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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

Is he stalling on getting married or just does not want to ever get married...?

105 replies

MissesEG · 01/06/2018 21:27

Right, okay.
Been with OH for three years and relationship has it’s ups and downs. I have Borderline Personality Disorder which can create some of the ‘downs’ for us.
Basically, very early on in relationship we moved in together, and I brought along my 8 yo DS who partner got along famously with.
There were many emotional talks about how wonderful we are as a family and how he can’t wait to give me his last name, have babies of our own etc.
Three years down the line and we’ve had a dreadful conversation whereby I pretty much said I’m ready to try for our first child and he totally shot me down. Not even ‘I’m not ready yet.’ Just flat out ‘no way. Never.’ I’m 34 almost 35 and he is 32.
His ex of 12 years left because she had to trick him into a proposal and he told her for twelve years he didn’t ever want kids. Thinking she could change his mind, she waited until eventually she fell out of love with him. (And in love with someone else!)

Now... the baby thing I wasn’t totally sold on myself anyway. It might’ve been nice, but I have my son. I’m grateful I got to have one child.

But...I’ve inherited some money, about £75000. I offered to pay off our mortgage and obviously have a percentage share of the house in my name. Partner agreed. Now, as we’re about ready to sign forms etc I mentioned the fact I’ve bought a £5500 porch for his house and maybe that should be included in the legal deeds etc. He says ‘it’s not very nice is it, having to say what amounts were putting in, and what percentages etc.’ I said well the other option, a more romantic option maybe, I mentioned about getting married. That way everythings down the middle forever.
OH got annoyed and presumes I’m only saying this because I want 50% which hurt my feelings so much. His parents had an awful divorce and he makes comments about how getting married is all for a woman’s benefit.
It might be that my mental health is not great at the moment but I really worry that at 35 I’m accepting a relationship without marriage and kids. We spoke about both these issues very early on and were both on the fence about a baby, but both said of course we’d love to marry each other. He even said things like ‘you’re going to look amazing in a wedding dress,’ ‘we know we’re going to get married one day, might as well make it soon!’ That was two years ago!
Am I being a fool for thinking he still might propose one day. He always says ‘I’ve never said I Definately DONT want to get married.’ But I remind him at one stage in our early days he was broody and discussing baby names! And now that’s a definite no.

OP posts:
MissyEmRain · 02/06/2018 09:55

He doesn’t seem that fussed about my money though really, obviously I had no money when I met him so it’s not like he could’ve anticipated my grandparents dying.
I pay all my wages every month into the joint account where the bills and mortgage come out of, its almost half the running costs of the house. He works full time in a good job so half the running costs is not such a huge chunk of his wages.

MissyEmRain · 02/06/2018 09:57

Even if I’m not replaced, what if this is all it will ever be. No marriage no more babies... just this. Whenever we talk about it tho it just ends up with me getting so frustrated and upset and it sounds like I’m saying ‘marry me and or give me a baby or I’m off!’ It sounds brattish and unreasonable

category12 · 02/06/2018 10:06

Christ you're going to fritter it all away and have nothing to show for it as this rate.

  1. You're paying half the running costs of the house, yet left feeling you're not paying your way. Hmm
  1. He doesn't think you should include the £5k in your percentage. Shock
  1. Wanting marriage & dc are treated like unreasonable demands, yet are perfectly normal expectations in a long term relationship. Hmm

Protect your inheritance, get independent legal and financial advice now. If not for you, for your dc's best interests.

MissyEmRain · 02/06/2018 10:09

I am so worried about frittering it all away! Because so many people in both our families know about it, they will say things like ‘ooh my boiler just broke,’ or ‘I can’t afford a new car to get to work,’ .... :-(

MissyEmRain · 02/06/2018 10:14

Because OH acts like they’re SUCH unreasonable demands...I’ve started to question whether or not they are!
If he had told me from day one he was dead against marriage and kids I could understand it, but he didn’t!!

wellhonestly · 02/06/2018 10:15

He doesn't see you as an equal partner. And he doesn't want to be an equal partner with you. That's all you need to know, really.

MissyEmRain · 02/06/2018 10:16

I always doubt myself and my decisions (connected to my mental health issues)
Because I was a fiercely independent single mother, I worry that I cannot compromise on things and that I’m the one being unreasonable!

category12 · 02/06/2018 10:23

Just because someone's had an unexpected expense doesn't mean you should feel you should pay for it. Think of the money as belonging to your ds, not you. It could be a deposit for a house for him, it could be his university education, it could set him up in a business, (it could be be the deposit on your own family home just you & he), it could make a big difference to his life.

Charley50 · 02/06/2018 10:32

It's outrageous that people in his family are expecting money off you. You have a child to support, who the fuck do they think they are?
Sounds like you are paying a bigger percentage of your wages every month in bills as well. You should contribute to bills but not his mortgage repayments as it's his place, he doesn't want to share it with you. Could you get a mortgage on your own at the moment?

bionicnemonic · 02/06/2018 10:35

Please speak to a financial advisor.
Put your money somewhere safe.
Tell everyone that the money is tied into bonds (or something else) and can not be touched at all without losing money. That should stop anyone hinting.
You don’t Need to be married. I can see it seems the way to go, society and Hollywood tell us that, but it can bring problems in some situations.
Ask yourself why you feel you need it.
Money saving expect link about independent financial advice.
www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/best-financial-advisers

You’re very fortunate that’s a lot of money. You may never get that much money again. I

MissyEmRain · 02/06/2018 10:39

I am very lucky and so grateful for this money.
I couldn’t get a mortgage because I earn £550 a month I only work two days a week because that’s the only days I can get childcare from my family.
I’m considering tying it up in bonds anyway tbh and I will say to him that I only want to contribute to bills. That’s fair enough

category12 · 02/06/2018 10:44

Uh huh, and the next time he wants a house improvement...?

Beaverhausen · 02/06/2018 11:23

I am sorry but putting all of your inheritance into a young relationship is a very risky step you could be left with nothing.

And can I just say if a relationship is going well why cause chaos by trying to force a man to marry you? If you are looking for some security ensure that there are legal documents drawn up to ensure that both of your finances are secure in the event of a split. And stop trying to fall pregnant when he clearly does not want a child and is more than happy to be a father to your son.

DontThinkTwice1 · 02/06/2018 11:30

Missy do you have parents you could stay with if you split? If that's the route you wanted to go down you could stay with parents and try for a mortgage of your own. Some mortgage lenders accept income such as Tax Credits, Child Benefit and Child Maintenance when you tally up your income so you would probably have more income than you think to apply for a mortgage. Add that to your inheritance money then it may just be possible to buy a flat with your ds somewhere.

BunnyColvin · 02/06/2018 11:31

Missy focus hon, seriously FOCUS ! I only have that in caps and bold so that you'll pay attention to it!

Get that money into a long-term account where it can't be touched. Forget the hangers on and forget about having anything to do with sharing it with the man who doesn't want to marry you. You need to make an independent life with your son and use that money for you and he only, and put it towards a property in the future.

Seriously, take stock. Stop panicking about what he is and isn't doing. This is about you and your son. 75k can be frittered away overnight. Please just get it out of everyone's grip and focus on living independently.

You're backing the wrong horse with this guy.

timeisnotaline · 02/06/2018 11:41

Keep every penny left of he inheritance . You are paying a higher % of your wage than he is into housing and bills- it sounds like a higher % even weighing it for your ds, so you are over contributing and getting no security in return.
I think you need to progress with independent plan. If you want to soften the language say ‘I really really would like to own property and you don’t want me to part one yours’.
Tell family the rest has been locked up as a deposit. Make jokes that you aren’t even going to get an extra haircut with it- every penny has gone to deposit.

HollowTalk · 02/06/2018 11:52

This man isn't good for you, OP. Just because he's better than the last guy, it doesn't mean he's a healthy choice for you right now. I think he'd be happier if you frittered away your money, leaving you dependent on him.

I'd use the money to live independently in the future - I'd get it all locked up in an account you can't touch for a while.

Just out of interest, when you say you pay towards the bills, is he including the mortgage in that, or just the utility and food bills?

MissyEmRain · 02/06/2018 12:01

I contribute towards mortgage and bills

HollowTalk · 02/06/2018 12:29

You need to post in Legal, then. I'm pretty certain that if you're contributing towards the mortgage, you can have a claim if you leave him.

category12 · 02/06/2018 12:53

Please arrange some independent financial & legal advice asap. Even if it costs a couple of hundred quid it'll be worth it in the end.

fuzzywuzzy · 02/06/2018 13:05

You’ve paid towards major alterations/upgrades to the house and you contribute towards the mortgage? And you think you would be grant expecting a percentage of you leave?

Sit down with pen and paper and write down every single penny you’ve paid towards this house and his family.

I’m willing to bet you will get a massive shock at the money you’ve already bled away.

Get legal advice and get financial advice and leave this leach

Flaminglingos · 02/06/2018 13:14

Stick the money in premium bonds / savings in your son's name. Watch how he reacts, I bet you he'll go all out in trying to woo you. Then have the satisfaction in ditching the bloke.

Make sure all financial paperwork is water tight and you get a will done leaving everything to your son. I'd be tempted to buy a house/flat for your son and rent it out with the money going into a savings account for his future. Then at least your son's future is secure, your son should always come first not some random bloke.

Sevendown · 02/06/2018 13:16

You will only be secure when you are independent.

He could make your dc homeless at any minute.

donajimena · 02/06/2018 13:25

Are you still studying? In a bricks and mortar uni? I'm only asking because I'm a lone parent and with the parents learning grant and working I'm actually quite well off. You could tuck that money away for when you graduate.

SoapOnARoap · 02/06/2018 13:26

He sounds like a wrong un’. Avoid any legal bonding with this chancer