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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

Moving together, am I unreasonable or is he? (Finances)

320 replies

NameChange23 · 11/08/2016 21:17

I don't want to drip feed so here are the facts (relevant or not)

  • We have been together for 3 years
  • We both had been married before
  • We both have children from previous marriages, his is an adult but still financially dependant, mine has become a teen pretty recently so still dependant as well.
  • I am 46, he is 58
  • I am an administrator, he has a senior managing position
  • I earn 16k a year, he earns nearly 60k
  • I drive a 12 year old £400k car which is falling to pieces, he changes car pretty much every 12-18 months and never spends less than £20k on each of them.
  • I own a beautiful 3 bedroom period terrace house (medium courtyard, no garage) in a relatively expensive touristic area (Still mortgaged) and have about £6k in savings. He owns two houses (no mortgage), has a substantial retirement fund and in addition, about £300k in savings.
  • we have always gone mostly Dutch on expenses, if we are out to a expensive place, he pays (I pay the babysitter). If we are eating in a cheap place I pay.
  • if we go on holidays we go halves.

We have started thinking of moving together and he has come with the idea that I should sell my house and put the profits towards our "together" house. He will match the amount I pay towards it.

For him, that amount would be a small part of his assets, while I would be putting EVERYTHING I have. Which puts me in a rather dangerous financial position especially when it comes to pay for future expenses of DS.

He also expects that we should share the new house improvement expenses 50-50. All the houses he has suggested are slightly more expensive than mine, but they are either miles away in small villages, in need of extensive refurbishment or/and smaller than mine. He thinks that doing them up will cost a couple of thousands, I know (after doing up 3 houses) that we are looking at a possible bill of several £10,000s.

The additional problem is that he wants a detached house in the countryside, with a big garden and a place to keep his car safe. The problem is, I have lived in the countryside and I found the experience extremely lonely, most of my friends do not drive, I had to put up with a rather big share of racism, I hated having to spend so much time/money preventing the garden from becoming a jungle, and in general I was extremely unhappy. I love being surrounded by people and close to where things happen. He wants peace and quiet and hates the idea of city living.

I tried to explain yesterday that it isn't fair from him to expect me to put everything I have into a house that would eat all my assets, most of my income and where DS and I would feel isolated. I also mentioned that considering he earns far more than I, that the 50/50 divide would not be fair.

He looked at me with an incredulous face, and said no. He told me I was acting as if I was with him for his money!

Apparently, my request makes me look like a gold digger. Shock

I ended up telling him that if it was money what I was interested in, I would be still enjoying the high life with my exhusband.

Am I being unreasonable or is he?

OP posts:
MemyselfandI123 · 30/10/2016 14:49

Do not do it !!!! Waaay too risky, talk about putting all your eggs in one basket, so he puts a few quid to a property with you but has 2 other homes and a few hundred grand in the bank, you put EVERYTHING YOH have into it. Besides all that, he's mean, he can afford to pay a lot more than he does but expects you to kick in half on things. Nope, just no, if you wanna live with him, rent, go 50/50 on the rest if you like, but keep your assets untouched.

prettywhiteguitar · 30/10/2016 14:50

Spill

BaronessBomburst · 30/10/2016 15:02

Well?
You dumped him and he was shocked at your audacity?

FishyWishies · 30/10/2016 15:11

You married him.
You done him in.
You're now loaded.
You've got a new toy boy.

NameChange23 · 30/10/2016 15:13

I just wrote what looked like a 4 pages long update and I lost it In a nutshell, things have gone from bad to good and from better to worse, I think I finally had it.

So I just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to give me your views about this situation. Your words will help me in keeping focused and strong in my decision not to continue being treated with such contempt by a man so petty, he thinks I'm with him just for his money.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 30/10/2016 15:15

Oh that's a shame. Sorry it hasn't worked out OP.

FlapsTie · 30/10/2016 15:15

He sounds like a dick. You've had a lucky escape.

Hissy · 30/10/2016 15:18

i read this thread at the time, and when I saw this bumped, I wondered.. The writing was on the wall love, this wasn't you at all.

I was worried he was trying to isolate you, and it looked very sinister in places

What's happened love? You don't have to tell us all in one go..

prettywhiteguitar · 30/10/2016 15:22

It's sad for him, he's loosing someone because all he thinks about is money. You can free yourself up now from thinking about it too (because of him) and potentially meet someone else in the future that isn't like that

LeninaCrowne · 30/10/2016 15:26

I remember your thread from August.

I hope you are still living in your nice house in town with your son, or at least that you still own it.

NameChange23 · 30/10/2016 15:36

Just having more glimpses of how my life would be if we get together and especially, after he retires. There is no team here. He goes on with his life as usual while I see him from a distance because I can't join in, either because I cannot afford it, I'm busy with DS or unable to take time off work.

But what worries me the most is his negotiating skills, he certainly doesn't know how to say sorry, and every time I try to discuss important relationship stuff, I end up feeling much worse.

For example, I have complained for long that it seems that for him this relationship is just about having fun. His responses are very much on the likes of "why would I commit more to you when we are having these disagreements?" Aparently I have no right to feel upset about things, I either take it or ... I take it, no real commitment to change.

OP posts:
NameChange23 · 30/10/2016 15:41

I suppose it is not so difficult to say something as simple as I'm sorry I made you feel like that and reassure me that he values me? Instead he just tries to turn things around to make it all my fault.

OP posts:
NameChange23 · 30/10/2016 15:42

House is safe, thankfully.

OP posts:
mummytime · 30/10/2016 15:44

He's not worth it.
Is he making you happy?
Will he make you happy long term?
Does he have your back?
Without the third he's definitely not a long term prospect. Without the first two-why are you still bothering?

Good luck.

NameChange23 · 30/10/2016 15:47

Nobody has my back. That's the reality of things.

OP posts:
prettywhiteguitar · 30/10/2016 15:48

He sounds awful

LesisMiserable · 30/10/2016 15:50

I would be wary of someone claiming spousal maintenance. This looks like someone who wants to have their way paid even after the end of a relationship. Maybe thats why hes being such a cautious tight arse.

CockacidalManiac · 30/10/2016 15:50

He did sound awful, and tight too.

NameChange23 · 30/10/2016 15:54

If you are talking about me LesMis, suffice to say I have been working very hard to raise my income in order not to need my spousal maintenance that much.

If you have not RTFT please do, I have not done anything to suggest I am after his money. I just don't want to feel constantly pressed to keep up with his expenses when I am earning just a fraction of what he does.

OP posts:
LeninaCrowne · 30/10/2016 15:55

I'm sure your son appreciates you, and I'm sure he would rather be living with you in town, near your friends and his friends then stuck out in the sticks with matey treating you like a "bit of fun".

NameChange23 · 30/10/2016 16:00

Funny thing is I never asked for spousal maintenance. Ever. it came as a surprise decision by the judge dealing with our process.

OP posts:
Naicehamshop · 30/10/2016 16:06

I think you've come to the right decision OP - well done.
Enjoy your lovely ds and your happy life. Smile

Cary2012 · 30/10/2016 16:06

I remember your thread from the summer OP.

What concerned me most was your son's concerns, I thought that very telling.

You have done the right thing, and you will be able to move forward.

He simply wasn't good enough for you.

Be happy.
And for what it's worth the Judge (God love her) awarded me Spousal M too, without me asking for it.

mummytime · 30/10/2016 16:06

Dump him.
And get some friends, real friends will have your back and give you fun.

LesisMiserable · 30/10/2016 16:06

Ive read the thread and I respect that you are trying to negate your reuirement for spousal maintenance. My situation I think was very similar to yours - extremely wealthy exh (millions). I did not want his money. I live now in a normal size semi with my dd quite frugally but happily. He pays child maintenance but morally I couldnt bring myself to claim spousal maintenance - I dont believe its right. I agree with all.the others by the way,'you shouldnt move in together , not for financial reasons but because you clearly want completely different lifestyles. With the right person this won't even be a thing.

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