interesting you do that as I honestly don’t know anyone who does except my parents but I thought that was a generational thing. He wants to get married and says that all married couples he knows do this. And he disagrees he is bad with money. So I don’t really know what to do as he is saying I’m not committed to the relationship if I don’t. He says it should not be “my money” but “our money”. I certainly don’t see why he should have access to maintenance money which comes from my ex and is for my son

And he disagrees he is bad with money.

I would dump him. This relationship is going to cause you so much grief because he is irresponsible and will never grow up.

Wishitsnows · 09/01/2024 15:48

Why would childcare fees be split 70 30 when he has already said he would go for 50 50 if you dare split with him. This guy sounds terrible. Is it your or his grandparents that will be helping with childcare?

Tryingmybestadhd · 09/01/2024 15:49

I earn more than my partner ( 150%) more so I pay all housing related bills and we both put money for day spending and food shopping in a joint account that we both have access too . This way we both have our own spending money . You can both out money in a shared account for bills etc and keep some to yourself .

MzHz · 09/01/2024 15:49

This guy is telling you loud and clear who he is.

he wants your money
your son’s money
his flash car at your expense
his music stuff on the never never

and he’s trying to guilt trip you into fucking yourself over.

say no, mean no and be very clear, he is threatening you to take your baby unless you do what he wants.

he needs to go.

thirdfiddle · 09/01/2024 15:54

You can both out money in a shared account for bills etc and keep some to yourself .

That's what my and DH do. But I can trust him not to inappropriately spend joint account money on his personal spending and run it into an overdraft. Can OP trust her partner not to do that? I'm saying no. He thinks he has the right to spend all OP's money. A joint account is just handing him a tool to do so. However little is initially deposited in it, it won't be there when bill paying time comes.

Eyesopenwideawake · 09/01/2024 16:00

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 14:40

He says if we split he wants our baby son 5 days a week and I have him 2 days so that I would have to pay maintenance to him

He says quite a lot doesn't he? All of it bullshit of course.

Do you want to stay with this prince of a man?

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 16:02

Both sets of grandparents would help out with childcare. My parents have health problems so they would do one day while his parents would do 2. And this all came about after we had the baby. No mention of joint accounts prior. Basically a discussion was had at his work place and someone said they strongly disagree with separate finances if you have a child together so this sparked my partner to start saying he wanted this joint account for both salaries.

OP posts:
Jollyoldfruit · 09/01/2024 16:05

I wouldn't discuss it.
Just say no and if he doesn't like it he can go and find somewhere else all in for £500 a month - good luck with that.
He won't get more than 50-50 custody.

TeeBee · 09/01/2024 16:07

Ha ha ha ha ha. Not a fucking chance.

...would be my response to that!

Hatenewyear · 09/01/2024 16:08

The hypocrisy of MN is rife on this thread. If it was role reversal almost everyone would be saying he was mean for not wanting to share accounts. Insane!

MILTOBE · 09/01/2024 16:09

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 16:02

Both sets of grandparents would help out with childcare. My parents have health problems so they would do one day while his parents would do 2. And this all came about after we had the baby. No mention of joint accounts prior. Basically a discussion was had at his work place and someone said they strongly disagree with separate finances if you have a child together so this sparked my partner to start saying he wanted this joint account for both salaries.

I doubt he explained that he pays £500 all in, is in debt and thinks you should pay for that, thinks the child's maintenance from its dad should be spent on him, and that you barely spend anything on yourself.

therealcookiemonster · 09/01/2024 16:09

Hatenewyear · 09/01/2024 16:08

The hypocrisy of MN is rife on this thread. If it was role reversal almost everyone would be saying he was mean for not wanting to share accounts. Insane!

I suggest you read ALL of the OP's posts

MILTOBE · 09/01/2024 16:11

Perhaps when he moves out he could tell his landlord that he won't be contributing towards his mortgage.

SunflowerSeeds123 · 09/01/2024 16:13

I was married for 18 years, in a relationship with ex for 23 years. We always had separate bank accounts. Now we are divorcing, I'm glad, it makes things so much easier. He also had separate savings and investments, as do I.

Ponderingwindow · 09/01/2024 16:13

A similar approach to money and desire to have a strong financial future is one of my criteria for choosing a partner in the first place. I am often baffled how people encounter this dilemma, because I can’t see how the relationship ever got serious.

as you have a joint child and a non-joint child you must protect from his irresponsibility , I would refuse to completely join finances.

Outforlunchallday · 09/01/2024 16:14

I do hope reading these replies helps you to open your eyes to what a greedy grabby tight git your partner is.
He wants ALL of your money while handing over as little as possible from his own.
Honestly, I would chuck him out. He can say he will get 5/7 days but that will not happen. Quite simply, he’s a massive nasty twat.

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 09/01/2024 16:16

It's what I always did, but it only works if you trust each other

Snoken · 09/01/2024 16:17

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 09/01/2024 16:16

It's what I always did, but it only works if you trust each other

Would you in OP's situation though? I know I wouldn't, but I might with someone else.

Reugny · 09/01/2024 16:19

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 16:02

Both sets of grandparents would help out with childcare. My parents have health problems so they would do one day while his parents would do 2. And this all came about after we had the baby. No mention of joint accounts prior. Basically a discussion was had at his work place and someone said they strongly disagree with separate finances if you have a child together so this sparked my partner to start saying he wanted this joint account for both salaries.

His work place likely contains people without children from another relationship and couples who both have the same attitude to money.

Mrsttcno1 · 09/01/2024 16:20

RP1176 · 09/01/2024 16:02

Both sets of grandparents would help out with childcare. My parents have health problems so they would do one day while his parents would do 2. And this all came about after we had the baby. No mention of joint accounts prior. Basically a discussion was had at his work place and someone said they strongly disagree with separate finances if you have a child together so this sparked my partner to start saying he wanted this joint account for both salaries.

See I think this is why you really need a bigger chat about finances in general.

Because that is sort of right (in my opinion), once you have a child together it does make no sense to have separate finances because of the sheer amount of things you need to spend money on for that child. For most couples, not having some form of joint finances when you have a child would be a logistical nightmare because you would forever be transferring each other money “I bought a pack of nappies today so you owe me £5, I took her to a baby class today so you owe me £7, she needed a new coat so you need to send me £15, she needed new shoes so send me £10 etc etc”. Kids always need something so having separate finances doesn’t really make sense at that point because you’re always going to be sending each other money OR one person ends up paying for everything, like you are.

He’s absolutely right in saying that once you have a child you should be sharing finances, which means he should be paying towards childcare, towards nappies, towards formula, clothes, food, baby groups, everything.

You need to sit down together and look properly and what a fair split looks like.

CurlewKate · 09/01/2024 16:20

We have a joint account t hat we both contribute to according to our salaries, and which we use to pay all household and joint expenses. And we keep any money left on in our own private accounts to use as we see fit.

It's worked for 37 years!