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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

My Boyfriend Drinks too much, We Don't Have Enough Money.

152 replies

CharlieG1 · 03/08/2021 01:37

I've been with him for just over a year. We met online and he lives hour and a half away from me. We are both 20. I've always known that he drinks most nights, but it's just getting too much now. We are staying at my parents house together for a few weeks and my parents are starting to notice that he drinks every night. We have no money, none of my clothes fit me anymore, and I can't buy any. There's other inexpensive things I want, but I can't have because I know I need to keep the moneu because we always end up with none. I borrow money from my parents and it ends up getting wasted on drink. Its also making me ill, I find it difficult not to drink when other people around me are drinking. I just don't know what to do, when I try and talk to him about it, he gets sad and says he needs it to sleep. I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Motnight · 03/08/2021 16:45

Come on Op, you know that none of this is right.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 03/08/2021 16:49

OP - if you have health problems serious enough to stop you working, why are you drinking so frequently? Why is your boyfriend?

Every evening you and him spend getting pissed up on someone else's money is an evening you could be working on your future - studying, planning your business, gaining skills, bettering yourselves, enjoying leisure time that doesn't involve drinking.

I can't think of a single health condition that wouldn't be worsened by frequent and heavy drinking.

Colourmeclear · 03/08/2021 17:20

When you outgrow him you will wonder why you didn't break up sooner.

Hekatestorch · 03/08/2021 17:29

He got a qualification in plumbing.

Then developed health problems that's means he can't work. Did it come quite suddenly? Both of you had very sudden health problems that meant neither of you couldnt work?

But you can drink all your money away, but can't work. Can't really see how that's helping.

MissMogwai · 03/08/2021 17:45

I have a daughter the same age as you and I would be so sad and frustrated if she was in your position.

You're 20. You're not married or in a long term relationship with him. It's spiralled quickly into 24/7 contact, money worries, parents (quite rightly) getting pissed off and worried.

Tell him to go home. Speak to your parents honestly and openly. Look at your own behaviour as you are equally culpable here and make steps to make your life better.

It won't change if you do nothing, it will get worse and worse and you will both waste your youth.

It probably sounds like lots of 'mums' giving you a hard time but we know what your future will be if you carry on.

catsjammies · 03/08/2021 18:21

Oof, this is giving me flashbacks to being 20 with my waster (non-alcoholic) boyfriend. Dumping him was the best thing I did. Pity I shared finances with him for way too long and ended up about £9k worse off for the relationship.

Seriously, get rid.

SmileyClare · 03/08/2021 19:22

Go back and read your opening post Op.

You're unhappy, he's wasting all your money on drink, it's making you ill, your parents have had enough.. all your words.

You cannot rescue him. You're in love with the romanticism of his tortured soul. It's not romantic, he's an alcoholic and you seem to be trying your hardest to get yourself a drink habit too.

girl71 · 03/08/2021 19:23

"Yes he has qualifications in plumbing! I think that once he is ready, I'll talk to him about looking for an apprenticeship".

Yes, apprenticeships are so very easy to come by, especially plumbing ones. Thank god that's all sorted.

Op, what is most sad about this thread is that you clearly do not see what we all see and , that suggests, you have no real love, insight or respect for yourself. You are accepting of all this, normalising and trying to justify it. You seem to think that this is good enough for you or all that you can reasonably expect? Why?

I am 50 and , like a lot of other posters , we have seen this scenario before. We know how the story develops for some. Thats why some posters are saying next stage baby... because often what that really means is ...couple in dead end relationship with no self prospects... next stage... no own independent income therefore, no means to support self and now new baby in the mess mix..... next stage poor and unstable housing....next stage low /no income...next stage total benefits and state dependancy.... next stage poor outcomes for those children. It is a kind of script Op. I do not for the life of me understand why your parents are even enabling this relationship which, has absolutely no redeeming features at all and effectively, subsidising it. Would i permit this in my home, absolutely not.

There are clearly issues here within yr own family that you have not divulged that , you have not said here. I suspect you may have had some mental health issues yourself and, i wonder if yr parents are doing their best,keeping their daughter close , in order to protect her from herself
and therefore reluctantly accepting of this poor arrangement.

Op, with kindness and respect and in all gentleness to you, if you continue in this relationship and also solely with your current view of your life and, waiting until Sept etc, Sept will be never . You just simply cannot see your own worth.

You are carrying on and delaying. Will you see more clearly your worth in 4 weeks? What will have changed? Will yr boyfriend be earning £5k a month as a plumber and buying all your expensive stuff? Is that what he has told you? "Hang on babe... i will be earning gas amounts soon". You just sit there doing FA and i will Louis V you right up when i'm sober plumbing! " . Is that what both yr business plan is? Is he to pay for you/ support you/ keep you in the manner to which you have become accustomed?

He is dragging you down, you are dragging yourself down, you are also dragging him down, you are both offering nothing to the other , apart from a life of benefits , booze and sofa surfing. Neither of you , quite frankly, bring anything to enhance the life of the other. This is no way to live.

Have a life Op, get a job, extend learning while working , earn a good income, have yr own home, buy yr own expensive things, make friends, travel, look after your body and do not abuse it. Take time before being giving your body to someone. Give yourself better and increase your expectations for yourself. Demand more for yourself, achieve more for yourself .

You are 20 , you have no money, surviving on benefits and the generosity of others for your housing. Why do you think this is currently good enough for you? I appreciate your BF has abuse issues in his past. I am sorry that has been part of his life and i sincerely hope he reaches out for and receives the necessary support now , to rebuild and move forward with his life . He has a long , life times journey ahead of him that will provide challenges along the way and i wish him every support.

Op, you have posted here and we are responding to you and you alone. You are currently accepting of a life that is far below par of that of yr peers. My DS is exactly the same age as you, he is in an apprenticeship that he started after A levels, he is earning while learning. He now already , 2 yrs in, has a house share ( renting for now) with his friend, his own car on finance, expensive trainers that he buys himself and designer clothes. He finishes his apprenticeship next July and will have a full time job there , in programming , for a major IT in London, already now contractually offered to him.

He did not get his apprenticeship easily, my son threw everything at interview and worked damned hard volunteering programming while at secondary 6th form. He also helped out at library during his spare time , helping others/elders in the community acquire IT skills, before Covid.

We will be helping him with a hse deposit now ( as will his fellow hse mates parents ) and he and his hse mate will be buying a bachelor pad next yr , just to get on the housing ladder.

You are both the same age and there is a huge difference in the application you are both giving to life.

Is my son at aged 20, almost 21, sat here, scrounging off me night after night , with his equally unemployed girlfriend , pissing their benefits up the wall, getting drunk going nowhere? No, he is out working, training, housing himself, carving a career , in order to support himself and his future family . His GF is about to enter the police force training, with a view to joining the Met, having just completed her degree. Would i want my son mixed up or in a relationship with you right now, in all honesty no .

You are 20 and so much better than this .

SmileyClare · 03/08/2021 19:32

If you find work Op, consider what will happen. Your wages will be used to buy drink and fags. If you're planning on living together in your own place, you'll have to make a joint benefit claim and the DWP will expect you to support him financially.

It's going to be really shit. I hope you come to your senses soon! You seem to be drunk on love, he seems to be just er..drunk.

CharlieG1 · 04/08/2021 00:49

I cannot just remove him from my life. I love him and as much as some on here may not believe, he loves me. We have good and happy times together. My only gripe with him is that he drinks so often!
He has agreed to seek out help and will be doing so ASAP.

OP posts:
choli · 04/08/2021 01:00

@CharlieG1

I cannot just remove him from my life. I love him and as much as some on here may not believe, he loves me. We have good and happy times together. My only gripe with him is that he drinks so often! He has agreed to seek out help and will be doing so ASAP.
I dread to think what you will be posting in 10 years from now.
Holothane · 04/08/2021 01:07

@choli I so agree that’s what I said earlier, bangs head on wall, (not really)

MinnieJackson · 04/08/2021 01:47

I think it's great, you both have prospects, so many! If you think it's not right, say something... And you did! He's off to the doctors. Please update on your appointments and business, if you guys turn this around and are selling fossilised shit I'll be the first to buy it lol. I have respect for you, as a 20 year old and asking for advice! You can take it or leave it, but you're in a hard situation x

Jar0fC01nedPhrases · 04/08/2021 01:56

"Cannot remove from him from your life"

Actually, yes, you can send him home

What do you want in 5 years, 10 years time ?

Because sitting at home (someone else's home) drinking at 20, may feel cool
But sitting drinking at home at 25, 30, 35, 40 is not

CharlieG1 · 04/08/2021 02:22

@MinnieJackson

I think it's great, you both have prospects, so many! If you think it's not right, say something... And you did! He's off to the doctors. Please update on your appointments and business, if you guys turn this around and are selling fossilised shit I'll be the first to buy it lol. I have respect for you, as a 20 year old and asking for advice! You can take it or leave it, but you're in a hard situation x
I've realised recently that it's best to talk about things and be honest about my thoughts and feelings with him. It's the first step in the right direction I think. Advice is all I wanted, not to be jumped on. It's actually antiques we want to sell! We met on an antiques Facebook group :) x
OP posts:
CharlieG1 · 04/08/2021 02:24

@Jar0fC01nedPhrases

"Cannot remove from him from your life"

Actually, yes, you can send him home

What do you want in 5 years, 10 years time ?

Because sitting at home (someone else's home) drinking at 20, may feel cool
But sitting drinking at home at 25, 30, 35, 40 is not

If I really thought it was cool, do you think I'd be trying to stop it?
OP posts:
Spidey66 · 04/08/2021 03:04

@CharlieG1

We won't be drinking tonight, I'll make sure of that. We can't have a break until the end of the month, we have a wedding to go to so to save unnecessary travelling we will be together until after that. He is willing to get help, he has called his doctors surgery and will have a phone appointment to discuss options. He's a good person, he just has things he needs to work on.
The GP will give him the details of local Substance Misuse services. He will be expected to self refer as this shows a level of motivation. He should cut out the middle man, Google your borough + alcohol or substance misuse service and do it himself. That's if he really wants to, which it doesn't sound like he does.

Tbh you need to get rid, before you're dragged down with him and/or you get pregnant with him. I know you're using condoms religiously but I wouldn't be surprised if he tried his luck without him.

You're young, you should be working or studying, making friends and enjoying life. Take it from someone who's been round the block enough times to know which parking spaces are free.

Spidey66 · 04/08/2021 03:11

Ps I agree totally with @girl71. I don't have kids but if I did I could have written it word for word.

You may feel we're being harsh here but it's because we have far more life experience than you and can see where this is heading.

Take care xxx

MinnieJackson · 04/08/2021 05:05

@Spidey66 you might have more experience, but OP and her partner have qualifications, health care and ambition! I'm especially impressed with @CharlieG1 for telling her Bf to get help.

Hekatestorch · 04/08/2021 05:13

@CharlieG1

I cannot just remove him from my life. I love him and as much as some on here may not believe, he loves me. We have good and happy times together. My only gripe with him is that he drinks so often! He has agreed to seek out help and will be doing so ASAP.
This is one of the biggest and, imo, dangerous lies society pedals. That is you love somebody you shouldn't let them go.

So many end up in relationships that cause them issues for years, in all sorts of ways. The hold because we are made to believe that all you need is love. Its entirely possible to love someone and still walk away.

You say you can't not drink for a month because of a wedding and you will need to he together until then. So you can't stop drinking if you are together? Thats a situation where if he is going to stop drinking with this support he is going to get, you would be better off apart. At least until he has stopped drinking and for a while.
You can then also ensure you can actually stop drinking when he isn't around.

It doesn't have to be forever, but if you can't not drink when you are together, you are making any steps hevis seeking to get help, harder than it needs to be.

Terhou · 04/08/2021 08:48

Yes he has qualifications in plumbing! I think that once he is ready, I'll talk to him about looking for an apprenticeship"

Why isn't he ready now, and why does he need you to talk to him about it? Surely he knows perfectly well that getting an apprenticeship is the next step towards a good career? However, he finds it more convenient to spend your money. At the very least, stop bankrolling him and tell him that unless he stops drinking every night your relationship can't continue.

Spidey66 · 04/08/2021 10:12

[quote MinnieJackson]**@Spidey66* you might have more experience, but OP and her partner have qualifications, health care and ambition! I'm especially impressed with @CharlieG1* for telling her Bf to get help.[/quote]
Not sure how to take that.....Confused

Polkadots2021 · 04/08/2021 12:58

@CharlieG1

I've been with him for just over a year. We met online and he lives hour and a half away from me. We are both 20. I've always known that he drinks most nights, but it's just getting too much now. We are staying at my parents house together for a few weeks and my parents are starting to notice that he drinks every night. We have no money, none of my clothes fit me anymore, and I can't buy any. There's other inexpensive things I want, but I can't have because I know I need to keep the moneu because we always end up with none. I borrow money from my parents and it ends up getting wasted on drink. Its also making me ill, I find it difficult not to drink when other people around me are drinking. I just don't know what to do, when I try and talk to him about it, he gets sad and says he needs it to sleep. I don't know what to do.
Leave this guy immediately. He has a drink problem and he's dragging you right down into the gutter with him. You'll have no money problems after you've split up and to be relieved to get your life back.
Holothane · 04/08/2021 19:33

There’s non so blind as those that don’t see (I’m registered blind so can say this).

CirqueDeMorgue · 05/08/2021 01:01

I suspect the health problems are mental, rather than physical. In which case, drinking DEFINITELY won't help.