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Money, money, money

18 replies

londonmumtobe30 · 03/02/2018 12:07

I need some advice on how to deal with issues with my husband. Ok here we go, I am currently 5 months pregnant with my second child. When we had our first 2 years ago we moved 3 months after her birth to a new country where we don’t speak the local language. We moved with my husband’s work and I agreed to move as I felt it was a good move for a family and still do. My issue is I have no friends and no family here. My husband pressured me to return to work when my daughter was 8 months old. I took a job that I am way over qualified to do with very little pay and basically makes me feel like crap. I have stayed in the job for 1.5 years and am now 5 months pregnant with our second child. Since moving here and even before I have been trying really hard to get a job that works for our family (husband travels a lot). Recently I was told about an amazing business opportunity that is right up my street and would give me that balance I have been looking for while also offering job satisfaction. It is a very small business and the owner wants to retire so it is ready to go. It is what I had in my head to set up in a few years myself.
Anyway long story short my husband wants to buy a house and does not want to wait. If I buy the business it will use up a lot of our savings. My issue is that he wants me to work so we can save for a house while minding the children as he travels with work and we have no family support. He wants me to return to the job that I hate and get pretty much no pay after our second baby even though the childcare will be more than my salary. He doesn’t want me to be a stay at home mum (even though his salary can cover our living expenses) but he also doesn’t want me to set up my own business as it will set us back saving wise but in the long run will work out better. He wants me to work full time with all my salary paying for child care so we can save all his salary for a house. He also told me that we can’t have a third child if we want to until we sort out a house.

He doesn’t see how lonely and sad I feel. He has his very successful job where he constantly gets pats on the back telling him what an amazing job he is doing. While I am going to job I hate wishing I could be with my daughter and constantly take days off when she is sick because he can’t. I don’t have any money of my own and anytime I suggest buying something he goes on about how expensive it is and that we don’t need it.

I don’t know how to get through to him. I want a house too but to me having children and being there for them when they are little comes first. I am a teacher and have always made it very clear that I did not want to have children and work full-time. If we need the money to survive that is different but we don’t. From the day we had our daughter he has constantly been on about money and I feel like I can’t do anything even though he spends what he likes when he likes without any guilt. I am very worried about when the second baby comes and how I will cope. He does not want to take any unpaid time off and he only gets 2 days off here. He is going to use his holidays but I think he might need to take more but this is not an option in his mind as it would be unpaid.
Does anyone have some advice on what I should do? Or has had this issue themselves? Please be honest with me and say if I am being unreasonable.
Thanks for the help

OP posts:
ohamIreally · 03/02/2018 12:31

Buy the business. Put yourself first. That's what he's doing.

Myddognearlyatethedeliveryman · 03/02/2018 12:35

Sounds like his life is all about him.

Now it's your turn.
Your idea sounds best for you and dc. That overrules his Wants.

Cuban8 · 03/02/2018 12:35

Do you have a say in anything?

From the perspective of a third party, this reads like his inflexibility and single mindedness have become normalised to the point where you have no say in your life

Cricrichan · 03/02/2018 12:47

So basically, he wants to make all the decisions for his benefit and you have to abide by them. Leave him,go back home and do the work you want to do.

MayCatt · 03/02/2018 12:49

It sounds like he's gotten used to running the family as if it was an extension of his work, where he is in charge. This must stop now. You sound incredibly bright and capable OP and this business opportunity seems like a great proposition. It is time to push for what you want. Good luck Flowers

timeisnotaline · 03/02/2018 12:53

Buy the business. Tell him you are an equal partner in your lives and if he doesn’t immediately start recognising this you will leave him and move home with your dc.

Whocansay · 03/02/2018 12:54

he spends what he likes when he likes without any guilt

Your life seems to be about what he wants and how he feels. I'm not surprised you feel lonely and sad. He's behaving as if you are an afterthought.

He is not your superior. Marriage is a partnership. If the business stacks up and you can make it work, he should listen and be supportive. If he won't you need to consider if you want to continue in the marriage. Your life sounds fucking depressing from what you've written.

BewareOfDragons · 03/02/2018 13:11

If he won't let you buy the business, honestly? I would leave him. I would take my daughter and return to my home country and start over without him.

He is acting like it's all about him. He is telling you it is all about him. You don't count. You are the servant who is there to make his life easier while he decides how you will live and what you are allowed to have.

I would get out. How fucking depressing your life sounds. Total misery.

NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom · 03/02/2018 13:44

Exactly what everyone else has said.
You sound utterly miserable & I don't blame you one bit. Tell him you're either buying the business or moving home-take back control of your life.

fuzzywuzzy · 03/02/2018 13:49

Buy the business. It doesn’t sound feasible to go work in a job where all your money goes into childcare and is making you unhappy not to mention not up to your qualification levels.

Buy the business.

feelingfree17 · 03/02/2018 14:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

feelingfree17 · 03/02/2018 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

londonmumtobe30 · 03/02/2018 15:08

Wow thanks so much for all your advice. I really didn't think so many people would understand my crazy rambling. He is selfish and I have always known that but he has lots of other amazing qualities and is a great dad. I feel like I have to be strong and put my foot down. I think I have left this get out of control and should have stopped this ages ago. I have already decided that there is no way I am going back to my current job after I have the baby.

OP posts:
Myddognearlyatethedeliveryman · 03/02/2018 15:11

Oh and he isn't a great df if he doesn't care whether his dc has a happy dm -

BadHatter · 03/02/2018 15:50

What’s the payback on the business route? How long will it take to repay what you took from the savings account?

How much do you need to buyout? What income do you plan to pay yourself?

Have you had a chance to review the financial statements from the business? Any problems on paper?

GertrudeCB · 03/02/2018 16:27

He is a great dad as long as everything is done according to his rules, so he is basically a selfish twat. Tell ( don't ask) him that you are going to buy the business or leave him. And mean it.
Personally I'd just tell him to fuck off, but I'm older and take no shit.

ohamIreally · 07/02/2018 09:12

How did you get on OP? Are you buying the business?

donners312 · 07/02/2018 10:44

I might be wrong but his control over you won't end just because you buy a business.

I was in a similar situation to you in another country (husband earning £££) I started a business after 2nd DC.

Left 10 years later with nothing - as fast as you can earn it he will find a way to get his hands on it and you'll still have nothing.

Unless you are sure this will not be the case I would leave now and start your new life and new business without him.

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