Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

AIBU to ask questions about our finances?

259 replies

Zaza6375 · 10/06/2019 16:35

Hi all I’m after done advice from anyone that has experience of running their own business.
I run a small beauty business from home.
My relationship with my husband is deteriorating rapidly and I cannot access my earnings from my business acct.
I set the acct up years ago and didn’t use it much but I’m now really busy and have a card machine that clients payments go into.
He will not let me have access to the business bank card.
I am able to order products/stock from it as I linked it to a PayPal acc.
I am not allowed the card and am discouraged from using it whilst he clears some debts. I’m so pissed off.
I have access to our joint acct which he hates me touching and he gives me £20 a day for family stuff.
Im bring treated like a child
So I’m trying to get off my arse and get my shit together. I have started to have counselling due to other problems within our relationship.
My relationship is not in a good way at the moment. The background to it can be found in my previous post.
We both have credit cards that he has possession of. I asked to see mine and it’s up to £9k. I’ve never used it myself but I think it’s been used to pay for a £3k course I went on which I’m reminded constantly that he paid for.
I’ve asked to see his and he has gone ballistic. He told me it’s at 20k but will not show me the statements.
Some of the debts on these cards are from a building an extension but why not let me see them? Am I being harsh?
Could anyone advise me on wether I need to open a business acct or will a personal acct do that my card machine payments can go into?
Any advice greatly appreciated thank you x

OP posts:
Bookworm4 · 13/06/2019 08:40

He has a cheek to say he gave you your home, you’ve worked all your life and ran your business which seems to be funding everything whilst he runs up debt. What on earth has he spent £36,0000 on? Why has he got this debt?

NoSquirrels · 13/06/2019 08:51

I’m not frustrated with you. You ARE strong.

I was always a tough bird..I’ve owned businesses since my 20’s and am incredibly driven with s strong work ethic.

You might find it interesting to know that controlling men, men who can tip over into abusers, often look out for strong women. It’s more of a challenge.

Abuse often manifests itself during pregnancy or after birth. It’s not unusual and it’s NOT your fault.

In my family, a woman in an abusive, coercive marriage was just like you - strong, runs her own business. But her shit of a husband ground down her self-esteem, made her doubt herself, made bad business decisions that cost her a lot if money to unravel. Was obsessed by material things and status. It was not easy for her to leave him but it was the best thing in the end.

Keep talking.

In my marriage - I do the family budget/accounts. We each have a personal account we’re paid into, then we pay nearly all that into the joint account, leaving ourselves the same amount of cash to fritter on personal spending. We have a joint credit card. We discuss large purchases, decide on mutual priorities - holidays, spending on the house etc. We each have savings in our names, an equal
Amount. My DH has access to anything I have access to, if he wants it. No one hides anything or calls anyone else irresponsible.

Hepzibar · 13/06/2019 08:57

OP you might want to request this thread goes in to Relationships. You will get further good advice from posters who have been in your position

Zaza6375 · 13/06/2019 09:49

@Hepzibar sorry I didn’t realise I’m in the wrong thread. How do I do that please?

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 13/06/2019 10:01

Zaza if you report your post to MN, they’ll move it for you. You’re not in the wrong place - but Relationships has lots of posters great at providing support in this sort of situation.

If you’re on a mobile, click the three little dots at the bottom of your post and the ‘Report this post’ choice will come up. I’ve flagged it to them too.

Ihatehashtags · 13/06/2019 10:07

How does my marriage work? We share our household money 50/50. We both know exactly how much money we earn, how much debt etc. We both have credit cards (joint) and know exactly how much we owe. The house is in both out names. Everything is equal and open

JoMumsnet · 13/06/2019 10:31

Hi, we're moving this thread over to our Relationships topic at the OP's request.]

Thanks to everyone who's offered advice and support so far. Flowers

birthdaymayhem · 13/06/2019 13:04

Oh OP please keep your cards to your chest, you need too get the brith certificates and passports back but don't make it too obvious and urgent as I can only imagine he will dig his heels in and won't allow it.

He sounds like an abusive bully.m

LannieDuck · 13/06/2019 18:33

OP, you can work out if this is an acceptable way to behave by reversing it.

Would you feel it's appropriate to take all of his bank cards, not let him know how much was in the accounts, give him £20 a day for family stuff (not pocket money - it would have to cover all the things you use it for, not just his stuff), and refuse to let him have his credit card when he asks for it repeatedly?

Would you feel you were being reasonable insisting on that? Would he be happy to be treated that way?

Wallywobbles · 13/06/2019 23:00

Due to the way my income works and that we are two families in one our situation is not typical. I put what I owe for my contribution to the running of the house into the joint account in January. We each have a mortgage on our house which we pay individually.

DH pays for all the car expenses and does all the school runs. I do all the food shopping.

All our paperwork is dealt with by me. Everything is filed openly in our joint home office. I have access to all his money and vice versa. We just have one joint account. He has procuration on all my bank accounts and I do on his.

I deal with the accountant. If something happened to me my will covers him and my kids. They will all be ok.

rvby · 14/06/2019 02:08

Terrifying thread. OP my heart goes out to you.

He says he paid for the house- but hes been controlling and stealing your money for years and years, he was using YOUR money and berating you for it! Were you ever allowed to keep all the money HE earned? Why does it seem to you that theres nothing wrong with him treating you in a way you wouldn't dare treat him?

In my relationship my dp pays rent and I pay all bills and shopping. We take turns paying for holidays. We make large purchases without consulting each other... eg he bought a motorbike with his own money, I bought expensive hobby stuff, and we were both excited for each other.

We each have our own accounts and send each other money electronically when we want to split a bill.

We ask each others advice on financial matters and then do what we choose.

My ex was awful and controlling... even HE would NEVER have acted even half as criminally as your h. This thread is shocking beyond belief and it's so so hard to read how you are actually struggling to see what is wrong.

Can I ask whether your parents somehow taught you that men are in charge of money and women aren't?

Zaza6375 · 14/06/2019 06:35

Ohhh @LannieDuck that’s a really good way of looking at it! Nooooo o would never do that.
@rvby my mum is a feminist I think you could say my dad is too.
The thought of her knowing that he told me he ‘wants me to behave’ makes me want to vomit.
Spoke to my dad yesterday who had said he is going to suggest meeting DH to see if he can ‘save’ things.
I’ve asked him not too. I’m done.
I had a meeting at CAB yesterday and it was all very uniform.
My eldest daughter asked me last night if we are going to divorce.
I told her I’m not sure but that I’m unhappy and I want all of us to be happy.
I did have a day dream yesterday which I don’t normally do.
I had a moment where we had separated and I moved into our nearest town with the girls and dogs. We had people over and the girls went off into town with their freinds when they wanted.
I let my little dog on the sofa!
It’s not much but it’s what I now want for my kids and I.
It’s just the eldest I’m worried about.,the middle one would pack her bags today.
Thanks for telling me about all your set ups yesterday..so basically yours are transparent and ours are guarded.
Next step is to get my crap in order. I want to get organised. Anyone done this before and has any advise?
Realistically he will go ahead with the shop conversion. He is far too money obsessed not too.
I am going to have to find away to put up with this until next summer when eldest has done her GCSEs.
And then I’m out.of.here!

OP posts:
OliviaBenson · 14/06/2019 06:52

Don't wait op. And does he not need your permission to do the shop conversion? You need to say no. What if he manages to put the borrowing in your name?

Get legal advice and speak to the bank. You do also need to talk to WA. Get ahead and get wise here.

It's telling that you say your kids would pack their bags tomorrow.....

babbi · 14/06/2019 06:57

Think of the time in the future that your girls will have fun ... that should be your focus to keep you on this track .
You must leave to give them a happier life.

The material things that they may have less of don’t matter - they really don’t ..

Good luck... you are a grafter .. grafters always do well in life ...
do it for you and your girls .. not a controlling bully

babbi · 14/06/2019 06:58

And for goodness sake do it now .. not next year .

NoSquirrels · 14/06/2019 07:06

No - don’t wait.

There’s a full year till GCSEs. Get the upheaval out of the way and you could all be settled and secure, adjusted to the change and feeling content by Christmas.

If you wait, there will always be a bad time. Uncertainty is worse than anything for children and teens- it will hang over your DD1 all year.

What help do you want with planning?

Zaza6375 · 14/06/2019 07:12

@babbi but I’m not sure I can disrupt my eldest during a crucial year.
As for material things..you’re right and she is very materialistic. She currently has the most beautiful large house that she likes to show off proudly to friends. (Think that’s an age thing) She will lose that with me. Our next house will be teeny BUT I think it could be a happier relaxed place with time.
Just think..I could take them to a concert! Without having to ask someone else to order the tickets..or waiting for then to offer and then giving them the cash. This one has been a real problem for me and they have missed out.

OP posts:
Zaza6375 · 14/06/2019 07:17

@NoSquirrels but I will be financially better off if he converts shop and sells it for more?
Also our house will take ages to sell.
I should imagine that there’s going to be a ‘tipping point’ very soon.
Where I literally can’t take anymore and I’m forced to go to the solicitors to get the ball rolling.
The latest blast yesterday was that he doesn’t believe that our youngest has moderate autism and that she should not be mixing with other children with additional needs as it’s not good for her..u presume he means it’s not good for me to have fun with their mums too.

OP posts:
babbi · 14/06/2019 08:07

She is materialistic as that is all she currently knows and sees ..
Best lesson you can give her in life ASAP is that materialism is not the way to go and you can be happy with what really matters in life ..

I do understand your thinking re another year but it is flawed and wrong ... I initially thought the same for my DD when I was leaving and had a 9 months timescale thinking that would work ... quickly realised that there is never a good time and DD and I left a week later ..
it was fine .. she was fine ...

It’s the fear that I needed to get over ..

Good luck

funnylittlefloozie · 14/06/2019 08:12

YOU wont be better off if the shop is sold, because you wont see any of the money. He will be a quarter of a million pounds better off, and you will still be begging for a bit of cash for concert tickets.

My DD is in Y11, and has had a truly awful year. Truly, truly awful. But, she has ploughed through her GCSEs regardless. Kids are resilient when they have a strong parent to support them. You can take that first step.

nettie434 · 14/06/2019 09:04

You have made a great start by getting your business card back and going to see CAB, Zaza. I know this must seem like a huge step after 26 years. I like doing a list of pros and cons for reaching hard decisions. At the moment, not wanting your eldest to have to move in her GCSE year is a con for you but there would be other pros, including being able to study in a more positive atmosphere. You say yourself that your younger girls would pack tomorrow.

Don’t doubt your capabilities for creating a better life for you and your daughters.

combatbarbie · 14/06/2019 13:53

Have you checked your credit report yet??

Zaza6375 · 14/06/2019 14:41

@combatbarbie hi yes today it was excellent x

OP posts:
combatbarbie · 14/06/2019 14:46

And the balances of everything in your name is as you thought? If you've only got your score it will read excellent if mimimum payments are being met. The full version will give you a breakdown of what you owe to who.....i am just concerned that in the eyes of the law you are liable unless you can prove otherwise, which is hard to do.

GummyGoddess · 14/06/2019 14:55

Why will you only have a teeny house? If your husband is doing so well in the business then your share of the household finances won't be insignificant.

Do not do what so many women on this board seem to do in a divorce. Don't just let him have more than he is entitled to in the hopes that you will be amicable. That has literally never happened in any of the threads that I have seen. The ex just takes it all and continues to be abusive and controlling.

Swipe left for the next trending thread