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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

Money and new partner

449 replies

Mevawall · 06/10/2023 10:49

Hi all,

NC as I have friends who use MN.

To cut a long story short my husband and I separated around a year ago, it was my choice after many months of soul searching and realising there wasn’t a way back for us and whilst he felt shocked at first we’re amicable now and are in the process of divorcing properly, though currently still living together as finding a local property to rent right now is horrendous.
Neither of us have any shared financial obligations (house, car, loans etc) just two small children who we’ve always agreed we will share 50/50 custody, decisions and arrangements for so we don’t expect any formal financial arrangement for maintenance or set days and weeks.

The house is in my husbands name as it was a gift from his grandmother so I will be moving out, and I don’t want any money from it as it was a gift to him and will one day be our children’s inheritance. He has has agreed to give me a small sum of money after remortgaging the house to get started in a new home with, which is very nice of him and will come in handy for fees and deposits.

Now, I met a new partner about 8 months ago, we’re LD at the moment as he’s based in the States, but he is applying to move here for early next year.
He’s absolutely amazing, everything I have wanted in a life partner and he feels the same way. He’s just brilliant, and as he has no obligations tying his to the US has said he will move here happily which has made things decidedly easier.
Financially he earns a good salary, can work remote and has gotten permission to do so from his employer, so he’s just working out the legalities of working when coming to the U.K and the dual tax system. He’s just sold his home over there in preparation to coming here as well as his other belongings and is now just renting until his visa comes through.
Yes, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind romance, but we’re both very sure this is what we want going forwards. Not here looking for a “ITS ONLY BEEN 8 MONTHS!” As yes, I can count. 😂

Last week he told me he wants to open a joint account in the U.S and then eventually I can do the same here in the U.K when he arrives so I can access his money and pool mine, that way we can buy a house here rather than me renting for a year whilst all things settle.
In his eyes renting isn’t worth it when I can handle all of the legalities of paying for it outright here with the money from the sale of his house, and that way I don’t have to worry about having to move out if given notice before he arrives.
He also added that the joint account means he wouldn’t need to worry about transferring money to me in future for buying things such as furniture or paying for household repairs, as transferring money has been an issue previously when we were booking a holiday together and we had to jump through hoops with my bank to ensure the money arrived properly.

Am I going a bit mad to think this is crazy? We love one another, I really don’t care about how much money he has and certainly won’t be going on any spending sprees. We have also both discussed marrying in a year or so once my divorce is finalised so will end up us both sharing assets anyway then.
As long as my children have two happy homes, my ex and I co-parent well and my partner is here with me, that’s all I care about.
I work and can support myself and my children independently (work is something I wouldn’t ever give up and he is very supportive with my development) though I’ll never be able to buy a house, but that side of things isn’t a huge issue to me and I’m happy to rent long-term.

Its a strange one as I know if I told friends they’d think I’d lost my mind but as I don’t have anything to financially lose they’d tell me it’s all ok, but is it? Am I not seeing a potential downside of this? He open with finances, he’s not a huge spender and has a reliable income as well as stocks, shares and investments, so can anyone tell me if I’m feeling this way for no reason please?

TIA!

OP posts:
SoRainbowRhythms · 06/10/2023 10:50

Jesus Christ no. Do not pool finances with this man. You barely know him. Protect yourself and your children.

Bananalanacake · 06/10/2023 10:52

Are you going to live separately when he moves over, your DC may not be happy to share their home with another man.

mummymeister · 06/10/2023 10:52

this has SCAM written all over it. 8 months and you arent in the same country! What on earth are you thinking here.

cocksstrideintheevening · 06/10/2023 10:53

Jesus christ, would you really be that stupid?!

Beamur · 06/10/2023 10:53

Too much too soon.
The reason your friends will be negative is because they're seeing the situation without the love goggles on.

TooManyAnimals94 · 06/10/2023 10:53

No, just no. All reeks of a scam tbh. Maybe he thinks you're going to end up well off in the divorce?
Also, are your kids going to be expected to live with a brand new man 50% of the time? Assuming it's not an elaborate scam.

Docke · 06/10/2023 10:56

You need to give yourself a good shake.

Your poor kids have just gone through their family being broken up and now you’re moving Daddy v2.0 in?

FFS- some women are just so desperate to have a man they’ll sacrifice their children’s safety, emotional security, and well-being to do it.

Have you ever even met this man in person?

Mylovelygreendress · 06/10/2023 10:56

Have you actually met him and spent time together ?

ZeroFucksGivenToday · 06/10/2023 10:57

He needs to move over here, you guys date without involving the kids and then 12 months on from that, discuss maybe buying together.

In 8 months how many times have you actually seen him?
And how far into that 8 months before he was arranging to come work over here?
sounds very love bombing, intense and a bit mad.
I dated a local guy for 12 months. Spent every weekend together when I didn't have my DD. She never even knew he existing. Why are you rushing this?

Fahbeep · 06/10/2023 10:58

I think you are being catfished. Don't open an account, don't give him or send him money. End it and go no contact. I'm not normally one for saying things like this, but there is nothing believable about any part of what he has told you over the internet.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 06/10/2023 10:58

No OP, slow down. If you can support your children then I would remain separate for the time being until he's at least in the same country. I mean, it's honestly the most bonkers thing I've seen this month on MN.

Over40Overdating · 06/10/2023 10:59

8 months, long distance and you’re already planning on moving him in with your kids, buying a house and getting married. And he’s conveniently everything you’ve ever wanted in a partner.

What does the father of your children think of a man you barely know being moved in with his young kids? I hope he has more sense than you.

I look forward to the Daily Mail sad face story in about 6 months because anyone this willfully blind deserves to be publicly shamed.

Ollifer · 06/10/2023 11:01

He's not really your partner is he? How much time have you actually spent with him?? Do not open a joint account and do not move him in with your children straight away.

Cadenza12 · 06/10/2023 11:02

I think that you need some financial advice. Suppose your husband remarried - bang goes the inheritance. With regard to the American guy, when things sound too good to be true they usually are.

Fe2O3Girl · 06/10/2023 11:02

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

MaxTalk · 06/10/2023 11:02

Err SCAM.

I say it again: SCAM.

Keep repeating and run far, far away.

abigailsnan · 06/10/2023 11:03

OMG you are being Catfished step away right away I thought most women on MN where really savvy about scams and this is a scam I'm afraid I know you won't want to believe it but please please stop what you are doing now.I was so upset reading your post I was screaming at the screen STOP STOP RIGHT NOW.

NoSquirrels · 06/10/2023 11:04

If he’s a great guy, he’ll move over here, rent his own flat and take it slow getting to know you and the kids.

If he chucks his toys out of the pram or tries to exert any control or forceful influence by emotional manipulation or coercion when you ask him to do the above, then you know he’s not a good guy.

As you say, you’re not looking to be told it’s only been 8 months blah blah I won’t bother with that as presumably you have your DC’s well-being first and foremost in your mind. Don’t you?

LemonTT · 06/10/2023 11:05

It’s not easy to get a visa to live in this country. The likelihood of him lying is very high.
He won’t get anything like settled status for quite a few years. Not even if you marry.
He won’t get a mortgage. House and home buying plans are bullshit
You don’t need a joint account with him and he doesn’t need one with you.
Don’t transfer any money to him.

Shelaydownunderthetable · 06/10/2023 11:05

Are you joking? This must be a joke.

mindutopia · 06/10/2023 11:05

This is absolutely bonkers, yes. I was absolutely sure that dh was my life partner after 6 months of dating and seeing each other probably 5-6 days a week. But after a year of dating (no children involved), I absolutely was not ready to move in with him or have joint finances.

You have never lived with him before. Have you even met? Have you spent a month at a time sharing the same space, doing household chores together, dealing with boring life stuff? Do you know about each others spending habits? You need to do all that before you even consider moving in. And god, especially with children.

All that being said, yes, this rings massive catfishing alarm bells for me. Very few people are keen for joint finances when they are dating. He's keen for a reason. Is that chunk of money coming your way the reason?

By all means, if he wants to move, let him move, get his own place, go out on dates while your dc are with their dad. Do not put your name on a foreign account. Do not get a joint account with him here and give him access to your money and your credit rating. Date for a year or two and then think about if you want things to get more serious.

YaWeeFurryBastard · 06/10/2023 11:06

Agree this has got scan written all over it. What’s the need for you to have a joint account in the US? Seems HIGHLY suspicious. How many times have you actually met this man?

rubyslippers · 06/10/2023 11:07

Shelaydownunderthetable · 06/10/2023 11:05

Are you joking? This must be a joke.

yep
my thoughts too
you could see these red flags from space!

RedDoughnut · 06/10/2023 11:07

How many times have you physically met?

This has MASSIVE SCAM in flashing neon light to me.

Mevawall · 06/10/2023 11:08

Yes we’ve met quite a few times in real life, we met whilst he was over here visiting family. We didn’t meet online!

Hes been back about 5 times, totalling about 6 weeks and I’ve been to visit once during the summer holidays when my boys were with their father.
My ex-husband is happy for me, had met him and said he seems a good guy.

To answer the question he wouldn’t live in the house FT until a few months he’s settled here, likely June next year? Before that it’ll be when the boys are with their father for a gentle adjustment, and he’ll stay in an air bnb whilst we introduce him to the boys which is fine with him as he does that when visiting family anyway, I’m not desperate for a new partner, it just happened whilst out and about. 😂

He's not asked for money before, not that I have any to give, I’ve always been open with the fact I’m pretty much month-to-month living and I won’t be getting diddly squat out of this divorce, he honestly doesn’t need any of my money anyway.

OP posts: