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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:
CodyKing · 11/08/2016 21:44

Apparently, my request makes me look like a gold digger

actually I read it as you saying 'I can't afford this'

You can't afford 50/50 of the repairs or bills

You can't do 50/50 of the garden

You can't be isolated and neither can your child

Tell him your saying No because you can't afford it

foodiefil · 11/08/2016 21:45

My partner earns what he earns. I earn in the mid 20s. Been together three years. Moving in together. Buying the house together. He is 40s two teens. I'm 30 no children. Everything is ours. Both of ours. I buy stuff for us all, he buys stuff for us all. It goes into one pot. Appreciate everybody is different but if it isn't this way then you'd both have two opposing standards of living. This arrangement sounds shambolic and I can tell you know that too! You don't sound stupid. If he doesn't come round he's not the one for you. Good luck. Wine

NameChange23 · 11/08/2016 21:47

I could get around £1200-1500 a month if I rent my house. I suggested renting it as the income would make up for the CB and spousal maintenance I will loose if we moved together, but he insists he doesn't want to have a mortgage.

He also said that he would be worse off if we lived together. I therefore proceeded to calculate the amount just to find out that he will be better off for as much as I would be worse off if we shared a home.

OP posts:
Sooverthis · 11/08/2016 21:49

Never live with a man you aren't married to or going to marry there's just no need. You have obviously worked really hard and are in a good place he's adding nothing and taking lots away keep the status quo and btw you shouldn't be going 50/50 with that much income disparity he sounds mean.

NameChange23 · 11/08/2016 21:50

"Everything is ours. Both of ours."

Exactly, that's what I think relationships are about. I understand that he wants to protect his assets for he and his son. But then, why is it so wrong that I want to keep some security to provide for DS?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 11/08/2016 21:50

'I could get around £1200-1500 a month if I rent my house. I suggested renting it as the income would make up for the CB and spousal maintenance I will loose if we moved together, but he insists he doesn't want to have a mortgage.'

Oh, c'mon, you know moving in with him makes zero financial sense for you, or, more importantly, your son. You have nothing to gain and everything to lose.

You and your son like where you live now. You like your lives. You both deserve more than this.

I'd keep this casual or end it.

This person sounds selfish, rude and mean.

expatinscotland · 11/08/2016 21:51

'I understand that he wants to protect his assets for he and his son. But then, why is it so wrong that I want to keep some security to provide for DS?'

It isn't. This is a complete no-brainer. Your son is more important than some guy.

ElspethFlashman · 11/08/2016 21:52

He owns 2 houses mortgage free.

If he wants a detached house in the country he can just sell one of them and buy a new one.

Why does he need your equity?

You stay in your pretty house in the middle of everything, and he can move out to the country if he wants. Everyone wins.

3weeksthankgod · 11/08/2016 21:52

I can't see what's in it for you.

NameChange23 · 11/08/2016 21:54

I can't see it either. Mind you, I love him, but this is bonkers...

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 11/08/2016 21:55

Totally agree with expat and Elspeth.

newname99 · 11/08/2016 21:56

He seems to have built a large asset base with a reasonable salary (whilst good isn't enormous), especially with a divorce.I suspect he's very good at keeping his money and you are seeing how he does it! Be cautious , stingy with money, stingy with love.

expatinscotland · 11/08/2016 21:57

'Mind you, I love him, but this is bonkers...'

The whole thing is bonkers. He's mean.

MephistoMarley · 11/08/2016 21:57

I don't like the sound of him. Don't move with him.

hownottofuckup · 11/08/2016 21:59

I can see his logic, you both put in the same amount if it all goes tits up you split it 50/50 so no one's lost anything.
But he's wrong. As you rightly say your personal income will go down simply by moving in with him which he doesn't appear to acknowledge, and the fact he doesn't want to share with you... I think it would just put me off. Best to keep things seperated than create a situation for resentments to grow.

JaniceBattersby · 11/08/2016 22:00

Either marry him, pool all your assets and have joint money or don't move in with him.

FWIW he sounds like a big meany and I wouldn't let the relationship get any more serious.

KeepCoolCalmAndCollected · 11/08/2016 22:01

You might love him, but he loves himself much more than you.
Personally, I think you would be mad to go ahead with this, and because of his meanness it would very likely all end in tears and resentment anyway.

rosy71 · 11/08/2016 22:02

Is he planning to keep his 2 other houses? Are they rented out? It would make much more sense if you rented yours out & either lived in one of his or rented/bought one together.

Don't sell your house. If you're not married, you need to keep your own assets as long as he keeps his. You also shouldn't be paying 50/50 if your incomes are unequal. I earn more than dp but we put all our money into one account which pays all the bills & split what's left over.

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 11/08/2016 22:02

He isn't sounding very lovable.
Don't risk your future and your son's on a man who calls you a gold digger. It won't end well.

Thattimeofyearagain · 11/08/2016 22:03

No, just no. He is using you to expand his properly portfolio.

NameChange23 · 11/08/2016 22:04

Furthermore, if we split, I may be too old to get an affordable mortgage and I'm pretty sure I would never be able to buy a house again in my current area. So yes, I may get my money back but won't be enough to get back what I currently have.

The prices in my area have been rising steadily faster than in the countryside for the last 15 years. There's no way I could afford to buy again in this area if I leave for a couple of years.

OP posts:
HelloConfidenceAreYouThere · 11/08/2016 22:07

What he is basically saying is that he will be happy to watch you struggle financially to pay your 50% while he swans around with plenty of disposable income.
Either he doesn't care about you struggling or he's hoping that you end up having to ask him for money.

I would stay as you are OP. He does not get to dictate terms here. You are suggesting compromises and he is refusing to bend - that does not sound like a recipe for a happy life together.

NameChange30 · 11/08/2016 22:07

You know what to do, OP. Or not do, more precisely!

expatinscotland · 11/08/2016 22:07

Then you tell him, NO, we won't be moving in together. I want to continue living in my house. And that's that. Personally, I'd take a good long look at this relationship. He's stingy.

CodyKing · 11/08/2016 22:08

My other thought is this - you have a child at home and he doesn't - that means your son will cost in terms of food heating wifi etc

I wonder if your 50 will include your sons costs? I'd say he'd be splitting the food shop.

Will he want you to do more around the house as you earn less?

What would happen if you lost your job or became ill?

Isn't worth thinking about really