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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

Is this normal? Re financial set up in marriage

31 replies

ailicis · 26/07/2024 16:29

Would appreciate any thoughts on my situation.

Together with my DH for 5 years, married for 2 years. We have 1 DC. I only moved in after we got marrietd mainly because it would have been difficult to relocate with my job. We tried for a baby straight away due to our ages and the plan was always I'd stay at home (so I stopped working shortly before marrying and moving in together), and he'd cover not only the household outgoings, but my living expenses before and after kids. Initially it was working pretty okay. I had a little bit of savings that I was living off (while he took care of some larger expenses of mine I mention below). After about a year however, my savings ran out- I had spent on stuff for the house (I was frequently grocery shopping for example) and for the baby because I was never entirely comfortable asking him for what was needed. Eventually I was barely scrapping enough money together to cover my direct debits (phone bill etc). It got to the point where my request for an Uber on the app was rejected due to insufficient funds in my account. I was pregnant at the time and remember just crying at the train station.

I assumed this was a communication issue so attempted to broach this topic with my DH but we both struggle a lot with this. I feel like he isn't really understand my concerns, and he says I make him feel like he isn't fufilling his duties as a husband and father, and keeps telling me that I should just tell him of what I need when I need it and he'll take care of it. And he generally has done. I had a historic tax bill he settled early on in the marriage. He also paid for my accountant for the final tax year before I stopped working. If I need something for the baby now, I'd just ask him and he will (eventually) get it. I've not asked for anything extravagant and have resorted to cheap or 2nd hand stuff in the fear of him saying no to my requests. Neither do I ask for anything for myself (I rarely buy clothes or toiletries anymore, and don't have much of a social life here).

But the issue is that I gave up a high paid job (I was supporting my family which is the main reason I have little to show for all the years I worked), and financial security to be in a position where I cannot work due to childcare commitments, I have no savings, and no access to money. I feel very financially insecure. My marriage is also not registered legally in the UK (we just had a religious ceremony) and my DH doesn't want to register it (he accused me of wanting a civil marriage so that I can "take what isn't mine"). I'm certain if he was to purchase property (we're renting at the moment), he wouldn't add me to the property deeds. We don't have any joint accounts. I don't even know how much her earns or how much savings he has, and he isn't willing to disclose any of this with me. He just wants me to continue asking him for every little thing I need. This is while my account is always empty (I don't even get child benefit paid to my account).

For those who suggest I work- I did a few days early on in the marriage and I struggled so much to stay on top of housework (this was even before I had the baby). My DH doesn't do much to help at home which wouldn't be a problem- I agreed to be a SAHM- if I felt financially secure enough not to need to work.

Thanks for reading. Thoughts appreciated.

OP posts:
crumblingschools · 26/07/2024 16:33

This is only normal if you are in an abusive partnership, and I’m sorry to say that is what he is doing to you.

You need to be married legally not just religiously, you need to get a job. Get your ducks in a row and then leave him

JDob · 26/07/2024 16:35

It sounds like financial control. You love him but he's taking advantage of you. Try and get an allowance or access to a joint account. Think about working as he will need to address things if you do that.

Soontobe60 · 26/07/2024 16:36

You’ve been very foolish here, but I think you know that. He is financially controlling you. I’m not sure what you can do about it if he wont share his financial details with you, plus why on earth doesn’t the CB get paid directly to you? How much housework have you had to do that you cant keep on top of it?
I’d say, you need to get yourself a job ASAP, but also that your relationship is pretty much doomed.

Cosycover · 26/07/2024 16:41

Honestly at this point you would be better off leaving him and claiming benefits.

What a position to get yourself into!

Also, most people work and manage to clean their house. That excuse is feeble.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 26/07/2024 16:42

You aren’t married, he isn’t supporting you, it is abusive. He needs to pay you enough to live on, you need to get married legally. Otherwise you are in trouble.

Maelil01 · 26/07/2024 16:44

If you only had a religious ceremony then I don’t think you’re legally married - unless you live in N Ireland/Ireland.
Money is power and you have none. If you want any control of your life start working again. Having a child isn’t reason enough not to.

Icedlatteplease · 26/07/2024 16:44

Hills are that way >>>>

Start running.

You set up doesn't work because you have no idea what his income is. He could be growing a huge nest egg/pension at your expense. This arrangement is not leaving you with equal savings and freedom.

It's financial abuse

Mickey79 · 26/07/2024 16:45

No I don’t think this is normal. When two people agree that one of them will be a sahp and the other will be the earner for the household, there needs to be financial transparency. Which would include the sahp having access to a joint account, not having to ask for money for a food shop! Yes there will be budgeting considerations, but you should agree this together. If having a sahp is no longer working for one of you, again, this should be discussed and an agreement/ compromise reached. It sounds like you are in a very vulnerable position and if you have left a high earning career, you should really get back to it as soon as you can. Keeping on top of the household if you both work is not your sole responsibility, same with any child care arrangements. He will have to step up, he has a family.

Olika · 26/07/2024 16:52

Your partner is financially abusive and I would start thinking how to end your relationship and do it alone with your child. Or you seriously need to find a job and make money. I am staying home with our young DD currently but I was only comfortable doing so as I have my own money, I get benefit paid to me and my DH is very transparent and honest with his money. He wants to provide for us (that's part of men's duties in his culture) so he pays our monthly expenses. But he isn't using it against me. Your partner saying he doesn't want to legalise your religious ceremony (marriage) because you will go after what is his is absolutely disgusting.

StormingNorman · 26/07/2024 16:55

His secrecy around the finances and his refusal to get married legally as it would give you a claim on his assets are giant red flags. He is telling you that he doesn’t want to share.

You need to give him an ultimatum: either he marries you and gives you access to a joint account OR you go back to work.

If you go back to work, you can put some money aside and then decide on whether you want to stay married.

N123C · 26/07/2024 16:57

Agree on a weekly income to get you through the week.

WeeOrcadian · 26/07/2024 16:58

He's financially abusing you

Do with that what you will

He sounds awful though and I'd recommend seeking advice from Women's Aid, etc

Icedlatteplease · 26/07/2024 17:03

Please don't legally marry him in this set up either. He could have mountains of hidden debt and you wouldn't have a clue, you would however be risking taking it all on on marriage.

There is no way to make this relationship safe from financial abuse and continue the relationship

KanIstartagain · 26/07/2024 17:04

This is awful but also more common than it should be. If he won't legally marry you and pay money into a joint account that you have access to, you have to go back to work.
The longer you are out of the workforce the harder it will be to go back. The longer this financial situation goes on the less likely he'll agree to change the set up.

AlwaysFreezing · 26/07/2024 17:12

Isn't he a peach?

He has shackled you to his home, with his baby in tow and you don't even have a deodorant to your name.

You know you're being abused, right?

Is he on the baby's birth certificate?

Where are your family? Can you go to them?

yeesh · 26/07/2024 17:28

This is not normal, it is financial abuse. You are not married and don’t have any of the protections it brings. I think you know you have made some bad choices in giving up so much for this man. You would be better on leaving and going back to work or even claiming benefits

ailicis · 26/07/2024 17:35

Cosycover · 26/07/2024 16:41

Honestly at this point you would be better off leaving him and claiming benefits.

What a position to get yourself into!

Also, most people work and manage to clean their house. That excuse is feeble.

I managed my home while working FT when I lived alone. I now live in a large, old property that I'm struggling to manage alone. I cook 3 meals from scratch daily (I prefer this to eating out or using UP ingredients), in addition to all other household duties by myself. Unfortunately when I tried working the odd day, those days I struggled to maintain everything on my return home. I just wanted to clarify that.

I don't have any family anymore.

I have considered either leaving this relationship or living apart. I do love my DH- he has many good qualities and he isn't a bad man- although he's a terrible partner I've learnt. He's also a very conscientious father.

I've applied for social housing in my hometown but I'm struggling to secure a place. I've also worked out what government assistance I'll be entitled to until I'm back working again. I've looked into regions local to me, and institutions I could try and secure work at. It all rests on social housing at the moment.

Many thanks for all your responses.

OP posts:
ChubSeedsYorkie · 26/07/2024 17:38

This is one of the worst financial abuse threads I’ve ever read on here. OP please leave, you can go to a women’s refuge there are places you can go to to escape this. But no this isn’t normal.

ThatGreenCrab · 26/07/2024 17:41

I am assuming you are UK - child benefits gives you national insurance credits, so if you are not working you definitely need this paid to you. You need national insurance credits in order to claim pension when you are older.

There was a previous post on Mumsnet about a women who was left with nothing after her partner left, and I'll never forgot how awful it was.

Read more; www.gov.uk/child-benefit

Quitelikeit · 26/07/2024 17:43

No this is not normal.

You have given up your freedom to become an unpaid nanny, housekeeper, cook & butler.

Is this the kind of example you want to set to your child?

You need to look for a job ASAP, pay half the bills and get your dh to pay half of the childcare bill

Get a cleaner too

You need to find your self respect!

JacobElordisCreamyBathWater · 26/07/2024 17:47

You need to stop viewing yourself as married, and think about your financial situation in light of this.

In the eyes of the law, he’s a boyfriend. You have no financial security here, and he’s thrilled with that. He’s not a good man. He’s happy for his girlfriend and baby to live in financial insecurity.

usernamealreadytaken · 26/07/2024 17:48

ailicis · 26/07/2024 16:29

Would appreciate any thoughts on my situation.

Together with my DH for 5 years, married for 2 years. We have 1 DC. I only moved in after we got marrietd mainly because it would have been difficult to relocate with my job. We tried for a baby straight away due to our ages and the plan was always I'd stay at home (so I stopped working shortly before marrying and moving in together), and he'd cover not only the household outgoings, but my living expenses before and after kids. Initially it was working pretty okay. I had a little bit of savings that I was living off (while he took care of some larger expenses of mine I mention below). After about a year however, my savings ran out- I had spent on stuff for the house (I was frequently grocery shopping for example) and for the baby because I was never entirely comfortable asking him for what was needed. Eventually I was barely scrapping enough money together to cover my direct debits (phone bill etc). It got to the point where my request for an Uber on the app was rejected due to insufficient funds in my account. I was pregnant at the time and remember just crying at the train station.

I assumed this was a communication issue so attempted to broach this topic with my DH but we both struggle a lot with this. I feel like he isn't really understand my concerns, and he says I make him feel like he isn't fufilling his duties as a husband and father, and keeps telling me that I should just tell him of what I need when I need it and he'll take care of it. And he generally has done. I had a historic tax bill he settled early on in the marriage. He also paid for my accountant for the final tax year before I stopped working. If I need something for the baby now, I'd just ask him and he will (eventually) get it. I've not asked for anything extravagant and have resorted to cheap or 2nd hand stuff in the fear of him saying no to my requests. Neither do I ask for anything for myself (I rarely buy clothes or toiletries anymore, and don't have much of a social life here).

But the issue is that I gave up a high paid job (I was supporting my family which is the main reason I have little to show for all the years I worked), and financial security to be in a position where I cannot work due to childcare commitments, I have no savings, and no access to money. I feel very financially insecure. My marriage is also not registered legally in the UK (we just had a religious ceremony) and my DH doesn't want to register it (he accused me of wanting a civil marriage so that I can "take what isn't mine"). I'm certain if he was to purchase property (we're renting at the moment), he wouldn't add me to the property deeds. We don't have any joint accounts. I don't even know how much her earns or how much savings he has, and he isn't willing to disclose any of this with me. He just wants me to continue asking him for every little thing I need. This is while my account is always empty (I don't even get child benefit paid to my account).

For those who suggest I work- I did a few days early on in the marriage and I struggled so much to stay on top of housework (this was even before I had the baby). My DH doesn't do much to help at home which wouldn't be a problem- I agreed to be a SAHM- if I felt financially secure enough not to need to work.

Thanks for reading. Thoughts appreciated.

Everything else aside, it's not normal in a marriage to not be actually married. He's not your husband and you are not his wife, and you have very little legal protection because of this.

Candlelights1 · 26/07/2024 17:48

This is a horrific situation you have walked into.
Highly abusive.
You need to contact Women's aid and tell them you are being financially abused and controlled.
This is not a good man.
You need to wake up to that.

Please stop referring to yourself as married as you are not.
You are being used as a skivvy by a controlling man.

ihavebecomecomfortablynumb · 26/07/2024 18:17

You poor thing, you are being financially abused and he is not your husband, you have no security here at all. I know it’s difficult but if you have considered leaving you know this is not normal in a healthy relationship. Please contact women’s aid to get some advice and help.

ElizaMulvil · 26/07/2024 18:59

You have no future with this man. He does not think of you as an equal but as his servant.

He has refused to marry you so he's telling you loud and clear that he does not care, indeed he likes it that you are vulnerable financially and easy to control.

He does not intend staying with you ( of course) because if he were thinking of a long term relationship you would be married. It may be, of course, that he is already married in another country or plans to be.

I understand that you may not have realised that your religious ceremony is just a party not a legally binding marriage in this country.

Now you know his intentions are dishonourable, that you have no financial security, that your child is similarly vulnerable as you cannot provide for them yourself you need to plan your moves for the future.

It is of course pointless me repeating the mantra NEVER give up your job but you must get another job as fast as you can. The sooner you apply the easier it will be and the sooner you will be financially secure and can separate from your abuser.

You don't need to tell him anything until you have a job in place and a home to go to. If he is likely to explode, just go without telling him face to face. This is the time when women are most at risk of violence - when they say they are leaving.

Leave a note if you must. Don't say where you're going before giving it serious thought. Women's Aid etc will give you advice especially about benefits and claiming financial support for your child. You will also need to get legal advice about possible future contact between your partner and your child.