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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

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:
Lacilou · 19/10/2024 20:08

Your boyfriend sounds as if he is playing you, oldest trick in the book he is using you, Google "Barbara the builder" basically you are there for his convenience. He has no interest in making your life easier or adding value to it. Keep him around to help you with your investments, but I would suggest building a roster of men to date, men that will take you out and treat you well.

WhitneyBaby · 19/10/2024 20:08

HollyKnight

You need to get yourself a Fidelity or Nutmeg S&S ISA.

SweetSakura · 19/10/2024 20:08

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?

Someone I know says "fool me once, shame on you..fool me twice, shame on me"

You shouldn't feel shame that you did realise someone could lie that profoundly and consistently.

But to stay with them knowing they are a persistent liar... You will only end up going round in this loop again

YellowphantGrey · 19/10/2024 20:09

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.

So end it, why drag it out? Makes no sense, all this hand wringing and agnst and belittling him.

Neither are looking good at this point.

coffeesaveslives · 19/10/2024 20:10

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:03

@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.

You know nothing about me so why the snide comment about my age?

If you genuinely stayed with a man like this for two years then I think you need to go to some form of counselling.

HollyKnight · 19/10/2024 20:11

WhitneyBaby · 19/10/2024 20:08

HollyKnight

You need to get yourself a Fidelity or Nutmeg S&S ISA.

I'm sorted, thanks.

We probably have different ideas of what "a lot of money" looks like. Like what a generous pension looks like.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:12

@PlantHeadNo5 asks "Is there any reason he could give you that would satisfy the lies?"

Yes. That the £1.5 million is his mother's and the flat he sold was also hers and she has put it in his name as some kind of tax avoidance thing.

OP posts:
Uricon2 · 19/10/2024 20:13

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:03

@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.

I think OP you would be better off thinking about any possible future with Ebenezer really looks like than worrying about your attractiveness and sharing it online in a rather angry way.

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 19/10/2024 20:14

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 10:07

@roses2

Does he buy the good quality supermarket food or the budget low quality food?

He always has nice food in the fridge and cooks me wonderful full English breakfasts, steak, salmon etc but it is all from Lidl. He always has crisps, nuts, and chocolate in the house but again Lidl's own not the top brands.

I have friends who often claim poverty or as to wait until after payday to do things but I also happen to know they have large amounts saved and invested. I just don’t think they view it as ‘spending’ money whereas, rightly or wrongly, not having ever earned enough to save a decent chunk I view most of my cash after bills etc as ‘spending’ money. I think it’s about mindset and how you’re used to viewing money. I grew up living hand to mouth and anything extra was used for a little treat or something to brighten our days. The friends I mentioned either grew up very wealthy and/or with frugal parents.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:14

coffeesaveslives · 19/10/2024 20:10

You know nothing about me so why the snide comment about my age?

If you genuinely stayed with a man like this for two years then I think you need to go to some form of counselling.

Some posters call me a gold-digger trying to get my hands on his money.

Some posters (like you) say I need counselling for putting up with a man who has no spare money to spend on dates and presents.

Either way, I am the one "in the wrong", apparently!

OP posts:
BeenThere0 · 19/10/2024 20:15

@AmIbeingUn , for the love of god, please don't send a screenshot of your investments to anyone, please!

PlantHeadNo5 · 19/10/2024 20:15

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:12

@PlantHeadNo5 asks "Is there any reason he could give you that would satisfy the lies?"

Yes. That the £1.5 million is his mother's and the flat he sold was also hers and she has put it in his name as some kind of tax avoidance thing.

Then you have to talk to him. And be prepared for the outcome, either way.

thepariscrimefiles · 19/10/2024 20:16

BettyBardMacDonald · 19/10/2024 17:44

On a cash-flow basis, some months I am indeed skint.

Last year I paid 7k vet bill for my sister (and the dog died anyway!) and bought her a new refigerator in the same month. Believe me, for months after that I was skint. Earlier this year i paid for both of us to go on two week-long holidays; the next couple of months were lean. Last week I had tradesmen in, doing a bit of remodeling, and paying their bill has left me with very little cash until December;most of my Nov 1 paycheque will go to the tradesman's bills.

People need to understand the difference between ready cash and illiquid assets.

I agree that OP's boyfriend talks excessively about money, but his basic frugality and financial values/philosophy are not that unusual.

Skint implies that someone has no money. You have money but it is invested to earn you more money.

OP's boyfriend is actually pretending to be poor. Why would anyone do this? It is disrespectful to the OP as he is lying to her. It is also disrespectful to people/families who are living on the breadline, choosing between heating and eating while this rich man cos-plays being poor and whines to his girlfriend about how skint he is.

YellowphantGrey · 19/10/2024 20:17

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:14

Some posters call me a gold-digger trying to get my hands on his money.

Some posters (like you) say I need counselling for putting up with a man who has no spare money to spend on dates and presents.

Either way, I am the one "in the wrong", apparently!

Well you are in the wrong but don't seem to want to hear it.

Would you be happy if you hadn't shared your finances and then he confronted you with evidence he found whilst snooping through your personal paperwork and your laptop?

NotaCoolMum · 19/10/2024 20:18

This reply has been deleted

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Moremustard · 19/10/2024 20:19

When you set up your ISAs and set your password (while he left the room) were you using his WiFi at his or were you at home ....

burnoutbabe · 19/10/2024 20:19

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…”

If he bought a house with his ex this £250k could just be selling that to her.

Faldodiddledee · 19/10/2024 20:19

I do think I would talk to him.

Just to listen to what he has to say, and to satisfy your own need to know.

To see if there might be some way out of this mess he's created.

There could be an explanation, such as the one you've just stated.

Even so, I'd not want to date like this anyway. I'm at a time in my life where I'm reasonably ok for money, and I want to live life. I definitely don't want to spend my time staying in or going out and buying my own drink whilst he's pulling out the drinking (are you sure it was branded Ribena and not a cheap version?) I want someone who also has enough income to do fairly basic stuff- eat out a bit, the odd cheap holiday, and just treat me along the way as I am prepared to treat them, with a generosity of spirit and shared life together. I wouldn't want to spend every weekend on his house, which by the way, you are working on for free and won't ever see a penny of, so I'd be uninterested in that for starters. Help a friend for an evening painting, yes, spending Sundays enhancing his house whilst he doesn't even bring you a drink at the theatre and says he can't afford £23 to stay in a Travelodge, it wouldn't be a life I could compromise on in middle-age.

I think you probably had the bar a bit low anyway, OP, lots of the things you describe were a bit offputting but as part of an overall narrative they made sense. Now they don't. I'm not sure the genie will go back in the bottle on this occasion.

fc123 · 19/10/2024 20:20

@AmIbeingUn
Ignore the digs.

Your posts are very clear and you are def not a gold digger etc etc.
However, your self esteem could be slightly under where it should be. I say this kindly so please don't take offence.

You've had a great 24 months of connection etc but 2 years is when the limerence fades and the reality is seen clearly.

I dan tell you categorically that if this last decades and he one day needs care, he will be too tight to pay. It will be your job to do it for free (just like the house labouring).

I've lived this. It's how they end up.

Carry on for now but with your eyes wide open. And work on your self esteem outside this relationship xx

MidnightMilkman · 19/10/2024 20:21

The money isn't really the issue here. The lie isn't even the biggest issue (although I'm not sure I could get past it it without a very good explanation).

The issue is whether you have the same expectations and dreams for your life.

Without mentioning that you know anything, or that you were snooping, ask him:

  • what he expects your future/retirement looks like if you're still together?
  • will there he holidays, days out etc once his spare income is no longer being spent on the house?
  • if you lived together what would the expectation be in bills/food etc? Will you have to do your washing at night to save money, or pay extra towards utilities if you have longer showers?

Ignore the money for a minute. Forget it. Pretend its not his, or he has a good reason not to access it.
Work out if your lifestyle expectations will align, and if you can live with any compromises.

Or less deep....the 'what would you do if you won the lottery?' Convo. Would you go to the theatre once a month and sit in the stalls? What holiday would you go on first? Would you still work? Would you pay a labourer to finish the house?

Good luck op. He just sounds tight to me, but I hope not for you.

NoisyDenimShaker · 19/10/2024 20:23

NotaCoolMum · 19/10/2024 19:40

id ask him if he knows anything about ISAs or Investing in rental properties etc… if he tells you he doesn’t have any knowledge about those type of things then you’ll know just how much of a liar he is x

This is a brilliant idea!

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:24

burnoutbabe · 19/10/2024 20:19

If he bought a house with his ex this £250k could just be selling that to her.

No it definitely isn't. He showed me the house they bought together when we happened to walk past it by chance. The address of the flat sold in the solicitor's letter was in a completely different area.

OP posts:
AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:25

HollyKnight · 19/10/2024 20:06

Go ahead.

I have just been onto HL and taken a screen shot for you, then found out there is no way to attach an image to a PM!

OP posts:
HedgehogCabinFan · 19/10/2024 20:26

YellowphantGrey · 19/10/2024 20:17

Well you are in the wrong but don't seem to want to hear it.

Would you be happy if you hadn't shared your finances and then he confronted you with evidence he found whilst snooping through your personal paperwork and your laptop?

Oh please go away with your ridiculous victim shaming!

mcmooberry · 19/10/2024 20:26

What a nightmare, you can't unknow it and now everytime he bleats on about not being able to afford anything, you will become more and more irritated so I suspect this will spell the beginning of the end. It sounds totally joyless not to be going out/on holiday together anyway. I would be the same as you, absolutely reeling from being taken for a fool. I wouldn't admit to snooping in his office but maybe you could say you saw the ISA spreadsheet? Or say you are finding his relentless penny pinching depressing and don't see a future?

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