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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

He's a semi-cocklodger, isn't he? really long. sorry.

98 replies

hereiamagain22 · 24/01/2016 02:00

Sitting here crying because I love him but I've had enough (and also I'm drunk).

I don't know where to start.

Got together 3 years ago. He had problems/baggage; so did I after one fucking awful break up from e.a ex.

He was great mostly but a very nasty drunk a lot (emotional abuse). Came to a peak last new year and I was going to dump him but we talked and he sorted himself out -mostly. Was still a cunt a handful of times in 2015, drink-related.

When things are good they are great. He suits me and accepts me and I love him and I do not doubt he loves me a lot. I just love the little coupley stuff we do all the time and how comfortable I am being myself 100% with him. But...

he's selfish in some ways. But so am I, so AIBU or what? I'm so confused. I love him but I also resent him.

On the good side - we are a great couple, in love, lots in common, I feel a real connection and we just seem to 'fit' in a way I haven't felt with anyone else. In many ways he is perfect. The cocklodger tag isnt right because he does loads of housework etc (more than me) so not a typical cocklodger. but... I think I'm being taken for a mug sometimes.

Financially - we live together. I earn 21k and he earns 26K. We rent and that and all bills are in my name because he had shit credit record. We were both financially up shit creek when we met but both now got new jobs. I still pay all the bills, all of them, apart from he will give me 50% of electric bill every quarter (all electric flat) and he usually covers car costs. We share car - it belongs to me but he uses it to commute to work as not possible by public transport. This has been the case since about a month after we met and his car died and I could then walk to work. My new job, I get bus one way and he gives me a lift the other. However, the tax was due after Xmas and he had no money so I paid it. I also bought his parents Christmas presents as he had no money. I am so fed up with this - I understand we were both in shit financial situation in past but now it's different and I resent it as I feel he does nothing but constantly ponce off me even though he earns more. I'm not one to ask for money or count every penny contribution - but I would feel embarrassed if I were him.He pays nothing towards rent, council tax, etc etc.

To be fair, we alternate cooking weeks and on his week he buys groceries and cleaning stuff. I'm sure he feels he contributes fairly. I was also also unemployed for 3 months last year and he paid all bills but by God did he moan about it.

So...about 4 months ago he suddenly said to me he'd pay me £100 a week towards all the bills if I put him on the council tax/electoral roll (he wasnt on them, he was living here 'unofficially'. Great, I thought, at last, he had a fair point not paying much as unofficial. I put him on council tax. I've not had a fucking extra penny off him, just the usual half the electric bills.

He has hobbies that cost money and I don't have any money left after paying the bills. ~He still constantly goes out drinking with mates although each time he doesn't spend a fortune it all adds up. He plays football at £13 a week. He goes to watch his local team - for example today he spent £30 on a coach to an away match plus ticket. If I say anything I'm unreasonable as they aren't exactly huge amounts and everyone should be able to do stuff like this. I agree. But then I can't do fuck-all as I use all my money to pay the bills.

It came to a head for me tonight. I could put up with all of this even though I know I'm a mug. But it's a 'big' birthday for me this year. ~He's been saying for 2 years he will take me away for my birthday. It started off as taking me abroad. then it was the Uk and I didn't mind because I'm the least materialistic person ever.

But it's only a few weeks away and I know damn well nothing has been done or saved by him. I know it. This weekend he went out last night boozing with his mates till nearly 2am. Then he went to football with the coach to away match and ticket. then we went out tonight (fairly cheaply) to see a local band for one of his mates birthdays. Towards the end of the evening he decided he wanted us to go on to the local pub (that stays open till 2amish) and I just had enough and said I wanted to go home and how can he afford it and he'd better have something left for my birthday because he's been promising to take me away for the last two years.

His response: 'Have I?' with a somewhat panicky look on his face.

I know he won't. I knew before tonight he would let me down. He could have saved £5 a week for a few months by cutting down just very very slightly and that would have done it. A night in a travelodge would have made me happt but all he cares about is playing football, watching football, and throwing beers down his fucking selfish throat. Right? And then today he's been talking about spending out to go see a show in the West End that is all what he wants to see, not me. And going on a £500 fishing fucking holiday his friend is arranging (we have never been able to afford a holiday).

I've been avoiding the whole topic of my birthday because I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't. If I don't say anything he will let me down and I will be devastated because it's the one fucking thing I've expected him to pay for in years and he promised me. If I do, then I know he'll scrape up enough for a night away but pretend he was going to do it along but I know different and it just isn't the same.

He's a selfish, financially abusive cunt, isnt he. (Let's not even mention stuff like my dad died in september and he sort of acted like nothing major was happening. Let me sit at my Dads bedside by myself and watch him die,when all my siblings had their partners there to support them. And when I got home that night he was drunk and watching rugby on TV when I came in and just said 'you alright' then straight away just turned round to watch the fucking rugby again. I'm not proud of it but I went and kicked him in the shin and told him to turn the TV off. then he got very drunk and passed out snoring on the bed while I was sitting on it crying my eyes out all night on my own about my Dad. And when I told him the next morning he'd been a prick he went out in a huff for over an hour and told me he didn't know if he'd even come back. I'm ashamed to say I begged him to, and cryed over him and told him I needed him. Why should i even have to say that? He was sorry and he did then step up and give me the support I needed, but too littel too fucking late frankly, and his sorry excuse was that 'he's no good with emotions'. Even at the time I thought 'fuck you, this isn't about you' but I took what I could get.

I've made him sound like a shit. I don't think (I hope?) he doesn't do it deliberatly. He just sees the world in a selfish way. I'm so upset as this could be the best thing ever for both of us - I can't say how well we match up otherwise and we can make each other so happy and he really does have loads of good qualities as well - but he has a blind spot about how selfish he can be. Yes, he should be able to go to football and drinking with his mates. I don't have a problem with that. But it's at my fucking expense all the time. I have zero money to do anything at all for myself. I've spent every penny of my saving just keeping a roof over our heads. He just can't see it.

I feel so let down over my birthday but then I also feel it sounds like I'm spoiled brat having a hissy fit over not beingg treated for my birthday.

I don't know what my question is. I don't want us to split up. I'm not materialistic but I do have a lot of resentment that is changing how I look at him Talking about it makes no difference. He makes the right noises, agrees with me, but does nothing different. Oh jeez, I have to tell him to go, don't I. That'll break my heart.

OP posts:
hereiamagain22 · 25/01/2016 19:44

I'm fine, thank you.

He was rather late home (grrr...trying to avoid 'the talk' I know) but not drunk and we did discuss it.

Result - standing order set up and a rather chastened chap.

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 25/01/2016 20:04

I'm another who thought you were 30. Then I thought, no, maybe she's 20 because surely by 30 you wouldn't accept crap like that. But you are 50! Why on earth did you get yourself into a position where all he was paying for was his half of the electricity?

What would he say if you said, "By the way, why don't you pay any rent? Or any water bills? Or internet?" What could he say to that, particularly given he earns more than you?

You really have to wise up. You should be saving up for retirement rather than funding this selfish bastard.

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 25/01/2016 20:41

Good luck op. I hope that is it sorted.

Joysmum · 25/01/2016 20:50

Fingers crossed his newly chastened attitude stays. Best of luck for your future.

CalleighDoodle · 25/01/2016 21:20

Of he cancels that SO, or ignores your birthday, he needs to go
Immediately.

tangerinesarenottheonlyfruit · 25/01/2016 22:34

hereiamagain22 well done for taking the bull by the horns and having the talk.

I hope things go well from now on.

How did he take it, was he contrite?

hereiamagain22 · 25/01/2016 22:52

Yes, he still maintains it wasn't deliberate. I don't think it was deliberate in a 'ha let's take the piss here' but certainly he was making bad decisions and poor behaviour and as I pointed out he is responsible for that.

I think a lot of it comes from his never really having to budget/plan financially for most of his life. He used to earn a very good salary so whatever he wanted he could just buy or do without having to think about it, ever sine he was a teenager, just on a whim. He hasn't adjusted well to not being able to do that, but it's time for him to be adultier about it all.

OP posts:
Hedgehogparty · 25/01/2016 22:55

Wasn't there for you when you really needed him when your dad died.
And why on earth did you end up buying his parents Christmas presents? Was he lazy, mean - or probably both?
He sounds a selfish 100% cocklodger . The thing with the council tax confirms it.

AnyFucker · 25/01/2016 23:02

cocklodger with a semi ? Poor show.

you have to tell him how to step up and pay his share ? That's not "thoughtlessness" that is freeloading

you are infantilising him, and he is lapping it up

you have even had to do all the thinking around this financial plan, he hasn't even had to apply his poor little manbrain to that, has he ?

LovesPeace · 26/01/2016 01:56

The thing is, you shoukdn''t have to tell him, and do all the work. And the birthday thing - just shit.

You can do so much better.

hereiamagain22 · 26/01/2016 07:08

No, I shouldn't have to tell him. But pragmatically, without really excusing him, I did need to and I did, and he's taken notice.

The birthday remains to be seen.

OP posts:
tillyann2013 · 26/01/2016 07:25

I hope he's been secretly planning something amazing for your birthday!

Thattimeofyearagain · 26/01/2016 07:37

Good luck and best wishes. Some CAN change. Mine did.

Prayingforsnow · 26/01/2016 07:42

Well I hope the money actually materialises and he is not fobbing you off.

Stormtreader · 26/01/2016 14:47

No-one is so thoughtless that they dont realise "hey, I'm paying no rent!"

Hes out playing football, boozing and holidaying with his mates, driving a car you pay for, while paying a token rent, out of a salary higher than yours.

Youre not his partner, youre his mum.

LovelyFriend · 26/01/2016 15:51

well you are making an awful lot of allowances for him, a grown up person. I bet you are a lovely people - cocklodgers are great and finding lovely women to manipulate into funding their lives.

Good news about the standing order - has he increased the amount he pays you to cover the weeks he agreed to pay you but didn't? is he intending to make up those arrears? I'm assuming he is paid weekly?

Actually I would avoid using any reference to "paying you" (as I learned from my own experience). He isn't PAYING YOU at all, but merely covering the living expenses of his own life. the cost of his own life. His very own cost of living. Which you are kindly managing on behalf of both of you (because we all know what would happen if you left it to him). Be very clear about that.

I hope he comes through with a nice birthday treat for you, and really changes and start being responsible for himself. Like you know, a grown up would.

But I fear any change will be short lived and he will just keep throwing you bones. It's worked for him for 3 years already .....

LovelyFriend · 26/01/2016 15:52

"I bet you are a lovely people"
WHAT??? PERSON!

"I bet you are a lovely PERSON"

Jan45 · 26/01/2016 16:40

It's not just the fact that he has been taking the piss and living off you, it's the way he treats you in general, and all this within 3 years of getting together.

At least you are actually doing something about it now - if you give, some folk, like him, who are inherintly selfish will just keep taking without any regard, I'm not sure how he will suddenly change into being a nice and considerate adult.

Ask yourself this, if this was your daughter in the same boat, what would you advise her - exactly.

At your age, I'd not be hanging on to someone who brings you nothing but grief, you can still go out there and meet someone who will treat you with basic respect, or be by yourself (and keep your money).

DaemonPantalaemon · 27/01/2016 06:13

cocklodgers are great and finding lovely women to manipulate into funding their lives

They are also good at finding women with such low self-esteem they are willing to pay to have a boyfriend. I should know. For a long time, I was one of those women. Then I deciding to dump the cocklodger and spent the money I was giving him on therapy for myself.

A comparison between the OP's long and detailed complaints and her two one-sentence "updates" suggests that she is caving to a situation she is still unhappy with, but that she would rather buy herself a boyfriend than have none at all. I recommend some serious self-care, and therapy. Good luck.

LovelyFriend · 27/01/2016 09:48

I recommend some serious self-care, and therapy. Good luck.
yes yes yes

TreeDweller3 · 28/01/2016 20:59

I really dislike the tone of many of the posters here - no wonder OP is not responding much: you eat her alive!

It is bloody hard to leave a man you love, or think you love, particularly when you have a low self-esteem and might be non-confrontational by nature. Not acknowledging this is unhelpful.

I agree with the main advice given here. But the tone is borderline aggressive and it will push the OP away - quite rightly.

I think we all want to help the OP - lets do it in a supportive way.

hereiamagain22 · 07/02/2016 15:29

Thanks Treedweller,

Anyway, 2 weeks gone by, money paid ok every week, and I've been told we are going away for my birthday for 2 nights. Think we both needed a shake up and to properly discuss it all.

OP posts:
Joysmum · 07/02/2016 17:43

I love a happy ending Wine

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