Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

I feel like I am being massively taken advantage of financially

324 replies

Dominique82 · 02/02/2019 16:27

My frustration is getting bigger and bigger week by week.
I am 36 years old, have got a reasonably good job, small car, nice flat. I work quite hard, often till late hours.
I have a boyfriend of 3 years, who earns over 100k a year (that’s nearly 3x more than me), drives an 80k car, lives in another town but works in my town Monday to Friday.
Sorry to mention the salary and car value, but feel like this is important in the big picture.
Boyfriend has been staying with me, most weekdays for the past year and a half, Monday to Friday. This happened so unnoticeably, that I don’t even know how. It started with just one night a week, now he has taken over my flat. Often, when he doesn’t need to go to the office, he sets up an office in my kitchen, doing calls and spreading his laptops, phones, notepads, charging cords all over. I can’t access my fridge or make tea. I need to ask him to move constantly.
He uses my car a few times a week if he needs to run some errand or is going to the gym. He rarely comes in his car, as comes up by train. So having my car is very handy (for him)
I am paying all the household bills.
I just got a huge gas and electricity bill for the past 3 months, which I told him about. His response - wow that’s high. Has there been an increase ? Is the boiler broken? That’s it. Not a single word about helping me with paying the bill. He takes very long showers, and has the heating on full blast when I am not around.
When I come home from work, every light in every single room of my flat is on. That is 6 rooms including the hallway, and even the f*ing storage room ! Wtf. He just doesn’t care that I am paying for all of this.

Also, My car recently broke down, which I told him about, his response was- ‘you need to ring the garage’.That was it. No mention from him of sorting it out for me. He uses my car more than I do. I pay the insurance etc. He puts in petrol. But occasionally I do too.

He tells me he loves me all the time, and that I am the woman of his dreams. I feel so stupid writing this now, as he must be loving me for all the freeloading I think.

Honestly, I feel like I am being a cheap hotel in town. All the cleaning, bills and entertainment included.

He occasionally buys groceries, then looks so proud of himself telling me how much he likes to help out...
When we go out, he always pays the bill BUT I am quite sure, he claims it back as an expense from his company. So he doesn’t really spend anything.
When we go on holiday, he books and pays for everything. But I just feel like this is not enough.
I got to the point where I know, i can’t live like this, but how do I say he needs to ... leave?
I don’t even have a key to his house. Been there max 5 times in the last 3 years. Help

OP posts:
percypeppers · 05/02/2019 08:15

Well done op!!!

Can you change the locks? I would pack any stuff up for him ready to collect. A friend did this and left the stuff outside the house for her XP to collect when she wasn't there.

Don't mourn the dream home and family life. It doesn't exist.

hellsbellsmelons · 05/02/2019 08:26

Well done OP.
We all procrastinate but you've taken action.
I sincerely hope you keep him gone.
He's an absolute waste of space.
Time to move and find the dream with someone who can actually deliver it.
Stay strong!

SavageBeauty73 · 05/02/2019 08:42

Well done! A stingy user is so unattractive.

Juells · 05/02/2019 08:50

I don't think you should allow him into your home when you're not there, to collect his stuff. Can you make other arrangements?

BrinkPink · 05/02/2019 09:41

Well done OP Flowers

I'm sorry about your plans for being a stepmum, it made me sad too. But even if this man is actually single, he clearly wasn't going to support you in this, and you do need that in a stepfamily. It's very hard with lots of pitfalls, as many an MN thread makes clear, and it would not be a good situation with this selfish man.

You have freed yourself from him for a better future, whatever comes your way - that's a brilliant thing to do for yourself.

Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 05/02/2019 09:47

Well done op.. Flowers

adultcat · 05/02/2019 09:59

Well done op! I've been coming back here to keep checking if there's any update.
I'm glad you're feeling better about it.
And you're right, we're too old for this shit. You're a strong woman that deserves so much better.
BrewBiscuit

Gruzinkerbell1 · 05/02/2019 10:24

You sound like a lovely, strong, independent woman. You deserve someone who doesn't take advantage and who wants you in all of his life, not just mon-fri when it suits. You'll be okay Flowers

QuimReaper · 05/02/2019 10:27

Oh well done OP, what an admirable backbone you have! You must be feeling like a weight's been lifted!

I agree with the others that having him round when you're not in doesn't seem like an ideal solution. Presumably he doesn't have that much stuff at your place, could you bag it up and leave it somewhere for him? Even just inside the door so he only (technically) has to grab and go, or preferably a communal hallway? Anyway, that's all details and you know better than we do what works for you.

Floralhousecoat · 05/02/2019 11:11

You should be so damn proud of yourself op. Your story is heartwarming and will no doubbt give courage to women in similar circumstances. Xx

BumbleBeee69 · 05/02/2019 12:16

good grief OP, you have done yourself proud my lovely. Flowers

happy days for you here on in Grin

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 05/02/2019 13:50

I agree that he has to make arrangements to collect his stuff without coming to your place when you aren't there.
You say he works in your town during the week?
Can you leave his stuff in the office there?

OrangeJuiceandLemon · 05/02/2019 14:26

Eugh. What a knob he is.

ReanimatedSGB · 05/02/2019 15:56

Well done! And remember the collective might of MN is here for you if you feel wobbly or want a bit of handholding.

spellingtest · 05/02/2019 18:09

What she said ^^

ThreadKillerSleepsInaCoil · 05/02/2019 18:23

Good gods, well done OP, I take my (metaphorical) hat off to you.

Been lurking on this thread for a while, but had to show my face with a big congratulations FlowersWine

And if you can drop his stuff outside/in his office/in the corridor/with a friend/his colleague please do so.

BHStowel · 05/02/2019 18:28

Well done!

When is your appointment at the GUM clinic?

Molly333 · 05/02/2019 18:33

I think you should tell him how you feel . Write it down if you cant say it then tell him you need a couple of days off while you think . Then you give him time to give a considered response . The response is vital because if he dismisses your concerns or does little to change this, then this will probably be a pattern of your life where you are not considered or equal . I too have done this as i hv my own hime too. I also found it very hard to say. He left in the end not really wanting to pay then bought a big house. I now live with a lovely man where I'm in control of my home and he happily helps . Good luck but u must have that conversation

ohfourfoxache · 05/02/2019 18:49

Well done for getting rid, he sounds like a right catch Shock

helpmeoutout · 05/02/2019 20:36

Wow. well done OP, that must've taken some guts. Who knows what he was actaully hiding!?!? Suppose it;s not your problem now.

SpinneyHill · 05/02/2019 21:05

So his wife never found out about you?, what with him working away during the week and shit she was probably suspicious as well.
He's going to need another OW sharpish or she'll get even more suspicious with him hanging around all the time, seriously though he owes you some money, email and tell him you want it in your account by tomorrow .
You must know someone from his life, that is what the internet is for isn't it?

Is this real?

buckingfrolicks · 05/02/2019 21:47

HaloThanksWinebravo OP

importantkath · 06/02/2019 00:03

Well done! Stay strong ...

Whatsnewpussyhat · 06/02/2019 07:40

Yes, change the locks asap. Do not allow him in your home or have access to it. If he comes for his stuff on a set day you can leave it outside.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page