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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Financial arrangements when DP moves in

212 replies

stella47 · 09/09/2012 14:55

Hello, I'm looking for advice, suggestions or thoughts on how to arrange finances when my DP moves in.

We've been together for a year, but not living together. I earn about £39K before tax. He is currently unemployed but will initially be looking for jobs around £12 - 15K. I'm wondering whether or not I should expect him to contribute to bills, whether we should have a joint account etc. and would really welcome any suggestions or thoughts as to how other people do things. I currently live alone, in a house I have a mortgage on, no DCs. I get anxious over financial things, and have a fear of financial insecurity.

I haven't done this before (well, not successfully!) , and would really welcome thoughts on arrangements before we start out.

He left his last job some months ago, and isn't planning to start to look for work here until he arrives. Connected to that is that he seems to have a belief that he can't get a job because of a lack of qualifications. There is no practical reason that he couldn't - he's intelligent, physically able etc but seems to be creating a self fulfilling prophecy in which he doesn't think he can get jobs or qualifications and so doesn't do anything towards it. I would be happy to support him towards doing anything he wants to do, but dont want to feel like I'm starting to "nag" him to do things.

I posted on a thread in chat and it was suggested that I start my own thread. On that thread a man was asking for opinions on financial arrangements with his wife who earned less - some people suggested that she should not be expected to contribute to household bills (the discrepancy between their salaries was high) and it's made me wonder a lot about how to do things. Thanks very much for any thoughts.

OP posts:
AThingInYourLife · 11/09/2012 07:30

Hang on - you lent him "one months rent"?

Did he ask you for that money so he could pay his rent?

Even though he was getting Housing Benefit?

Which you didn't know about?

So did he hit you up for the full monthly rent or the shortfall after HB?

If the former, that was quite dishonest, wasn't it?

And he still hasn't paid his landlord.

Where did the money go?

He's rather too at ease with "borrowing" money off you.

AThingInYourLife · 11/09/2012 07:35

Oh, and did you notice that his proposed split of bills is 50/50 only after he gets a job.

He's planning to move into your house and contribute 0% of expenses indefinitely.

And he's not even bothering to look for a job yet.

Chandon · 11/09/2012 09:47

He has borrowed money from you already.

He has no qualms about not paying his LL in full

He wants YOu to give lend hime money for removal van...

...can you see where this is going?

I am sure he is not an evil man, I am sure he really likes you and wants to eb with you. But he is ALSO playing you.

He will not seriously look for a job, obviously, as he hates working. He feels it's all not his fault, everything is someone else's fault.

There is an age where, no matter how bad your past, you have to learn to take responsibility for your own life.

I was shocked to hear you are both in your 40s, if you were early 20s I could understand he might still be unsure about what to do with his life. But 40s?

At least, if you let him move in, be honest about it: He will be a kept man. You will give him money (not "lend", "give" as obviously he'll never pay it back). You will be responsible for his wellbeing (and asking him to look for work would equate "nagging" and "being unfair" and "not understanding how it is all not his fault">

If you go into this, do it with your eyes wide open as to what this arrangement is really like. Then it might work, just don't kid yourself that you'll be paying for the privilege of having a boyfriend.

ENormaSnob · 11/09/2012 09:56

You are being taken for a ride here.

Get rid.

No good will come of this.

cestlavielife · 11/09/2012 11:19

you dont need a housekeeper.
he will only add to your financial insecurities.
if you earned say 150,000 and wanted to keeo a man for whatever reason fine - but not n your salary which is enough for you to live nicely but not for two people.

dont do it.

he has been depressed in the past (do you know his past from him or is it verified from other people?)

he will be again espec when it comes to getting a job.
dont do it.
dont give him any more money.

let him prove first that he can get a job and be an equal.

two months trial? then what; you think he would leave nicely? if he hasnt got a job??
no way... he will lay it on you, oh poor me ...

QuintessentialShadows · 11/09/2012 11:20

He must either be a real stunner, or the best man in the sack ever, for you to even consider this!

I cannot see why a woman like you, financially secure, stable, home owner, good job, will even entertain the idea of losing it all to a man who has managed to be 40 years old, with no qualifications, no "proper" job prospects, a string of dead end jobs coupled with unemplolyment, on housing benefit, in arrears with rent, thinks nothing of borrowing money from his long distance girlfriend to pay rent (or other debtors you dont know about?) and removal costs, who cant be bothered to look for work.

Seriously, you need to get some sense knocked into you (in the nicest possible way)

Take my dh. Not a rosy child hood, rather neglected, lived partly with grandparents, partly with his aunt, left home at 16, no qualifications other than secondary, came to London on his own aged 18 from an Eastern European country, worked all hours, kitchen porter, bar staff, hotel staff, went to college in the day time and worked evenings/nights in a pub and 6 am breakfast shifts in hotels, weekends doing silver service waitering at functions, basically working his socks off. Then he met me. Overseas student with wealthy parents, living in a warehouse (cos it was fun). He never asked to borrow money. He never expected me to pay for anything. He wanted to treat me instead. (He never asked about money, or how I was funding my degree or anything). I moved in with him, and we split his rent 50/50 ( a room in a flat share) and went 50 / 50 on bills. Fast forward and he managed to work himself up in IT, and then started his own IT company before the age of 30.

Stop listening to his excuses as to why he has shit jobs and no earning potential. If he has not managed to get qualifications, or a decent job by the age of 40, the ship has honestly sailed. It is not going to happen now.

You need to recognize that you are dealing with a no hope sponger, that feels that the world owes him a living, money, lottery wins, etc.

You need to make a conscious decision whether you want to take on the responsibility for a 40 year old grown man (that you dont really know because you have only been long distance dating and seen each other at the weekends with no responsibilities and where life has been about fun and sex) and pay for his keep, and listening to his no hope dreams and agonizing over this and that job opportunity that did not materialize.

What makes you think he will manage to find (or even look for) work in a new town where he has no network, no connections? He is going to spend months just getting to know the place. Then he is going to start hang out with people, so that he can get close to people who could offer him work. Then he needs to develop a social network, and he will start going out (asking for beer money, cap in hand) and you find that not only are you funding his living, his grooming like hairdressers and new clothes to look presentable for job hunting, his upkeep, his nights out and his socializing.

Good Luck Stella, you need it!

WhereYouLeftIt · 11/09/2012 12:42

Oh Stella this is all a bit of a shock, isn't it? I can understand how this has happened. It has taken a whole year to get to this point; your own alarms would have rung loud and clear if it had happened faster. It's because we're coming to the situation with that whole year condensed into a few hours that the problems scream at us. (Plus of course the MNers with personal experience of similar situations.)

He needn't be the type who plans to prey on others (although I wouldn't altogether rule it out - borrowing rent money when he's getting housing benefit and still owes the landlord is a bit suspect). He may, perhaps, be the type who takes the path of least resistance. He does sound very passive to me - it all seems to be 'thinking about' doing something or 'planning to' do something, but no actual DOING, be it jobhunting, paying the landlord, or even just being realistic ( "I told him about my thoughts about his lottery winning plans - he said that he agreed, and that he'd thought of stopping buying tickets because it wasn't a realistic plan." But presumably hasn't actually stopped.) Once he moved in and it didn't work out (and it wouldn't - you do see that, don't you?) this passivity would still be there, and he'd plan to move out, and he'd think about applying for housing benefit, and it would all be so much effort, and he'd find it so much easier to just be depressed about it all and NOTHING would actually happen.

Be kind to yourself. Do not blame yourself for not spotting it sooner. As I said, it's easier for the rest of us as we've had the precis rather than the 500 page novel. But do not let his passivity rub off on you, and allow yourself to go with the path of least resistance, and let him move in. And not nag him about getting a job. And 'lend' him money. Good luck.

expatinscotland · 11/09/2012 15:06

How is this man feeding himself if he's not claiming JSA?

olgaga · 11/09/2012 15:19

No I just don't think you should have him in your home until he is solvent. Sorry but there's being kind and being a complete mug and you'd be the latter if you went ahead.

How is he feeding himself? It's a good question. Have you ever been to his place? How do you know he's not actually living with parents/with a partner?

If this man hasn't sorted himself out by now believe me he never will. They don't change. You have been warned!

nightowlmostly · 11/09/2012 19:13

I've read all this and agree with the majority. To be honest, I'd advise against moving in with someone that you have only seen at weekends regardless of any of the other issues! You need to get to know each other properly first.

As far as the cocklodger (love that phrase) aspect, tell him to move nearer to you first and sort himself out. If he's not trying to sponge off you he should have no problem doing that. Try and be strong, don't fall for any guilt trips he may throw at you! If he's not prepared to do that then you'll be well rid.

Chandon · 13/09/2012 07:31

so, OP, what are you going to do???

(I always want to know what happens to people who post a dilemma)

stella47 · 13/09/2012 08:53

Hi Chandon! I've been in a Land With No Internet for a couple of days so I've just been catching up with everyone's thoughts and suggestions. I haven't spoken to DP for a couple of days. The last conversation we had he said he would be looking for jobs and thought he'd be able to get something pretty quickly, and was assuming we would be going 50:50 on bills and paying my money back - I know I need to go on action rather than words. What I think I am going to do is speak to him about the being 40'swith no qualifications bit - what he thinks he's telling me when he's telling me this. I completely understand how he could get to his 20's with no qualifications, it's the following 20 years that concern me. And it's not about qualifications as such, more that he's saying this is why he can't get stuff now. He is open to trying to do things differently, and I want to see if there is a way of working this out (but he has to do the work, not me) - I'm planning a conversation of - I have great sympathy with childhood trauma but don't think this accounts for no qualifications now - if he moves in it is 2 months trial - if then no job or otherwise not working he moves out, and I need him to tell me now how he would fund that. Any suggestions regarding this conversation (or anything else) very welcome! My family (sblings, dad), who have met him, are keen for him to move in, but I haven't told them as much as I've told you (yeah, I know, I didn't want to tell my family his personal info, so I told the Whole Internet...)

OP posts:
marriednotdead · 13/09/2012 09:00

It will be almost impossible to get him out once he is in. There's nothing to stop h

stella47 · 13/09/2012 09:00

Oh, and he's always telling me what nice things he'd do for me/what a nice life we'll have when he wins the lottery - I'm gonna say that I'm hoping for a bit more than "I love you so much that I'll buy a lottery ticket"....

OP posts:
marriednotdead · 13/09/2012 09:03

Sorry, posting on bloody phone! Once he's in you won't be able to shift him as his feet will be wedged under your table.

Please please listen to the collective wisdom here and keep him out until he has a job.

You may be the solution to all his problems but he will be the start of yours.

Chandon · 13/09/2012 09:40

the lottery thing is such a worry, as it is a reason NOT to have a proper plan. I'd say, great, play the lottery, but how are you/we going to live until that happens.

Also, once he has moved in, and has no money, no job and claims depression, he will just never shift, will he?!

Why not make it work for 2 months living apart, to show you he can hold down a job, and THEN move in?!

I bet you that after 2 months at yours he will simply not go. Think about this. What would you do if you say "time is up" and he says: "well, I am not leaving/can't leave as am poor/depressed. What are you going to do about it?". What would you do? Call your dad to move him out? Call the police?

Also, by then you will have invested in him, financially and emotionally, and you have to accept that you will never get back any "loans". I think.

At least, go into it with your eyes wide open. I don't think he is bad, or unkind, but he is a sponger...unless he proves otherwise.

MonkeyRisotto · 13/09/2012 10:12

Just adding my 2p here, I agree with what the vast majority have said. Please please please don't let him move in with you until he has proved he can find and stick with a job. Anyone basing anything on winning the lottery is deluded. If you play the lottery twice a week for 134000 years you're likely to win it once.

Anniegetyourgun · 13/09/2012 10:27

XH always told me that once this or that comes good he would make "a lot of money". To everyone's great not-surprise, this never happened.

ArtVandelay · 13/09/2012 10:32

Can i shout "STELLA!" Please don't do it, you'll never get him back out and it'll end in very nasty fights and recriminations. I'd write of the money 'loan' and just chalk it up to experience. Every time you feel you want to give your money away like this, I want you to go and buy yourself some beautiful flowers or some cashmere gloves, or give some to Save the Children or something.

hattifattner · 13/09/2012 10:38

stella, you are looking for happy ever after. This is not it. The man is a sponger, with no prospects, looking for a sugar mummy.

Will you be able to have an equal, respectful relationship with a man that lives on dreams of lottery wins and the high life at your expense. 2 years down the road, when the honeymoon period is over, will you respect him, or pity him, or resent him?

He might be a nice guy, but once he has his slippers under the bed, you will not find it easy to get rid of him. He already plays you like a fiddle.

I predict he will find some dead end job, then quit over some irrelevancy so he can stay at home, depressed, for months. Rinse, repeat.

If this is the kind of long term relationship you want, then great. But I cannot imagine anyone would want this.

Please dont settle for this kind of life because you fear you do not deserve/will never get the kind of love and life you actually want. No one should settle for second best with a loser who will never be your equal.

WhereYouLeftIt · 13/09/2012 12:19

"he's always telling me what nice things he'd do for me/what a nice life we'll have when he wins the lottery"
Deluded. Passive. Unmotivated. With just a hint of self-pity.

If he moves in, you will never get him out.

Mogyzogwon · 13/09/2012 13:37

"You may be the solution to all his problems but he will be the start of yours" posted earlier by Marriedbutnotdead.

True and sound advice,,,TAKE NOTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

littlebluechair · 13/09/2012 13:47

Do not move in with this man! I can not shout it loud enough. Please, please stop and think, you are moving in with a man who thinks he's going to win the lottery????

Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.

Oh, you're going to do it, aren't you?

QuintessentialShadows · 13/09/2012 13:52

Well, at least you are going into this with your eyes wide open, and willingly jump into the quicksilver with rocks fastened to your ankles.

Good luck.

littlebluechair · 13/09/2012 13:57

Some people like the idea of 'rescuing' someone. But people can't be rescued, they have to want to change themselves.

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