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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:
TaimaandRanyasBestFriend · 02/02/2019 17:56

Surprise him, don't warn him.

HumptyDoo · 02/02/2019 17:56

when I went to his, he never left me alone in the house Sad

It might have been his house (full of his wife's things) or it might have been a mate's.

I seriously think you should message him to say you're coming over tomorrow (as a PP suggested) and just wait to hear what reason he gives you as to why you can't.

Don't post about it on here, I'm not trying to do one of those 'personal pain as spectator sport' threads, I just mean for yourself. Because he will say that you can't, for one of any number of reasons. It just absolutely won't be possible. He'll be adamant.

Mumblers · 02/02/2019 17:57

Please just get rid. The resentment you feel towards him will turn into hating yourself for putting up with it for so long. I know because I've been there but I MARRIED it. Still hate myself when I think about that part of my life and how much of a MUG i was.

gottastopeatingchocolate · 02/02/2019 17:57

When you have been at his home, is there any evidence of a female presence? Products in the bathroom, for example?

PerfectPeony · 02/02/2019 17:57

Drive over now and surprise him! Show up and say you want to discuss the bills.

You deserve better.

Giesabreak · 02/02/2019 17:58

I wouldn't be giving him any kind of heads up. I'd just follow him for the day/weekend. Probably won't even need that long.

cstaff · 02/02/2019 17:58

.

Rachelle3211 · 02/02/2019 18:00

Are you sure it was his house? Could he have brought you to his best friends house instead? Were there pictures of his son and him or anything?

nettie434 · 02/02/2019 18:00

Dominique
I have been in a similar situation but in my case it was whoppers about working abroad (well the working bit was true just not the rest of it). In my case, he always had such plausible excuses. Eventually he let something slip and I confronted him. Still didn’t manage it well. Flowers for now and good luck for next week.

SavageBeauty73 · 02/02/2019 18:00

What happens at Christmas?

He sounds very married 🤔

Bess78 · 02/02/2019 18:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Clutterbugsmum · 02/02/2019 18:01

I wouldn't go to his, I would use the time to pack all his crap and text him and tell him to come and collect it tomorrow and leave his key.

Tell him you can no longer afford to pay for his housing, cooking and cleaning. And due to his complete lack of understanding of the cost in both time and money he is to you. The fact after 3 years he is still keeping you secret from friends and family you are now no longer sure you want this one sided relationship so you would like him to remove his belongings and find somewhere to stay.

elemenopeee · 02/02/2019 18:03

In fact, it's only 6pm. Why don't you drive round there now?

ElspethFlashman · 02/02/2019 18:04

In fact, it's only 6pm. Why don't you drive round there now?

Because this isn't an episode of Eastenders?

YourFly · 02/02/2019 18:04

I would probably dump all his stuff on his doorstep.

SandAndSea · 02/02/2019 18:05

"Look, we need to talk about this bill..."

I would get some cash off him first.

Ellisandra · 02/02/2019 18:05

Didn’t want to show you off a couple of months after divorce?

Oh lovey, do you have any idea how long a divorce takes? Even a nice simple, non acrimonious one? Even when couples are co-operating, paperwork takes time - it can take months to get w pension valuation, for example. Took me about 9 months start to finish - and that was starting 3 weeks after I dumped him!

By the time you get divorced, many people are dating again already - and the split isn’t “fresh”.

OctoberGirl91 · 02/02/2019 18:10

I think the possibility he is still married is very high! It seems he is keeping you hiding and he could be telling his wife he's working away in the week and by not using his car he isn't traceable.

Seems very strange you need to confront him!

thenightsky · 02/02/2019 18:11

Are you never his plus-one at events like weddings, christenings and parties etc. The sort of things where his mates will be taking their partners.

I'd wait til next Friday when he starts packing to go home. Pack your own bag alongside his and announce you are going with him, seeing as you are 'always invited'.

LaughingCow99 · 02/02/2019 18:14

The point of giving the heads up is to see him try and talk op out if it. I wouldn't bother driving to his and wasting more petrol. I'd leave the stuff on my doorstep and go out for the day and tell him to collect it or it will be dumped on my return. Why accommodate him and bring his stuff to his door? He doesn't deserve such courtesy.

importantkath · 02/02/2019 18:15

I would absolutely pop up to see him tomorrow with all of his stuff packed, and tell him that you need to chat.

If you are met with any suspicious circumstances or he doesn't respond in a way that you would have hoped, then he can have it back there and then. Clean break.

I wouldn't chat with him at your place.

RhubarbTea · 02/02/2019 18:17

Okay, the reason he's not paying for stuff is because he doesn't want to leave a paper trail that his wife could find. The stuff he does contribute he could explain away to her as work. (Plus he's a tightarse and a cocklodger, obviously.)

You have never met his son in 3 years. Only 1 of his friends who is a lad and you think could be covering for him. The 5 times you visited his house, whose idea was it and how far in advance was the visit planned?
As others have said, you have a lot more to worry about than a heating bill. I would be straight round there to see who is actually living in his house. Then I'd get the locks changed and get some therapy to work out why you are such a pushover.

elemenopeee · 02/02/2019 18:18

[ElspethFlashman] are you saying this is a troll? Sadly I can believe this thread is real, it wouldn't be the first time OP has been an unwitting OW, even after three years. The sooner she gets to the truth, the better.

elemenopeee · 02/02/2019 18:18

Don't know why I forgot to 'at' @ElspethFlashman!

Gruzinkerbell1 · 02/02/2019 18:19

Sorry OP, it does sound very much like he's married/in a relationship at home too.

How is he with his phone? Any quiet phone calls? Secret messages?