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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

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:
chubley · 02/02/2019 17:13

Could you book a Saturday off work when his son isn't going to be with him and go with him by train on the Friday, to make it worthwhile, so you can see what he's like at the weekend at his place?

percypeppers · 02/02/2019 17:13

Staying at yours during the work week and going home at the weekend. What an odd arrangement. I would suspect that there is someone else. If not, he is definitely a user.

Get rid and don't go into the details why as a PP said. Just say the relationship isn't working for you anymore.

Dominique82 · 02/02/2019 17:13

He doesn’t do cooking, and doest’t do any cleaning, except for washing up once in a while. Again, saying how much he loves helping me.

OP posts:
TaimaandRanyasBestFriend · 02/02/2019 17:14

And here's a big newsflash: the guy is still married! 3 years and you've never met his son, aren't his friend on SM, blah blah blah. He's playing you like a harp from Hell, sweetie.

TornFromTheInside · 02/02/2019 17:14

If your description is accurate, he's taking the absolute mickey.
He must know - which makes it even worse.

It shouldn't be about who earns what, but he knows damn well he must be using your electric, adding wear and tear to the car, using the shower / bath, eating with you... it's not unrealistic to at least say 'look I'll pay the bills this month' or 'let me sort the car out' etc.
I can see why he might not want to pay a fixed amount per week, as that feels like renting off you, but at the same time, if he's there every damn weekend, then it's getting to the point where the discussion about living together needs to happen - or how you're supposed to pay those bills.

If he had anything about him, he'd have a decent idea of the cost and make up for it by buying the food some weeks etc.

To not even volunteer when you've mentioned it? - that's just staggering.

Stopwoofing · 02/02/2019 17:14

I do think partly though you’re waiting for him to take hints and offer and maybe he doesn’t work like that. I would’ve followed his question with a statement about him staying adding to costs.

I also think if he’s paying for your holidays you do need to factor that in to his share - unless you don’t value them and would rather have the cash for bills

TaimaandRanyasBestFriend · 02/02/2019 17:16

He doesn’t do cooking, and doest’t do any cleaning, except for washing up once in a while. Again, saying how much he loves helping me.

Of course he doesn't. He's a legend in his own mind. Is there any particular reason you're aiming for some 'talk' or putting things off? He's a fucking wanker.

Onandonandons · 02/02/2019 17:18

You're not friends on Facebook? That rings alarm bells.

RangeRider · 02/02/2019 17:18

Do locksmiths work on Sundays? Seems like the easiest way round it.

Giesabreak · 02/02/2019 17:18

You haven't met his son and you're not even friends with him on Facebook? Who have you met from his friends and family?

BlowholeHat · 02/02/2019 17:19

He must be mindblowingly thoughtless - he knows he's basically living in your place all week, so the LEAST I'd expect would be for him to take care with the lights and shower etc and not run up huge bills. Of course he should also be contributing but I can see how you've just fallen into the situation - with someone this entitled, he's putting you in the position where you have to ask, and as you say, that's uncomfortable when you're supposed to love each other.

I'd also worry he has a family life back home, it's a possibility.

This has made you love him less for a reason - because it's hard to love an entitled, selfish arse. I'd get rid, really - but don't do it when he's there, wait till he's away, do it on the phone so he isn't there in your space, and bag his stuff up.

percypeppers · 02/02/2019 17:19

Just read that you have met his son. Err.... I think the alarm bells should be ringing.

Have worked for a few bosses who spend the week in a hotel while working Mon to Fri......

HollowTalk · 02/02/2019 17:19

Oh god I would dump him. But I would ask for the electricity/gas money first. It's not fair that he's staying at your house and using your facilities while not having to pay for his own.

Variousartists · 02/02/2019 17:20

The weekend arrangement is very odd. Even if you work on Saturday you could go to his on a Saturday evening and Sunday. Most couples spend the weekend together. What if there is a family get together or a friend’s birthday night out or something? Presumably you don’t get invited?

TaimaandRanyasBestFriend · 02/02/2019 17:22

He must be mindblowingly thoughtless

He knows exactly what he's doing, but I agree, she may well be his bit on the side.

I also think if he’s paying for your holidays you do need to factor that in to his share - unless you don’t value them and would rather have the cash for bills

People can live without holidays but everyone needs to pay for power, gas, shelter, food, etc.

Xenadog · 02/02/2019 17:23

This is so screwed up! Seriously, he sounds like he is still married and using you.

In a heart beat get rid of him and then spend some time thinking about what it is you want and need from any future relationship. You need to make sure You don’t end up in this position again. I think you need to work on being more assertive really.

OP, you know you’re worth more than this so put yourself first.

KatharinaRosalie · 02/02/2019 17:24

Why are you not friends on FB? If you both otherwise use it, it's just odd. No photos of him tagging you proudly as his girlfriend?

AnyFucker · 02/02/2019 17:25

Wow. He has royally fucked you over.

Are you always so passive ?

Stand up for yourself, for Christ's sake. He is taking you for a mug.

areyoubeingserviced · 02/02/2019 17:25

OMG even I am jealous of him.
Earns 100k, gets free accommodation, free sex and doesn’t pay bills. In addition, he has a live in cleaner. Good God, he’s living the life of Riley.
Op, have you met his family or friends?
The whole set up seems a bit strange to me.

PerfectPeony · 02/02/2019 17:26

It doesn’t sound like you have much of a relationship.

Do you see a future? Do you want to get married? Have children of your own?

I think him taking advantage of you has made him so unattractive that like you say, you don’t love him anymore. Sorry but it sounds like it’s over. Flowers

Dominique82 · 02/02/2019 17:27

So this frustration in me about all this stuff only started really surfacing about a month and a half ago. Then I got this bill on the 1st of Feb.
I don’t want to keep going on and on about the stupid bill haha, but it’s over £500 as I had not given meter readings for around 9 months. So on top of my monthly direct debit I got this massive bill. Which is clearly and only his usage, as the same time last year the direct debit covered everything and I even got credit for using less energy. (When he only stayed 1 maybe 2 nights a week)
So that tipped me over the edge, hence me pouring my heart out on here.

But anyway. When I did visit him in his house those few times, I didn’t feel particularly welcome, we didn’t go to any popular restaurants in his town, he took me to some pubs well out of town, and we even went to another town an hour drive away, for a whole day one day, as if to not hang around his town. But I thought I am just imagining things.

OP posts:
imanoldbattleaxe · 02/02/2019 17:27

I think he's landed on his feet and is using you. After that length of time I'd definitely expect to be part of his social life Facebook etc. I don't think this will end well.

Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 02/02/2019 17:28

Next time he is out pack his stuff and send it via taxi to his address.. Block him.

BumbleBeee69 · 02/02/2019 17:28

He's using you OP.

Giesabreak · 02/02/2019 17:29

Have you met any family? Parents, siblings, etc?