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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

Do I have a cock lodger?

204 replies

lodgeofthec · 29/01/2025 19:34

Name changed for this.

Live with DP and 4 DC (2 each).

Both work full time, me employed. Him self employed. Business is always kind of up and down, sometimes good, sometimes average. Sometimes not so great. This means on occasions I foot the bill for our outgoings which then come back 'later' usually by the end of the month but not always.

Covid times were down to me as he got pretty much £0 income then as what his business relies on was closed. It was rough but it is what it is.

However the past 4 months or so there was talk of starting a new business cause what he does is kind of phasing out. I think it was partly this and partly boredom and wanting to do something new/something he thought would be better long term. There wasn't however any talk about money changing during this time. So for the last 3 months I have basically paid everything. When I've brought it up he simply says it'll come and he can't give me what's not there. Ok but how am I supposed to pay the bills?

We have an agreed expenditure which accounts for our 2 incomes. Paying 50/50 Not just mine!

To add to this he has his own arrangements with his kids mum that he tells me about but I don't really know and suspect he pays the majority plus extras, I'm not saying the exes should be missing out but he's telling me he has nothing so I'm getting nothing so essentially paying for 6 people when he's still paying for them away from our home.

I don't know how long this situation is going to go on for. He keeps telling me it'll be better in 2-3 weeks etc then that times comes and nothing.

On top of this I am working full time myself and doing the bulk of house chores so he can work extra to get this money coming in that never seems to come. He's bad with money and I think if you are self
Employed you should save to cover these times and he hasn't.

When things have been good we have done things, gone out for food. He's bought me things and he's always got bits for the kids through a work thing that's saved me a lot of money, but also I wouldn't buy new/as much if I had to pay so can't really compare like for like.

I'm starting to really resent this arrangement. We also have a pet which I am doing 99% of the work for. He counts watching it in the day his share (sometimes I am there too as I WFH sometimes) so this isn't daily, I walk/feed/sort food/vets etc etc
On top of this he is still married to his ex, divorce is initiated but only because I insisted (wish I hadn't bothered). But I can't see it being finalised as - no money and no motivation to. Only silver lining is because of these things house etc is in my name.

Just wanted some outside opinions on this as I am feeling really taken for granted at the minute and it's causing huge problems.

OP posts:
HoppityBun · 29/01/2025 22:24

Yes

LeilaLandi · 29/01/2025 22:26

Why hasn't he got a job, any job, to meet his responsibilities? Why hasn't he addressed things? How can he be ok with what's he's doing or, more to the point not doing, financially, emotionally and practically? What a waste of space.

Poor you, poor your kids, poor his kids.

Focus on you and your kids though. Enough is enough.

pinkyredrose · 29/01/2025 22:28

Did he not get any furlough during lockdown? If he'd been submitting tax returns he should have got something.

Zucker · 29/01/2025 22:28

You're essentially funding a married couple's lifestyle!

Cocklodger, he needs to go.

Duckingella · 29/01/2025 22:28

No one falls in love faster than a bloke needing somewhere to live or in this case a skint separated bloke who wants help taking care of his kids on his assigned custody time.

He either gets a job with a steady income or he moves out and foots his own costs.

It's probably this rubbish that ended his previous relationship:maybe the estranged wife got tired of paying for everything too.

Lotsofsnacks · 29/01/2025 22:31

Come on OP this guy is spending all your money, that you could be spending on your own kids!

I do not see the attraction of this relationship, he’s got you funding him, and his ex wife, and his kids! Get rid and prioritise your own little family. Stay single for a while and don’t rush into another live in relationship! Another frustrating post on MN, about a single mum with kids moving in a man who contributes sweet FA!

Phthia · 29/01/2025 22:32

He must know that he wouldn't have been able to contemplate starting a new business if he were paying for the house and paying his fair share towards bills. He needs to be made to explain on what planet he claims it's remotely OK to decide to make you responsible for all the finances without even asking you first.

But, above all, you need to say what @Whyherewego suggests.

Rainbowqueeen · 29/01/2025 22:35

Get him out.

He is stealing from you in order to feather his own nest. If he really viewed you as a partner there would have been a discussion about how this would all work. Instead he sees you as his minion, to do his bidding with no expectation of kindness or decency from him.

Total wanker

RisingSunn · 29/01/2025 22:43

lodgeofthec · 29/01/2025 21:07

I think this sums up more how I feel. Covid felt different, everyone was having hard times and it wasn't their doing. I was ok to do that then and ride the hard times together.

This time feels different because it's more of a choice to make a change, without discussing what that might mean for finances in the interim, I was never told I may have to foot the bill for everything. We also don't share finances and I know he has other outgoings to his ex and other bills of his own (as do I) which I would imagine are still being paid, as no letters etc coming through. I also have no eyes on what he does with his money to ex etc, like Xmas for example ex wanted to but DC and expensive gift and he was going to contribute half, well I paid Xmas our side mostly (cash presents, some
Came from work) he's told me he didn't pay ex, but I doubt that as the child got the gift and she wouldn't be able to afford it alone, and she didn't kick off which she would have. It just makes me very uneasy and more like I'm being taken for granted. There is a school trip that is pricey also that he agreed to split with ex, I imagine payment is due soon/already gone, and ex wouldn't pay it all. Again I don't want his DC to miss out but if you can't pay your bills those things have to go. And my DC is missing out cause I can't afford to take them away!

Yea it's time to go.

Yep.

Focus your energy on yourself and children - without all the added stress and baggage.

PoltergeistsStartLowKey · 29/01/2025 22:46

Ooof no. Get him gone. You'll be minted.

Alalalala · 29/01/2025 22:46

Oh @lodgeofthec I hope you’ve seen the light and you move him out as soon as possible. Please don’t let him make a mug of you and your kids any longer.

rubiconartist · 29/01/2025 22:48

sometimesmovingforwards · 29/01/2025 19:49

I’m failing to see the attraction…

I guess you must be desperate to be in any relationship rather than not?

Why the need to be so fucking rude?

It's so toxic.

Imbusytodaysorry · 29/01/2025 22:50

Ohnobackagain · 29/01/2025 21:15

This @lodgeofthec

I wouldn’t even bother with this .
I think OP has opened her eyes and why try to change a cocklodger . sounds like he will
talk the talk and op be back to where she started when he doesn’t walk the walk.

Id tell him it’s over and he has a month to dons somewhere. .@lodgeofthec

Horses7 · 29/01/2025 22:52

Yes you have, you should dump him.
ps and don’t marry him when he eventually divorces his wife.

Imbusytodaysorry · 29/01/2025 22:54

This

FallenRaingel · 29/01/2025 22:54

Send him back to his wife, at least he pays her bills.

Assuming it's your house, you're not married so he has no rights to stay.

ilovemyhamster · 29/01/2025 22:56

Michelle12A · 29/01/2025 20:40

No

Are you ok? Did you pass out mid sentence?

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2025 22:59

If it's 50/50 why is he paying towards his exes home but not yours

Normallynumb · 29/01/2025 23:00

In one word Yes

Tahlbias · 29/01/2025 23:01

A conversation would have been nice, about footing the bill for everything! He's definitely cock lodging at this point!

Jom222 · 29/01/2025 23:08

Yeah he’s gotta go.

lodgeofthec · 29/01/2025 23:12

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2025 22:59

If it's 50/50 why is he paying towards his exes home but not yours

I don't know that's for sure but I suspect as he usually pays the majority of 'things'

OP posts:
Beesandhoney123 · 29/01/2025 23:13

He's married to someone else and doesn't care for a divorce.

He lives with you and you pay the bills.

I really hope you don't plan to marry him or give him half your house.

Tell him it's over, call the council and say he's left and to drop your council tax bill.
He can leave and go home to his wife. To the house he presumably owns half of!

No, you don't need him.

Enough4me · 29/01/2025 23:17

Yes he's a cocklodger. While his DC gets the significant Xmas gift and school trip you can't afford to take yours away as you are backfilling his financial vacuum.
You are giving your DC money away to fund his lifestyle.

Colddayhotcuppa · 29/01/2025 23:20

Agree! I don't think you need to have another conversation, what would be the point? He's not a decent guy, he's a user. They don't suddenly become self aware because of a conversation. Your children will be so much better off. I don't know how anyone can subsidise a partner and step dc at the expense of their own dc. I mean he's not even a partner is he? he's a sponger. Get rid, sooner the better.