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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:
Herejustforthisone · 08/09/2022 07:58

He is disgusting.

Bollindger · 08/09/2022 08:01

Tell him the truth.
Hi Jack.
Look I know you worked hard for your wages, but so do I. You expect me to pay for everything even petrol which at £65 a visit is very expensive. Your costing me so much as a boyfriend as you never put your hand in your pocket, it just isn't sexy and I am not an ATM.

SimonaRazowska · 08/09/2022 08:01

Mean with money is a big no

that is not nice

he’s not nice really

dworky · 08/09/2022 08:21

Tightness is one thing, can be personality, insecurity etc., but freeloading is a whole other and when it's off your partner who has a child, it's completely unacceptable.
Leave him!

Mindymomo · 08/09/2022 08:22

Have you ever had a chat with him about money, whilst I get it everyone saying he’s sponging off you, if he doesn’t know your circumstances, he probably thinks you are happy to pay. No matter how long it takes to pay for something, I would let him

Bedtimeforever · 08/09/2022 08:30

Get rid. He’s shown he’s tight, and it probably won’t change. And even if it does, it won’t be a big change to match what you’re putting in financially.
He seems so cheeky.

Joey69 · 08/09/2022 08:50

I’m a man, and he sounds like a right tightarse, I bet he is always the last to bar and has deep pockets and short arms.
awful.

Bestmum321 · 08/09/2022 08:52

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

LollingAround · 08/09/2022 08:54

Sounds like dumping is the right way to go but you really need to be less of a wuss in future. Have a think about why you are so reluctant to ask someone to help pay their way? Are you doing it because you need approval or because you feel embarrassed? Talking about money can be awkward but it's an essential part of being an adult!
You've willingly let him walk all over you. Don't let that happen again.

Summerfun54321 · 08/09/2022 09:10

Bin.

Hermione101 · 08/09/2022 09:12

Why are you grateful for him?? Why are you worried about sounding mean, when he is certainly not worried about sponging off you?

I do not understand women who are so worried about hurting someone else's feelings to the detriment of themselves. Put yourself and your child first.

Next time, let him stand there for ages and let him pay. DO NOT feel bad about him paying for meals for you and your son. How much could your child possibly eat? £10 worth?? Stop driving him around.

I don't know where along the way we have had it drummed into our heads that we need to overpay for sponging men so it looks like we are "independent" or that we don't need men to pay for us. You are a single mom who left an abusive relationship, you don't need to prove anything to anyone.

Kick this sponger to the curb and take the money you would spend on him and put it into a junior ISA for your son.

Novum · 08/09/2022 09:15

Final nail in the coffin how can you now be starting to earn 60k and not even offer to throw £20 in my tank to take you to breakfast I’d give the £6 for my breakfast too 🙈

Just for the hell of it, why not ask him that question, pointing out that you've stumped up the last 100 times or whatever it is?

Bearsan · 08/09/2022 09:29

I wouldn't want anyone silly with money but definitely being tight would turn me right off, generosity is so important because it says a lot about a person's character.
Anyone living with Dp's who can't drive and doesn't even pay his share is not exactly a catch.

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 08/09/2022 09:39

Send this cocklodging cunt a bill.

weemouse · 08/09/2022 09:40

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

This, With bells on.

Run.For.The.Hills.

He's a cunt. And I NEVER use that word, but by god he is!

KentuckyDerbyandJoan · 08/09/2022 09:47

You’ve nothing to be ‘grateful’ for OP.
Dump him now, he sounds grim.

ChaToilLeam · 08/09/2022 10:52

Bin this scrounger. He doesn’t sound nice in the slightest.

ChsmpagneWannaBe · 08/09/2022 11:00

I think I replied on your first post. Same message. He is not the guy for you.
You want someone to share expenses not be a burden. What sort of message is this sending your son.
Please leave him.

scoobydoo1971 · 08/09/2022 12:45

This is how you dump him without drama. Tell him you are running low on funds, with the energy and cost of living crisis, and tell him you are glad he got a new job with higher income. Ask him if he would mind lending you some money, a significant bit like £1k, to fix your car (or other calamity) as you won't be able to get to work otherwise. See his reaction, and when he refuses or dithers then you can say the relationship clearly has no future as there is no give and take.

Orangello · 08/09/2022 12:58

I like the idea to actually get some of your money back. Go shopping. DO NOT offer to pay. Let him pay. Then go out to eat and again, do not offer to pay. If he doesn't, tell him it is his turn, as you have paid so many times before. Then ask money for petrol. And a contribution for the utilities.

You won't even have to worry about breaking up, he'll be gone before you can say 'scrounger'.

OldEvilOwl · 08/09/2022 13:07

I like the idea to actually get some of your money back. Go shopping. DO NOT offer to pay. Let him pay. Then go out to eat and again, do not offer to pay. If he doesn't, tell him it is his turn, as you have paid so many times before. Then ask money for petrol. And a contribution for the utilities.
You won't even have to worry about breaking up, he'll be gone before you can say 'scrounger'

Please do this OP!!

Pixiedust1234 · 08/09/2022 14:20

Do what @scoobydoo1971 suggests. Ask for a loan. You won't see him ever again 😉

economicervix · 08/09/2022 17:12

Why are you paying some bloke to hang about? You are robbing your kid. Aim higher in life.

Kevinbaconsrealwife · 08/09/2022 17:15

Nothing worse than a mean man and an honest mirror !! Dump him…

economicervix · 08/09/2022 17:36

What do you mean you ‘don’t know how to go about ending it’? Text ‘this isn’t working for me, all the best, bye.’ then ‘yes, I’m dumping you. No need for further texts, cheers.’ It’s embarrassing that you’ve allowed him to rob you and your kid just so you can have a boyfriend, you need to do work on yourself in bare minimum decency expected from men, self esteem, raising a feminist, etc.

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