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He isn't skint.

1000 replies

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 09:32

NC for this as personal/outing. Am wondering AIBU? Or WWYD?

Began seeing a local man met on OLD. We matched so perfectly: same age, local, some mutual acquaintances, similar hobbies, outlook, politics, music taste, humour etc. Found him incredibly sexually and emotionally attractive and vice versa.

We became very close and cosy very quickly: daily contact, usually in person, in and out of each others' houses for coffee and a chat, sleeping over at each others houses often, meeting each other's friends and family. Talked loads, for hours, about a wide range of subjects and very frankly. Within weeks we were so close and comfortable with one another it felt like we'd been together for ages.

The only thing that wasn't perfect was that he had no spare spending money. He had gone part time at work to give him the time to renovate his house, singlehandedly, and those renovations also ate up all the money he had left over after paying mortgage and bills. He warned me that, until the house was finished and he returned to full time working, he could not afford to spend much on going out, going away, buying me gifts, unless it was cheap and we split the costs. I am not materialistic so I did not care and to be honest I am a homely person who is more than happy to have dates at each other's houses, cooking each other a meal or watching a film. For Xmas he saw something in a charity shop window which he knew I would love and he even admitted it had cost him only £2 and said he felt guilty and mean and sorry and hoped I would tolerate his being skint until he got back to work and could treat me properly and take me to a swanky restaurant now and again.

Whilst chatting and being in his home whilst things were happening in his daily life he would mention now and again that he was down to his last few pounds, or that the purchase of some essential building materials or an emergency dental problem or vet bill had wiped his bank account. I am not wealthy but I do have a couple of hundred pounds left over every month which I usually just put into a savings account. He never once asked me for money and in fact when I offered to lend him money once or twice he absolutely refused. When I offered to treat him to a fancy meal out or a theatre ticket he also refused, saying that unless he could pay at least his own share, he would not go. I saw these refusals as a confirmation of his honesty and integrity.

One day I was at his house reading the paper after breakfast and he was opposite me on his laptop. As he went to answer the front door I took the dirty plates to the sink and as I turned round to walk back to the table I could not help myself, my eyes were drawn to the screen which had some kind of spreadsheet of figures. I was absolutely staggered to see that he had stocks and shares and an ISA totalling £1.5m. When he came back into the room I just pretended I had not seen anything because I knew I should not have been snooping but I went home and was literally in shock and also really angry that he had been lying to me the whole time.

Next time I stayed at his I deliberately snooped when he was in the shower, and read an open letter about the sale of a flat he owned (which he had never mentioned to me). £250,000 from the sale had been deposited into my boyfriend's bank account about a week before, and yet that very day he had been saying how broke he was.

Am I in the wrong for snooping or is he in the wrong for telling me for a whole year the lie that he is struggling financially from month to month?

What would you do? Confront him and admit you snooped? End it? Tell yourself his finances are none of your business?

OP posts:
Nousernamesleftatall · 19/10/2024 10:27

2 years? Well that puts an end to all the comments about him testing you. I would the ick op. Stinginess is a right turn off and lying with it too?

Moremustard · 19/10/2024 10:31

Nothing wrong with Lidl. He's astute not buying brands. He may prefer to shop there because it's convenient or he prefers a smaller supermarket. He does sound as if he has a careful approach to money though, it's up to you how you feel about that and if it would be a problem in the future. As others have said probe him about his retirement plans. Not everyone is keen to travel and see the value of spending hundreds of pounds on a meal out. That's how he's accrued the money in the first place I would think

burnoutbabe · 19/10/2024 10:31

I had a well paid job so am now part time (with the same as him across pensions and savings)

I stick to my new salary as my budget for what I can spend each month (also 50) as that's the offset from me choosing to not earn more and have more free time.

(Holidays I take from savings but my partner knows I have savings and he in fact is working on a start up where they just draw minimum wage for first year so is of same mindset )

I never claim I am broke but things (i don't want to do) are not in my current budget.

Partner never knew my savings status when we first got together. Just I am frugal.

TheShellBeach · 19/10/2024 10:31

I'd just tell him you saw the spreadsheet.

Then ask him why he's lied to you consistently for all this time.

There's a difference between being careful, and planning for your retirement, and being stingy and lying to your girlfriend for two years.

I'd be furious, OP. And I'd consider ending it, unless he gives you a remarkably good reason for misleading you.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 10:32

One of the ironies is that he actually set me up with stocks and shares and an ISA after I told him that I was putting what I had left over every month into a bank savings account. He explained that I could do better by investing that way. Then we actually sat together at my laptop and he showed me how to open the accounts online and all through doing this he never once said, "I have these accounts myself."

Also I would add that the inheritance he will get from his elderly wealthy mother's property and savings will give him at least £1m so he really does not need to squirrel away every last spare penny for his old age.

We do go out now and again if its something he really wants. For example one of those tribute bands was playing at our local theatre, a tribute to one of his favourite bands, and we went BUT he chose the cheapest possible tickets (ie the worst seats) and I had to pay for my own because he "could not afford" to pay for us both. Also I had to buy my own Maltesers in the lobby and he would not pay the theatre's inflated price. And in the interval when everyone made a dash to the bar he pulled out a small carton of Ribena.

Some people have mentioned about me "liking" him. We are well past that stage, telling one another "I love you" every day now for nearly 2 years.

The stupid thing is, I genuinely DO love him as a person, even as a totally skint person. This is about him lying to me, not about me wanting to get my hands on his money. The fact that I am still with him after nearly 2 years of no treats, no trips and constant frugality proves that.

OP posts:
Blueblell · 19/10/2024 10:33

I couldn’t put up with someone so stingy you can’t go out to the theatre or a restaurant from time time when you are also paying your share of the evening. People who worry about money so much when they are not actually struggling just suck the joy out of life.

I can understand someone with money being guarded/cautious at the start of a relationship but to also buy you a £2 present unless it was particularly thoughtful and relevant to you then I think I would be very put off as he seems to be taking it to extremes. He could just match your spending capacity and keep his wealth hidden but this is different.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 10:34

Doggymummar · 19/10/2024 10:16

I think it's lovely actually. He has been sounding you out, making sure you are with him for the right reasons and not a gold digger. I like it.

Yes I agree, I can see that makes sense BUT does he have to be QUITE so stingy? He could have just acted like his finances were like any normal working person. I mean, he could have bought me a £25 Xmas present, it did not HAVE to be a £2 charity shop gift. (I bought him a winter coat that cost me £75.)

OP posts:
Runsyd · 19/10/2024 10:35

TheShellBeach · 19/10/2024 10:31

I'd just tell him you saw the spreadsheet.

Then ask him why he's lied to you consistently for all this time.

There's a difference between being careful, and planning for your retirement, and being stingy and lying to your girlfriend for two years.

I'd be furious, OP. And I'd consider ending it, unless he gives you a remarkably good reason for misleading you.

Edited

This. He made his finances your business when he constantly pretended he was skint and bought you a £2 gift - and made sure to let you know that - and stopped you from having a nice meal out even once in two years, even when you offered to pay your share. It's inexcusable.

alwaysmovingforwards · 19/10/2024 10:35

You’ve broken trust with your snooping and are now grabby to improve your lifestyle with his finances.
They’re his life finances, not yours, not even close to being joint!
But weirdly you’re upset by the principle of him not openly declaring and sharing his wealth with you lol
Maybe he can sense your motivations so rightly doesn’t trust you yet.
Seriously… couldn’t make it up…

You should end it immediately.
Better for you both.
He can get on with the house renovation, you’re then freed up to find another man’s financial spreadsheet to interrogate and hopefully get better access to it by the sounds of it!

SweetSakura · 19/10/2024 10:35

alwaysmovingforwards · 19/10/2024 10:35

You’ve broken trust with your snooping and are now grabby to improve your lifestyle with his finances.
They’re his life finances, not yours, not even close to being joint!
But weirdly you’re upset by the principle of him not openly declaring and sharing his wealth with you lol
Maybe he can sense your motivations so rightly doesn’t trust you yet.
Seriously… couldn’t make it up…

You should end it immediately.
Better for you both.
He can get on with the house renovation, you’re then freed up to find another man’s financial spreadsheet to interrogate and hopefully get better access to it by the sounds of it!

What nonsense

SweetSakura · 19/10/2024 10:36

Runsyd · 19/10/2024 10:35

This. He made his finances your business when he constantly pretended he was skint and bought you a £2 gift - and made sure to let you know that - and stopped you from having a nice meal out even once in two years, even when you offered to pay your share. It's inexcusable.

Exactly

Runsyd · 19/10/2024 10:37

Oh, and OP, word of this thread is attracting male posters like flies. They think all women are gold diggers, and that men have to constantly guard against them.

k1233 · 19/10/2024 10:37

I agree with @Doggymummar If he has funding for a good retirement, many women will be focussed on the cash - how would he know you're genuine?

Saying he doesn't have funds for "luxuries" is fine. He's clearly got his priorities right to be in a good financial position. It sounds like his priority at the moment is his renovations. He's working less so would have less disposable income than usual, particularly as renovations can unexpectedly cost more. He hasn't asked for money, has said no when you offered.

Don't raise what you have seen. If I were him I'd be very annoyed at your prying, it might be relationship ending as I'm very private.

Strictlymad · 19/10/2024 10:38

Sorry op but I’d run. The deceiving and lying is the main issue. He could have said I have the means but I’m a saver, but to say he has no money is clearly a lie. Plus lack f generosity is a most unattractive trait….

Gwenhwyfar · 19/10/2024 10:39

Silvertulips · 19/10/2024 09:41

So he’s a saver? Hes never asked you for money and refuses to let you help -

You are dating not married.

You get on and don’t share finances. He works part time and does his own renovations.

Im not sure what you are asking here?

Are you looking for marridge?

He refuses to go out on dates!
And he's not just a saver, he's a millionnaire!

ScabbyHorse · 19/10/2024 10:39

He's very stingy, I would find this deeply unsexy. I am genuinely poor and find it offensive that a rich person would pretend not to have any money. Also if he can lie about this what else can he lie about?

Moremustard · 19/10/2024 10:39

I think you should be honest and mention you saw the spreadsheet then in that case. The ribena thing does sound a bit extreme tbh, it sounds like you're not as compatible as you thought, which is a shame when everything else seems so good.

Stormyweatheroutthere · 19/10/2024 10:40

Imagine heaven forbid he was infirm in his dotage.. All that cash and unable to have fun with it. If he isn't prepared to spend money in his 50's on living he is wasting his best years... Don't waste yours op.

ohforfoxs · 19/10/2024 10:41

Everything in your first post points to a fantastic relationship. His financial mindset may be different to yours, and he maybe doesn't include his savings and investments in his day to day thinking about money.
Sounds to me as though he has a strategy for a secure financial future, nothing more.

Go to the theatre with friends, have the best of both worlds.

He has chosen not to share this information - maybe because it's not relevant, none of your business or it simple hasn't occurred to him.

You can't ask him why he has chosen not to share his financial status with you, because you'll have broken his trust by snooping. Choose to believe he's a liar or choose to get on with what sounds like a pretty good relationship.

Cremacreme · 19/10/2024 10:41

Maybe he wants to see if you are after him as opposed to money?

Catticoo · 19/10/2024 10:41

If you find his behaviour unacceptable, you can end the relationship. You don't need a reason to it. From the way you write, it sounds like a deal breaker for you, so you can walk away. I imagine he is wary of women who are only interested in him because of his money. He probably liked the fact that you didn't want to be wined and dined and you enjoyed the simpler pleasures.
It is your choice, nobody else can tell you what feels right for you, but it does sound as if it is over for you. Which is fair enough.
Other women might enjoy a man who is financially independent and can look after himself and his affairs. Particularly if she already has children and a house of her own. He might be a better match for her.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 10:41

Oldraver · 19/10/2024 10:21

If you haven't already I would book those theatre nights just for you. His reaction should be revealing

Oldraver, I do go to lots of things without him. But I would like to have weekends away, maybe an actually holiday, with my boyfriend now and again, just like normal people.

What's annoying is he constantly says he cannot afford it, when in fact he has ten times as much savings as I do!

OP posts:
Cremacreme · 19/10/2024 10:41

Plus loads of older people moan they are cash strapped but aren’t actually! 😆

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 19/10/2024 10:42

If he has 1.5mil in an isa it is probably in a stocks and amshares one and may be locked into a fixed term before he can access it

250k dropping in a few days prior to your snoop doesn't alter his previous financial state.

Sounds asset rich but cash poor to me.

It is possible that money is ear marked to top up his renovation pot so he doesn't see it as everyday money iyswim.

You are only dating, and nit for all that long. He hasn't lied he just hasn't detailed his entire financial set up.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/10/2024 10:42

I don't think this has much to do with the renovations. He's tight and he always will be.

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