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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

Are money issues enough to divorce for?

9 replies

Chocolatefreak · 03/09/2020 19:30

My husband earns good money, but spends constantly, spontaneously and unwisely. I have just started a consultancy contract, my work has been on and off over the last eight years, not through want of trying. I am paid irregularly. We are in debt - credit card of 15, 000 euros, another loan, mortgage and overdraft. I keep trying to persuade him to budget and live within our means, but he will not accept my suggestions. These I feel have been reasonable; spending less on food and avoid spending on Amazon, no splurges. We have a hugely expensive car and a mortgage, but a very good mortgage rate and a nice house. He wants to take a mortgage holiday to temporarily ease our debt, but I think this is just postponing our problems. He is critical of me and the fact that as a consultant I only have one client at the moment (I would take more on if I could get them!). When I explain that I am trying, but can't, he tells me i am being a 'victim'. I feel that after 15 years of marriage, if he can't see that we need to economise, he never will. I do not see the point of expensive cars and things that lose value, but I have enjoyed having a house where we can invite friends and family to stay, and I see it as an asset for when we get older. The thing is, I cannot see myself being able to take the constant harassment over money. It has been like this ever since I met him - he acts like he is entitled to spend how he wants, always. I plan our meals and spend about 100 euros a week on food, then he will go out and spend another 150 more on expensive ingredients and wine. He does not accept budgeting as the answer, but for me to earn more. We have a 12 year old son who is very happy at his school and with his friends. I don't want to destroy his life but I feel this situation is becoming intolerable for me. This powerlessness is making me very unhappy and I don't see him changing - has anyone successfully changed an entitled spendthrift into becoming careful with money?!

OP posts:
category12 · 03/09/2020 20:34

If he hasn't changed in 15 years, it's really the triumph of hope over experience to ask if you can transform him. No, is the short answer.

You have very different attitudes to money and if you haven't managed to sort it out by now, the chances seem pretty slim. You could try relationship counselling?

He is right that you working more would help - could you look to do something else if your work is so irregular? But if his spending habits remain the same, it might be that he'd spend the extra income too. How do you anticipate supporting yourself if you did split up?

Rainbowqueeen · 03/09/2020 21:25

Money issues are one of the main reasons for divorce. Financial compatibility is super important.
In your case there also sounds like lack of respect and bullying going on.
so yes it is enough of a reason. And on your shoes I’d be getting my ducks in a row

TitianaTitsling · 03/09/2020 21:27

Could you find more constant work than consultancy?

Rtmhwales · 03/09/2020 21:32

Tbh if I was the only real earner in the family I'd be pretty annoyed at being told how to spend the family money. With only one DC who's 12 I'd expect my partner to work full time and bring in an income to help with the debt. The fact that you've only earned sporadically for the past 8 years may bother him. Do you two discuss this?

Chocolatefreak · 03/09/2020 23:18

When I met my husband I earned more than him. At his request we moved around internationally with his job and each time I found it more difficult and longer to get a job, especially after my son was born. We have lived in France for the last few years and I worked, was made redundant and then was unemployed for 18 months. Eventually I took a job in the UK, commuting home every two weeks. I converted this last job into a consultancy so I could legally work from home in France. The fact is I have had to change my job so many times in order to find something in all the places we’ve been that I’m no longer an expert- more of a jack of all trades. My husband meanwhile has been able to concentrate on buildIng his career while I looked after our son and moving house, admin etc. The usual story. Anyway, I am now 49 and struggling to find regular work. I would love to find a better job again but feel my age and patchy CV are against me. I am also resentful that my career was sacrificed, my husband is meanwhile frustrated that I am not earning more. To give an idea of what I consider unreasonable, he bought a car worth 70,000 euros and did not tell me until afterwards how much it was going to cost. The loan for that plus insurance is around 1500 euros a month.

OP posts:
category12 · 04/09/2020 06:27

That's pretty darned unreasonable. Shock

I think divorce would look good on you.

user1471538283 · 04/09/2020 07:09

Earning more would of course ease things but if you cant you cant. In the meantime he needs to spend less. I would be very worried that he thinks not paying the mortgage is an option rather than cutting back on expensive food and drink and "stuff". What happens at the end of the mortgage holiday if you still cant get straight? I couldn't sleep knowing the roof over my head was in jeopardy. I would consider divorce

Skytrain6 · 04/09/2020 08:25

I left my wife for money reasons. She wouldn’t stop spending and despite numerous discussions and agreements between us, it didn’t get any better. I just lost all respect for her over the years until I could take it no more.

PinkMonkeyBird · 04/09/2020 10:56

Yes. I divorced my ex-H for being irresponsible with money and asking his father to bail him out. It was humiliating and I hated feeling beholden to my ex-FIL. He wouldn't consult me with regards to finances and in the end I totally resented him. He wasn't a 'bad' person, just very selfish and irresponsible with money. He is remarried now and I'm seeing the same pattern emerge...

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