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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

Aaaarrrgggghhh Husband doesn’t want me to work

204 replies

user1499625336 · 30/07/2018 18:13

Hi All

I am so bloody depressed..I’m 35, married to husband for five years. When we met I was a student nurse. He had had a motorbike accident and I helped nurse him back to health. He still has some issues but leads a more or less normal life. After we’d been married a couple of years he got a compensation payout (we are talking millions) and he put it all in a protected trust for himself. He bought our house in the trusts name and when we have an argument he tells me to get out of ‘his house’. He moans like crazy/sulks if I go out to work (he says I’m worried I will meet someone else and leave him even though I reassure him etc). So I forfeited my nurse training because of his constant pressure to stop at home with him- I also started developing depression. Long story short I’ve wanted a job for a while now but he’s dead against it (in the past he’s sabotaged my efforts of working like altering my alarm clock, telling me that I should be happy staying at home etc). My confidence is at rock bottom but I thought a little part time job might help me. He gives me ‘housekeeping’ money each month but I pay for everything, including holidays so there’s hardly anything left over. Ironically I spent all last week decorating and I suddenly thought ‘I’m spending what little money I have on paint/materials and working to decorate my husbands house. Next I’ve got the garden/cleaning to do..am I a skivvy?’ So I’ve told him I’m going to get myself a part time job. His response? Ok but you need to start paying towards the bills. Problem is, we live in a huge house- the council tax alone is £300 a month so I’m going to be effectively working for nothing. There’s no financial incentive to go out to work and my husband is going to be moody/play mind games. Am I being unreasonable thinking that it’s unfair to make me pay towards the bills? It’s just he tells me it’s his house and he’s got over 7 million....I’m so confused!! Help!

OP posts:
SpringtimeSun · 30/07/2018 18:18

I'm nothing really helpful to say but GOD does he sounds miserable.
I couldn't live like that.

I'd be job hunting, getting legal advice and getting my ducks in a row.

What do you get from the relationship? Is there anything he does or any part of it that makes you happy?

JohnnyKarate · 30/07/2018 18:20

Bloody hell its not his house it's both of yours! If you divorced you'd be entitled to half of it. He's awful OP. You deserve to be treated better than this.

TokyoSushi · 30/07/2018 18:20

It sounds looks you're in some sort of prison. I don't give out LTB lightly, but have one from me Thanks

Chippyway · 30/07/2018 18:21

Surely as you’re married and you took time out from work to help look after him you’d be entitled to half the money?

I know what I’d be doing...

He sounds like a c**t

PeanuttyButter · 30/07/2018 18:22

He sounds like a vile controlling man. Like others have said.. what do you get out of all this except a roof over your head?

PotteringAlong · 30/07/2018 18:23

Just leave. Honestly, I think you’d both be happier.

troodiedoo · 30/07/2018 18:23

Legal advice asap. Also women's aid- this is financial abuse.

Gogreen · 30/07/2018 18:24

I’d leave and take him for all his got...your life sounds miserable!

Lweji · 30/07/2018 18:26

Legal advice asap. Also women's aid- this is financial abuse.
This.

pointythings · 30/07/2018 18:27

I'd be getting a job and a divorce in that order. Given that you have cared for him you will probably get some money out of this too, though nothing like half - don't feel guilty about what you do get, because he has treated you like dirt.

Plan your exit, then go live your life without this human millstone around your neck.

FloweryTwats45 · 30/07/2018 18:30

Get a job, save up and leave. He's an abusive twat Angry

newdaylight · 30/07/2018 18:30

Financial abuse and coercive controlling behaviour.

You don't make this better, you leave and live the life you can with all it's opportunities and fulfilment

AntiHop · 30/07/2018 18:42

I agree this is financial abuse. Life is too short to live with an abusive, controlling arsehole. Life will be so much better once you've left him.

JennyHolzersGhost · 30/07/2018 18:43

Oh my word. Get out, OP. And get a damn good lawyer.

snowbear66 · 30/07/2018 18:44

If it was the other way round I don't think he'd be by your side 24/7 I think he'd be free to do as he wanted.
Get a job and use the money for legal advice.

NotNachoing · 30/07/2018 18:45

Go to a lawyer. A good one. Learn what your rights are. Then figure out how you're going to leave him, get your freedom and as much from him as you can, because you definitely deserve it!

And whatever money you get, use it to support yourself continuing your studies (it won't all be lost) or training in something else.

needyourlovingtouch · 30/07/2018 18:48

I'd be interested as to where you stand legally. He has his money in a trust- does that mean you couldn't claim any in a divorce? Is he able enough to work or more seriously disabled? This is quite a sad situation that he has you trapped in. Of course you should be able to work, if not for the money (although why not given he won't share his properly with you) but for the social and freedom.

RandomMess · 30/07/2018 18:48

Interesting how it's all in a tryst so it's probably protected in a divorce.

Please get legal advice, I would look at going back and finishing training before you divorce!

needyourlovingtouch · 30/07/2018 18:49

Don't have children with him

Cherubfish · 30/07/2018 18:49

OP, I'm honestly not a LTB poster, but this sounds awful. He is treating you very badly Sad

GreenTulips · 30/07/2018 18:54

his money will be protected so I doubt you'll be entitled to any of it - however you have lost 5 years wages

Go get a job, and don't pay the bills!! You need to get yourself sorted for your future because his is protected

It's no way to live

annandale · 30/07/2018 18:54

I wonder if he still has the effects of a head injury? That kind of rigid thinking is very typical of neurological injury. Completely nightmarish to live with.

Go one step at a time. Get good legal advice. Talk to a head injury advice line. Then go and get a job, or go back into training. Could you be eligible for compensation for giving up your training? Check with the lawyer. Once things have changed, he may accept the new situation anyway. But if you don't want to stay with him, don't.

Livinglavidal0ca · 30/07/2018 18:55

Have my very very first LTB Flowers

He sounds like a shit, leave him, be a nurse, be whatever you want, and find someone who appreciates you whilst you’re young Halo

LannieDuck · 30/07/2018 19:04

I think I would lay it out very clearly for him. The bottom line is that you need financial security. Two options:

i) As a married couple, you and he share his payout. He acknowledges that it's half yours, you get paperwork drawn up accordingly (re the house), and you both get an equal say in how to spend it. Perhaps you both get a monthly allowance?

In this scenario, you could afford not to work and to spend your time with him having a nice life together.

OR

ii) You appreciate that it was his pay-out not yours, as he makes clear whenever he threatens to kick you out of the family home. But in this case you need some financial security - you need a savings to fall back on, ideally a property to build up equity in, and to put some money into a pension. But that means getting a job. Which you're happy to do.

What you're no longer happy to do is to survive with no financial security going forward. He needs to decide whether he's willing to legally share his money and not resent it, or whether he'll stop interfering with you going out to work.

Sparkletastic · 30/07/2018 19:05

Get a job.
Stop paying for everything. He's not going to let the gas and electricity get cut off is he? He'll soon stump up.
Consult a Shit Hot Lawyer.