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Relationships

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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:
Faldodiddledee · 19/10/2024 20:45

OP, you have also reminded me I need to transfer my money into a proper savings investment vehicle and not leave it stagnating in a rubbish bank account which I have done lately through laziness.

If you get nothing else from this, it will benefit you to have had his very wise advice on investments.

LifeIsNeverKind · 19/10/2024 20:46

Honestly OP, you deserve more than this tight-fisted, miserly skinflint. Quite apart from the (probable) lies about his financial status, there is no way he's that poverty-stricken that he can't - ONCE IN TWO YEARS - afford a glass of wine and a bag of bloody Maltesers at a local theatre to treat the woman he loves.
Maybe your recent 'discovery' is a sign to ditch Ribena man and move on with enjoying and experiencing life on your own terms.

Combattingthemoaners · 19/10/2024 20:48

What a tight git, not only that but a deceitful one as he’s had you thinking he’s on the breadline for two years. You have every right to feel the way you do. I wouldn’t be able to get past the lies and the relationship would be over. I do not understand the posters calling you a gold digger, why on earth would you have stuck around for 2 years eating food from Lidl and cartons of Ribena at the Theatre if you wanted to be wined and dined? Ignore them!

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:48

If he ever reads this he will recognise himself as the Ribena Man.

OP posts:
Gracelet · 19/10/2024 20:48

When are you going to confess and confront him?

MightSoundCrassButItsFactual · 19/10/2024 20:48

I still believe the happy end for you though and according to me, this involves marriage and money spent on you. Ok, you don't want this, let it happen the way you see fit ( according to fate and the man in question )

Dita73 · 19/10/2024 20:51

He’s a typical person with money. I’ve met people like this. They’re loaded but never spend a penny of it. That’s how they stay rich. Pleading poverty is also typical of them

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 19/10/2024 20:52

coffeesaveslives · 19/10/2024 11:23

I think it is OPs business because she's living a life based on him being "poor", as in not being able to do things she'd like to do as a couple

But she's chosen to stay with him despite all those things - she's had every chance to walk away if that's not what she wants.

The point is he's been lying to her.
@AmIbeingUn - No you are not being unreasonable. Ditch the miserly Scrooge and move on. Even if you confront him with what you know and he says he's been "testing" you to be sure you only love him for himself and not his money, you're far better off out of it. Men like this are just selfish shits.

YellowphantGrey · 19/10/2024 20:53

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 19/10/2024 20:52

The point is he's been lying to her.
@AmIbeingUn - No you are not being unreasonable. Ditch the miserly Scrooge and move on. Even if you confront him with what you know and he says he's been "testing" you to be sure you only love him for himself and not his money, you're far better off out of it. Men like this are just selfish shits.

Edited

And she could still walk away. That option hasn't changed.

YourWinter · 19/10/2024 20:54

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:27

@HollyKnight Here is just one of my investments, and as you can see it has increased by 38% already. I paid £4, 648 and now it's worth £6.447. Just to prove I am not the liar you think I am.

I have some US funds in my HL SIPP and I think it’s up 39% in about three years, it’s definitely possible.

OP if you’d be happy to PM I would love to know what other funds he recommended! My SIPP is under £50k but it’s all the investment I have, and I’m already state pension age.

As far as the relationship goes, I think I’d have to walk away. I’m not convinced his stinginess could be helped unless he recognised it’s a form of mental illness AND genuinely embraced professional support to overcome it. Living with an unnecessarily tight-fisted man would be misery. And you can’t Unser what you’ve seen.

Pipsquiggle · 19/10/2024 20:54

@AmIbeingUn just stop responding to posters who are having a go at you. They are a small minority and you don't have to justify your feelings to anyone on here.

Have you decided what you are going to do?

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:54

Gracelet · 19/10/2024 20:48

When are you going to confess and confront him?

I've told him I am ill with suspected covid so he will keep well away as he won't want to catch it so I have time away from him to decide if I am going to press him hard for some answers. Maybe ask him, "Have you REALLY not got any investments? I mean you really knew your way around that website when you set me up with the stocks and shares and ISA and SIPP." Then see his reaction, body language and what he says. See if he can look me in the eye and blatantly lie. IF the money is his mother's he could tell me that is how he knows so much about it yet has no funds himself.

Other than that its bloody hard. It took me two years of gruelling internet dating even to find this miserly prince, and now I am 4 yrs older than when I started looking for a life partner that way. Older, fatter, uglier, more discerning... and now reeling from the shock of being lied to by the man I love. Dumping him may well mean I will be alone forever. Is that what I really want?

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 19/10/2024 20:54

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 ....

I think this is worth looking into OP. Just in case.

Imbusytodaysorry · 19/10/2024 20:56

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.

I’d doesn’t sound like he is skint .
sounds like he is stingy.

2 years isn’t waiting to see if you love hill for him and not his money . Surely it’s past that.
You have been waiting for you both to start “living” together and if he is just a plan penny pincher it’s never going to happen .

timenowplease · 19/10/2024 20:57

Dita73 · 19/10/2024 20:51

He’s a typical person with money. I’ve met people like this. They’re loaded but never spend a penny of it. That’s how they stay rich. Pleading poverty is also typical of them

Yes indeed, I know several, it's very common.

There are several on this thread trying to justify their appalling ways by casting aspersions on the OP and insisting that lying about their financial circumstances is perfectly fine.

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 19/10/2024 20:57

Only you can know this - but to me, this sounds very much like those people who say they're skint and have no money but what they mean is that their money is tied up elsewhere.

I have a friend who spends £500 on some sort of car hire every month - this makes her skint when buying a car or even leasing a different car would free up money.

Maybe in order to not get your hopes up (because he doesn't like spending and because his money isn't liquid) he has used 'skint' as an excuse.

fc123 · 19/10/2024 20:58

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:48

If he ever reads this he will recognise himself as the Ribena Man.

The Ribena anecdote was the thing that stuck in my mind.

My old skinflint miserly Dad (who ended up with an enormous 7 fig IHT bill in the end after scrimping and scraping for no reason) really screwed up his life with the ££ hoarding. His love life, his kids, himself and his quality of life in the end.

It was actually very sad.

BustingBaoBun · 19/10/2024 20:59

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:54

I've told him I am ill with suspected covid so he will keep well away as he won't want to catch it so I have time away from him to decide if I am going to press him hard for some answers. Maybe ask him, "Have you REALLY not got any investments? I mean you really knew your way around that website when you set me up with the stocks and shares and ISA and SIPP." Then see his reaction, body language and what he says. See if he can look me in the eye and blatantly lie. IF the money is his mother's he could tell me that is how he knows so much about it yet has no funds himself.

Other than that its bloody hard. It took me two years of gruelling internet dating even to find this miserly prince, and now I am 4 yrs older than when I started looking for a life partner that way. Older, fatter, uglier, more discerning... and now reeling from the shock of being lied to by the man I love. Dumping him may well mean I will be alone forever. Is that what I really want?

There is absolutely no way a man who was skint would know tiddly squat about ISAs and whatever. That would've rung a warning bell in my head.

I dated a guy who was skint, but he was so lovely with it, he bought the things that mattered to me, he wouldn't let me pay for anything over and above him. If I found out that he'd was rolling in it, I would've dumped him straightaway. I hate skinflints but am OK with someone who is genuine with it.

Your guy isn't. He's miserly and squirrelling away loadsa money for some reason. The older you get, traits like this only get worse.

Garlicbest · 19/10/2024 21:00

I also recommend changing your passwords, OP. At home, not at his. I'm not at all assuming he's a thief ... but he is addicted to amassing money. I don't want him to have your passwords in the same way I wouldn't want an alcoholic to have a key to the off-licence.

Zanatdy · 19/10/2024 21:03

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:54

I've told him I am ill with suspected covid so he will keep well away as he won't want to catch it so I have time away from him to decide if I am going to press him hard for some answers. Maybe ask him, "Have you REALLY not got any investments? I mean you really knew your way around that website when you set me up with the stocks and shares and ISA and SIPP." Then see his reaction, body language and what he says. See if he can look me in the eye and blatantly lie. IF the money is his mother's he could tell me that is how he knows so much about it yet has no funds himself.

Other than that its bloody hard. It took me two years of gruelling internet dating even to find this miserly prince, and now I am 4 yrs older than when I started looking for a life partner that way. Older, fatter, uglier, more discerning... and now reeling from the shock of being lied to by the man I love. Dumping him may well mean I will be alone forever. Is that what I really want?

Well only you can answer that. He doesn’t sound like much of a catch to me. You can’t go on holidays or days out with him, and he’s too tight to buy a drink in a theatre. If you’re desperate for any relationship, then stay. But you’re going to have to tell him you know the truth. I mean he left the laptop open and you saw it, so you weren’t snooping. I’d just tell him you have a confession to make, you didn’t have covid but were avoiding him as you saw his laptop and you’re not sure what to think anymore as surely he hasn’t been lying to me all this time? See what his explanation is. You can’t just pretend you haven’t seen it. Wait for him to explain. Why he’s being lying to you all this time. Sorry but I’d rather be alone than with someone like that. All that money and he’s pretending to be poor.

5iveleafclover · 19/10/2024 21:04

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.

No you can't claim to be skint when you forked out 7k for someone else's vet bill. Seriously.

HollyKnight · 19/10/2024 21:04

I just can't get over an IT consultant of 20 years only earning £56k.

Mirabai · 19/10/2024 21:04

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 20:54

I've told him I am ill with suspected covid so he will keep well away as he won't want to catch it so I have time away from him to decide if I am going to press him hard for some answers. Maybe ask him, "Have you REALLY not got any investments? I mean you really knew your way around that website when you set me up with the stocks and shares and ISA and SIPP." Then see his reaction, body language and what he says. See if he can look me in the eye and blatantly lie. IF the money is his mother's he could tell me that is how he knows so much about it yet has no funds himself.

Other than that its bloody hard. It took me two years of gruelling internet dating even to find this miserly prince, and now I am 4 yrs older than when I started looking for a life partner that way. Older, fatter, uglier, more discerning... and now reeling from the shock of being lied to by the man I love. Dumping him may well mean I will be alone forever. Is that what I really want?

You will NOT a be alone forever.

I actually think this is worse than being alone anyway.

AmIbeingUn · 19/10/2024 21:08

HollyKnight · 19/10/2024 21:04

I just can't get over an IT consultant of 20 years only earning £56k.

He works for a charity, is that the reason he is so badly paid?

OP posts:
fc123 · 19/10/2024 21:09

@AmIbeingUn
"Other than that its bloody hard. It took me two years of gruelling internet dating even to find this miserly prince, and now I am 4 yrs older than when I started looking for a life partner that way. Older, fatter, uglier, more discerning... and now reeling from the shock of being lied to by the man I love. Dumping him may well mean I will be alone forever. Is that what I really want?"

Ok. Can I be blunt?
I've been where you are and I know how it feels. But that statement about yourself means you need to do some work on it. Sorry 🙂

Your low self esteem has enabled this relationship. I'm not dismissing the genuine feelings you have for each other, the amazing sex (I hope he is a generous and virile lover 🙂) and the companionship but most of us would have dumped his stingy arse at the sight of 1 Ribena carton being pulled out of his pocket (for HIMSELF!) during the interval at the show.
He didn't think to shove TWO into his pocket.
All the derailing from posters saying it's normal to sneak in drinks to shows and they do it, and they're worth 5 million because they're so savvy with their finances bla bla bla ...ignore

Because it's what the single carton of Ribena represents. It's how he thinks. It's who he is

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