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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:
YellowphantGrey · 19/10/2024 19:50

MoneyTalksBSWalks · 19/10/2024 19:45

I’m not as wealthy as your BF nor quite as tight but DH and myself are milder versions of your BF. We match in our attitudes and we made our money together as got together young so there is no secrecy. Saving and getting bargains gives us genuine pleasure. If I ended up widowed so with the same amount of assets still and dated again there is no way on earth I would share my financial information.

As soon as people know you have money they tend to want money. You just have to see the posts on here with people trying to borrow money if they hear people have a windfall.

You would likely be discouraged on here from sharing your financial status with a partner who you don't share finances or a home with and had only been seeing for two years!

NotaCoolMum · 19/10/2024 19:50

did you say he doesn’t know that you know about the property he just sold? If not I’d say something like “You’re house is coming along!- have you ever thought about buying another property if you could afford it? People buy and renovate then resell etc…”

thepariscrimefiles · 19/10/2024 19:51

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 16:53

What is wrong with it is that he pouted and looked at me with big, sad eyes and said he felt awful that he was so broke that he could not afford to spend more than £2. I now know this to be a lie. He DOES have the money, he just chose not to spend more than £2 of it on me.

And before you say it, no I am not expecting a diamond ring but a regular priced present such as average-income people might give one another.

Plus he accepted a £75 coat from me in return. He did not squirm or say, "I cannot accept this, it's too much" and ask if it could be returned. He loved it and thanked me.

He sounds worse with every post you write. What a lying charlatan. Saying that he could not afford to spend more than £2 for your present when he has over £1.5 million in savings.

fc123 · 19/10/2024 19:52

Garlicbest · 19/10/2024 19:45

Oh, OP, don't get bogged down by all the nutcases trying to bait you. You don't have to justify yourself to any of us, least of all those who turn up purely to parade their sexist beliefs about women as gold-diggers!

I bet your boyfriend's many apologists here would take a different view if you were seeing someone who'd faked a disability or a serious illness - both of which I've seen in real life. They, too, were manipulating others' good will in a warped effort to control what went on around them.

It's a strong parallel: fabricating disadvantage due to psychological problems; deliberately misleading others to gain favours and validation.

All of your later comments, describing how your boyfriend actually misuses his time and funds in order to scrimp, point to a mental disorder.

This! It's a type of manipulation.
My old dad did it to his long term partner (49 years!). Long story and I won't derail the thread.

OP. Enjoy the companionship, the connection but be aware this type of MH disorder will drive you crazy in the end as you are fundamentally different.

HollyKnight · 19/10/2024 19:52

Behave. No chance have you made a lot of money in under 2 years as an absolute noob to investing.

NotaCoolMum · 19/10/2024 19:53

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 19:45

This is potentially a brilliant idea.
However he has admitted he knows about ISAs and investing and we sat together at my laptop last year whilst he set me up with an online account with an investment company and showed me how to buy stocks and shares and which to look out for and he also taught me about ISAs and SIPPs and set me up with these accounts. (BTW he told me to choose and input a password whilst he left the room so he does not know how to get into the accounts.) I have already made a lot of money because of his excellent advice.

if he didn’t mention at the time that he has an ISA, you could say “by the way- thanks for your help setting up my ISA etc….you could make a lot of money with one as you obviously know all about them/ have you thought of opening one?”

timenowplease · 19/10/2024 19:54

WhitneyBaby · 19/10/2024 19:31

I’m so invested in this thread, I’ve spent all day trying to work out if he’s brilliant with money or terrible. To have so much and not spend any of it on things that most people would consider enjoyable. To work part time and drop 28k per year plus half his pension contributions doesn’t seem a smart thing to do for someone trying to hang on to their money.
He’s defining got some sort of financial OCD (or whatever it’s called) issues going on.
I have 55k in S&S isas and they’ve gone up 1k this week, he must be getting an absolute fortune from his, easy enough to finish his house.
Do you know much of his past relationship history?

I’ve spent all day trying to work out if he’s brilliant with money or terrible.

He's shit with money. As are all the people on this thread who seem to be doing exactly what he's doing.

Money is a tool - nothing more. You use it to buy goods and services you need, and of course to enjoy the life you have on this earth.

It's like having a tool box full of good tools but using a stone from the garden to bang in a nail because you're saving the hammer for the future.

Oh and excellent news on the S+S ISA returns this week. What have you invested in? Must check mine.

Onlyvisiting · 19/10/2024 19:55

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 10:58

That is not the case. I stayed with him even though I believed him skint on a long term basis.

I am merely shocked at the fact that he has lied to me every day for 22 months. I am shocked that he is dressing himself from charity shops and denying himself all the pleasures of life whilst he is a millionaire.

And I am hardly poor myself. My house (mortgage paid off) is worth nearly a million, I also have stocks and shares and an ISA, and every month I have about £250 left over to spend on whatever I want after all my bills are paid. I don't need a man to keep me, and I would not want a man to, either, as I have too much pride. I have worked for my wages and maintained myself for nearly 40 years. Never had a penny inheritance, never been married or lived off a man.

OMG. I read your first posts and thought the lying was awful and I'd probably bail but maybe ifnits relatively early days then it could be excused.
You made it sound like he was someone you were dating and really liked and it had been a few weeks/months.
You are in a (presumably) monogamous/committed relationship and have been for nearly 2 years? That totally changes it for me, he clearly had no intention of every telling you and is worryingly comfortable with lying.
I couldn't get over that, its vile.

It's the way he's made such a vocal fuss about being skint, it's not just normal, 'I prefer to live close and not waste money needlessly' it sounds very calculated to me.
To be clear, I would be more than happy not to get gifts or expensive nights out and have no issue with shopping at lidl, it's the deceit that is the problem imo

Secondguess · 19/10/2024 19:55

I don't know why you're getting such a hard time.
It's clear that he presented his behaviour as a temporary thing, and insinuated that it was just for now, while he works part-time and has big expenses for the renovation. He has suggested that he'd spend more money on dates etc if he could.
It's now clear that it's self-imposed, therefore you naturally wonder why he's lied and whether this is how he'll be permanently.

As an aside, if he's any good at his job he'd have been earning >£50k twenty years ago. It seems surprising that he's done nothing to keep up with standard pay in IT consultancy. Again, if he's any good, I'd expect him to charge £500-800 a day freelance, and only to have remained in a permanent role if he's ended up in a niche role with great flexibility, where I'd expect him to earn nearer £100k pa full time.

I suppose though the only thing that matters is what you do now with the information you have. Perhaps you can ask about his finances since you've been open about yours. If you feel he's lying though, the trust will be over.
Good luck.

Deverthing · 19/10/2024 19:57

Oh OP. I was on the fence until I read about the carton of ribena. I would have died of embarrassment. There is absolutely no way I would not have called that out. I am in my early 50’s so can kind of relate. You don’t have the luxury of wasting more years waiting for him to trust you. I would tell him that there’s something you need to talk about. You know that he has not been honest with you. If he asks you how you know, I would say that’s irrelevant, the fact is that you know. Then it would be cards on the table time. Outline how you envisage your future and how you would like him to be a part of it. Tell him that you don’t want his money but you do want to enjoy your life with a partner and that the ridiculous tightfisted behaviour needs to stop. Does he want to be that partner?

coffeesaveslives · 19/10/2024 19:57

I don't know why you're getting such a hard time.

Because, even if it was temporary, his behaviour is so unbelievably abnormal and stingy that it makes no sense for anyone to actually go along with it for two weeks, let alone two years.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 19/10/2024 19:57

There is nothing less attractive than a tight arse. I don’t have time for liars either.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 19:58

@WhereYouLeftIt

Thank you so much for your long, intelligent, well considered and TRUE post. You are absolutely correct in everything you say.

You ask: "How do you feel about him manipulating your life in this way?"

Shocked

Hurt

Angry

Betrayed

Stupid

A mug letting myself be used 20+ times as free labour when all the time he can afford an occasional labourer and cleaner.

Scared that he is in fact mentally ill

But also second-guessing/clutching at straws: Maybe the money is his Mum's? Maybe I misread it and he only has £1.50 not £1.5m?

OP posts:
Newname1989 · 19/10/2024 20:01

I had a relative that did every one of the frugal things you are describing despite having a good job and significant savings. This person never cohabited as I don’t think they could realistically share a life with someone else due to their psychological issues with financial hoarding. They were also one of the cleverest and kindest people I knew. Your partner has lied to you though. Maybe he did this because his financial hoarding behaviour damaged previous relationships (I personally suspect this is the case). However this is not really relevant. You are living a life dominated by his needs and you need to find a life partner with a more compatible lifestyle.

onwardsup4 · 19/10/2024 20:02

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?

You're probably on the wrong thread if you can't understand the problem with this. Plenty of other posters do

thepariscrimefiles · 19/10/2024 20:02

timenowplease · 19/10/2024 17:25

.... but to myself might say "wow, I'm really skint this month; I'll have to buy that new set of tyres next month..." or "eh, too skint this month for new jeans/steak/car valeting/a new electric blanket."

But you're not skint. You. Are. Not. Skint.

If it amuses you to pretend you are that's up to you but if you're boring the people around you and making them feel sorry for you with your poor me stories of no money then that makes you deceptive and a liar.

It's like Marie Antoinette and her friends, dressing up as shepherdesses and pretending to be peasants.

Why would someone with £2 million savings arrange their finances so they have to wait until next month to buy a new pair of jeans?

I'm sure that when most people imagine having that sort of wealth, they imagine how generous they could be to family and friends.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:03

coffeesaveslives · 19/10/2024 19:57

I don't know why you're getting such a hard time.

Because, even if it was temporary, his behaviour is so unbelievably abnormal and stingy that it makes no sense for anyone to actually go along with it for two weeks, let alone two years.

@coffeesaveslives

Sorry, but I am a plain-Jane, podgy, mid 50s stroppy feminist who went on date after date with a string of horrible, ugly, boring men who just wanted sex and nothing else, and after two years of terrible dates, when I finally met a man who accepted my podginess, and who I got on with really well, who amused and entertained me and wanted me as his long term permanent girlfriend and not just a cheap shag, I grabbed him and never wanted to let go.

In other words, I was desperate.

We are not all young and beautiful like you with a queue of men lining up to be our life partners.

OP posts:
caznjoe53 · 19/10/2024 20:03

redastherose · 19/10/2024 09:38

It's not that he has money it's the fact that he has blatantly lied to you over and over again. He obviously feels comfortable lying to you and that doesn't bode well for any kind of relationship.

That is it in a nutshell

Crikeyalmighty · 19/10/2024 20:05

@YellowphantGrey indeed and I get that- but in that situation you wouldn't go out your way to pretend or actually lie that you were skint , couldn't afford a drink at the bar and be ok about £2 presents from charity shops.

Mirabai · 19/10/2024 20:05

thepariscrimefiles · 19/10/2024 20:02

It's like Marie Antoinette and her friends, dressing up as shepherdesses and pretending to be peasants.

Why would someone with £2 million savings arrange their finances so they have to wait until next month to buy a new pair of jeans?

I'm sure that when most people imagine having that sort of wealth, they imagine how generous they could be to family and friends.

Some people like paupers to die rich.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:05

HollyKnight · 19/10/2024 19:52

Behave. No chance have you made a lot of money in under 2 years as an absolute noob to investing.

Happy to PM you a screenshot of my investments, showing the % increase in them since I bought them. You need only ask!

OP posts:
SweetSakura · 19/10/2024 20:05

thepariscrimefiles · 19/10/2024 20:02

It's like Marie Antoinette and her friends, dressing up as shepherdesses and pretending to be peasants.

Why would someone with £2 million savings arrange their finances so they have to wait until next month to buy a new pair of jeans?

I'm sure that when most people imagine having that sort of wealth, they imagine how generous they could be to family and friends.

Yeah we have a relative in the family like this. Her children have never even had a birthday party or a holiday but she has piles of cash in the bank and a large mortgage free house. My son calls her "fake poor"... But yes the traditional word would be "miser" .

Maybe buy him a nice copy of "A Christmas Carol" for Christmas this year @AmIbeingUn Grin. From a charity shop of course

Bewareofthisonetoo · 19/10/2024 20:05

I have assets similar to him, but I shop in Lidl and Asda because they are convenient and a can’t stand Waitrose.
I go on my bike and on the bus because it suits my lifestyle. Yes I have a car, but no interest in flashy motors. My favourite pastime paddle boarding -not because it is free, although it is -but because I enjoy it.
You can be rich and not into bling.
However… I would bin this one because of the Ribena. Cringy/embarrassing… could not be with, or be seen with, that ‘man’

HollyKnight · 19/10/2024 20:06

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:05

Happy to PM you a screenshot of my investments, showing the % increase in them since I bought them. You need only ask!

Go ahead.

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 19/10/2024 20:07

Silvertulips · 19/10/2024 09:42

Maybe other woman have liked the money more than him? Maybe he’s looking for love not love of his money.

I was thinking this.. maybe everyone else he’s dated he’s told about his money and instantly wanted this or that… it’s still not nice, feeling like he’s testing you. Also if this was the other way around people would be advising the woman to make sure she doesn’t mention how much she’s worth until she’s sure the other person isn’t a gold digger etc. I think you need to have a chat with him.

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