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Relationships

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

Struggling with my husband

5 replies

Franny0696 · 20/05/2025 19:14

I am struggling massively and I don't know what to do.

Been married 6 year together 14. We are both 28 and have a 2 year old and 4 year old. Both work full time, recently moved into a new property

For years we have been struggling financially which I found out two weeks ago that my husband has a gambling addiction. For years he has lied to me about money, he was self employed at one point and money wouldn't get paid or so he say and then we got into a spiral of bills not getting paid. But it now explains everything.

February we had a family meeting with both parents to discuss finances as we were moving house and w agreed a plan on how to get back on track. Month one was fine, month two was ok. And now month 3 he gambled every single penny of his wages and I only found out 2 weeks ago from a bank statement after he lied to me for a week that he hadn't been paid.

I kicked him out and said he needs to get professional help and prove to me and his family he can change. He currently is at his parents. I have taken him to the doctors and I am arranging counselling for him. We have seen each other a few times when he popped over to see the kids. Stayed over once. I really want him to get better. But I feel like I have ruined my boundaries for speaking to him like normal etc...

Fast forward to today and I messaged him to make sure he gets his wages paid into the joint account, he said the money will go to his mum (even when he agreed with the joint account a few day ago) I messaged him and explained we still have bills and need to keep a roof over our head, why would it go to his mum balbala...

I said il message his mum as there is clearly conversations going on without me knowing when it includes me too. Spoke to his mum and she said all the time he's under her roof it needs to go to her and then she will send it to me so she knows he won't have it. Turns out he sent my message directly to her which pissed me off, and on the weekend he was due to stay over and see the kids and said he has a puncture and he lied!!! It wasn't even true he mum said that didn't happen.

I am so confused and frustrated and just want to bombard him with messages. But part of me is trying to be strong and just ignore him. I messaged him and asked why he sent the message to his mum & why lie about the puncture, really disappointed in myself for helping him out over the past two weeks. I'm so sad so lonely and so stressed.

OP posts:
Nextdoormat · 20/05/2025 19:21

Hopefully someone will be along soon to give you some good advice. It must be very difficult for you and I can't see how you can now trust a word he says. I hope your MIL helps you to know when he is lying, and I hope she sees that you should have the majority of his wages to firstly get straight and then financially keep afloat in your new home. Whatever you do you have your kids and you sound strong and capable. 💕

Franny0696 · 20/05/2025 19:24

@Nextdoormat thank you lovely just so struggling to come to terms of why he is pushing me out and has done this to me

OP posts:
LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 20/05/2025 19:30

He's doing this because he's an addict and he loves gambling more than you. I'm sorry if that's harsh but it's the truth. Stop taking him to appointments and trying to help him. You can't help him change who he is. He has to do the work and stop gambling. Don't listen to his words but look at his actions.
I would not let him back and definitely not stay over until he has proved he's stopped gambling. The trouble is also the lies. You won't be able to trust him again. Really you need to get rid of him

S0j0urn4r · 20/05/2025 20:52

Do you work?
A joint account with a gambling addict isn't a great idea. Get an account in just your name. He (or his mum) can still pay into it.
Is he attending counselling or GA?
You might want to contact GamFam for support.

Coffeislife · 20/05/2025 21:23

It sounds as though he's ducking out of the relationship/ responsibilities if I were you I would be thinking on a plan B

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