Ok. So, STBEXH announced he was leaving me on 27 December last year. He'd been seeing a woman at work and now they're together. I started divorce proeeedings and now have the decree nisi - I couldn't site adultery because (a) he wouldn't admit to it and (b) I didn't physically see them having intercourse - bloody unfair but that's the stupid law. We have a 2.5 year old son and we're in the middle of trying to sort out the financials. I am still in the house and he is currently paying child maintenance and half the mortgage. I am paying the other half of the mortgage, all the bills plus childcare. I work three full days a week and I now claim tax credits. We've both completed our form E's and I have a shortfall in my income needs. What he currently pays (including CM) fills that gap but he does not want to continue paying the extra bit longer term i.e. spousal maintenance. (I'd like to point out here that 5 years ago we lived in London and I was earning three times as much as I do now and earning more than him). We increased our mortgage for home improvements about 6 months before he left (and I should add, at a time when he was already thinking of leaving) so our mortgage payments have increased by c£150 a month because of that. Basically, and while our son is small, I cannot support myself and son without him paying spousal. We've (myself and solicitor) have asked that he pays spousal until our son is 12 at which time (or if not before) I should be in position where I can support myself. He has refused this. We are now having to go down the mediation route, which I have to say seems pointless to me as he is being so bloody-minded but nevertheless I have agreed to go. I am constantly living on edge waiting for his money to go in the bank account - it's like being held to ransom on a monthly basis and he often threatens to stop paying - I am so stressed out. He has also just returned from a week's holiday with the OW where they stayed in a 5 star luxury boutique hotel in Greece and he is now refusing to pay for our son's dance class which was £22 (for the term) because he "can't afford to pay for everything". Then today my solicitor suggested that I see if our mortgage lender would agree to us going on an interest only basis in order to reduce the monthly payments. I called the lender and they said no because it's written into our original mortgage offer that we can't change from the repayment loan we have. I'm glad they said no - why should we have to bloody do that and rack up capital debt all because of him and his selfish behaviour? Why is it that my son and I are having to suffer when he's swanning around living the life of riley??! He has our son for one night a week and pleases himself for the rest of it. I am knackered, stressed out, frequently picking up viruses and feeling run down and now I'm pretty much skint. If anyone needs a holiday, it's me but then I wouldn't disappear for a week without my little boy. Where is the justice in all this? Has anyone else been in a similar situation and if so, what was the outcome? Sorry for the rant!