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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

Should I leave my new partner or be grateful that he’s nice?

129 replies

AnnieRUOKK · 04/09/2022 15:27

Sorry this is a long one. I’ve known my new partner for years through mutual friends but have never been close. But we started talking last year properly after he replied to one of my social media status’ through direct message. We were talking and going out for a few months but I just weren’t feeling it so cut it off. Then we sort of rekindled earlier this year and have been going out since then.

He has met my son and things have been going well but I just have one problem I feel that he is very tight especially with money. This was the main problem the first time around but thought I’d give us another shot, maybe I was just being to fussy. But it’s got the to point now were it’s become a slight burden on me. I know that sounds awful but I pay for nearly everything, he doesn’t drive so I drive us round places all the time, it’s about £65 to fill up my tank every time we go out, he never offers to pay just sits there while I fill the car up. If we have to park anywhere I pay for the parking and any tolls etc. If he wants to come down I pick him up and drop him off back home. If we go through a drive through I pay. When he’s at my house he’ll eat my food, shower here (I’ve just came back from the shop and he’d been in the shower for 25 minutes) charge his laptop phone headphones etc. Using my gas/lecky etc I know it doesn’t sound much but I’m a working single mum have no financial help off anyone and struggle as it is without feeling like I’m supporting an extra person who doesn’t even live here.

Even when we go shopping together
for our tea he’ll get his card out but stand there and take ages waiting for me to offer which I always do and he’s goes ‘ok then’ and just lets me. When we go out to eat with my son I don’t want him feeling like he has to pay for us both so I end up paying for us all. Feel like i spend a fortune on a simple day out. Don’t get me wrong he has paid for some things the first time we went out was only to Pizza Hut the bill was £20 he got that, I offered to go halves but he said ‘we’ll just go somewhere nice next time and you can get it then it’s fair’ that was a turn off but I kept just thinking I’m being fussy over something small.

Don’t even need a man to pay for me just want him to contribute more. And what makes it worse for me is that he lives with his mum and dad in a massive detached house and is on 30+ grand a year plus bonuses and has about 25+ grand in savings. We have sort of beat around the bush discussing this I jokingly say ‘oh I always spend a fortune when out with you haha’ and his mums told him he needs to treat me more. Apart from this he’s a lovely man quite quiet, my ex was really abusive to me and he doesn’t shout at me or be nasty and doesn’t treat me bad. But this is killing the spark for me, am I just sounding mean and making a fuss over nothing and just need to accept it because he’s nice ? Or am I being too soft and just need to cut it off and move on? Really don’t want to sound mean and hurt his feelings but I don’t know what to do. Any advice is appreciated, thank you.

OP posts:
ThisWormHasTurned · 04/09/2022 15:31

Advice? Get rid! He’s a sponge, he knows it’s costing you money and he doesn’t care. He doesn’t sound particularly nice!

rubyslippers · 04/09/2022 15:32

Mean with money = mean with emotions and feelings etc

he doesn’t sound nice at all and you’d be best off without him.

Lunificent · 04/09/2022 15:35

You won’t change him, not a chance so probably best to get rid.

BigglyBee · 04/09/2022 15:38

This isn't making you happy, is it? That's all you need to end it.

BigglyBee · 04/09/2022 15:40

Also, not being physically abused isn't something you should need to be grateful for. It should be the bare minimum. Staying out of gratitude or fear that the next man will be worse is a terrible idea. You are worth so much more than that.

Chamomileteaplease · 04/09/2022 15:42

Using my gas/lecky etc I know it doesn’t sound much but I’m a working single mum have no financial help off anyone and struggle as it is without feeling like I’m supporting an extra person who doesn’t even live here.

But is does sound a lot! You aren't being tough enough. He has probably put you right off him but if you do want to try and make things work you have got to be stronger and more assertive. Start now!

Either have a chat about it which you may find hard to do or address each issue as it comes up.

If he is in the car being driven around, say that it is expensive and you would like a contribution.

Food - surely that's easier to address. Do not offer to pay for a start. Wait. Or ask him to pay. Get it fairer.

If he spends lots of time at your house then yes ask for a contribution for electricity etc.

Please start tackling this - it is awful!!

Sorryisjustaword · 04/09/2022 15:44

He isn’t a lovely man, he lives with his parents and now he is sponging off of you.
tell him to walk until his hat floats.

bloodywhitecat · 04/09/2022 15:47

He's not a partner, he's a leech. I would end it and keep it ended.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/09/2022 15:49

Get rid of this man now and start work on you; love your own self for a change.

Your boundaries, already skewed by previous abuse, are being further got at by this sponging individual now. He is no role model for your child to be looking up to and he's taking full advantage of your largesse without contribution. Mean with money = mean with love too.

If you have not done the Freedom Programme please do this and do not date further until your boundaries are a lot higher than they are now.

21reasons · 04/09/2022 15:49

Tight git. Start saying, I can’t afford it or it’s too expensive when you are planning things eg eating out.

21reasons · 04/09/2022 15:50

See if that prompts him. I doubt it though.

KangarooKenny · 04/09/2022 15:50

OMG kick his tight arse out of your house. And make him walk home.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/09/2022 15:51

And this comment from BigglyBee bears repeating:

"Also, not being physically abused isn't something you should need to be grateful for. It should be the bare minimum. Staying out of gratitude or fear that the next man will be worse is a terrible idea. You are worth so much more than that".

Bananalanacake · 04/09/2022 15:51

I'm surprised he hasn't already tried to move in with you, maybe that's because he realises you won't do all his washing and cleaning like his mummy does.

cantthinkofabetterusername · 04/09/2022 15:51

Leave him.
He's bringing nothing to the table, it doesn't even sound like you love him. The more you give the more he'll take

MuddlerInLaw · 04/09/2022 15:52

Dump.

Honestly, there’s nothing else to say.

2bazookas · 04/09/2022 15:53

You've got another abusive man. It's just a different kind of abuse.

Remember what you learnt last time, and get rid now.

Purplecatshopaholic · 04/09/2022 15:53

Mean with money is an incredibly unpleasant quality. And this bloke seems worse than most tbh. He’s leeching off you op! Please get rid

CateringForThree · 04/09/2022 15:55

Get rid.

Not even because he is tight but because he KNOWS he should be contributing more but is playing a game where you pay but he is making it look like it was your choice to do so.
You dint need a manipulating guy in your life.

ilyx · 04/09/2022 15:55

WTF! He’s not “nice” AT ALL! What a user

CateringForThree · 04/09/2022 15:55

And bte he is not nice if he behaves like this when you are supposed to be in the honeymoon period!!

SwissRole123 · 04/09/2022 15:55

Oh mate for fucks sake BIN IT. Nothing more unattractive than a shameless fucking twat freeloading off someone else's dollar. Not even a man with prosecco flavoured semen would make me go there. RANCID! 🤮

SwissRole123 · 04/09/2022 15:56

And he's not nice. He's a cunt.

Ivyr0se · 04/09/2022 16:01

I think because he lives at home maybe he doesn't get how much things cost, like long showers. Have you ever asked him to pay? Especially when picking him up? I agree that he should offer but I would give him the benefit of the doubt here and ask him to pay. If you have to ask twice then dump him.

Lauralizzie · 04/09/2022 16:03

Sounds like a mummy's boy and now he's treating you like a second mum.
He's obviously saving his money for the future, maybe a mortgage or something, but it's unlikely you'll be in that future. Don't stick around, or if you do, you need to explain to him that you already have a child, you need a man not another child