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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

Can you give me some advice on what is fair in this relationship? Or what’s normal?

64 replies

DaisyDaisyDaisy3 · 23/08/2025 11:53

we met 5 months ago. He moved in with his mum after a separation. He doesn’t pay his mum rent, he buys his own food (apparently she told him to save). He doesn’t drive.
I have a mortgage and I have 3 daughters, 2 at home (17 and 20). He doesn’t have children.
I drive if we are going anywhere and we take it in turns to buy a drink or food (which isn’t very often as I can’t afford it). He stays at mine approx twice a week (he gets the bus here). I was doing the cooking (unless we were eating out but I have had to say I can’t afford this anymore) and cleaning up. I mentioned this and he’s better now and will help.
He was looking to rent and pay appropriately 900 a month without bills. He has an elderly dog so the dog is staying with his mum so he will still stay at his mums occasionally. Therefore, he won’t be at his place often. I came up with the idea of him contributing towards staying at mine instead. It helps me and helps him (a lot). I thought it would make sense as he’s staying at my house anyway, so it would be a couple of nights a week and he’d stay at his mums too with his dog! Whilst looking for a rental that accepts animals (however, his gig toilets in the house so he’s reluctant to rent).
He transferred 250. Then 5 days later, he was questioning why I couldn’t afford to pay for EPC on my house (I’m selling to downsize). I told him, I can’t justify paying 180 this month as I had a lot to pay out (daughters driving and birthdays). He said to use the 250 he gave me. I said, no, it’s ok, the EPC can wait (I’m in no hurry). He then questioned where his 250 is going and he’d like to know for the future what I’m spending the 250 on and am i going to get things in for him, like bread?! (I think this remark was because the first night he stayed following paying the 250, I had no bread. Me and my girls don’t eat bread so I just didn’t think).
I was so angry, I have been buying extra food for months when he stays, he sowers here, stays the night. I sent the 250 back and told him to go and rent somewhere and he would know exactly where the 250 goes. He couldn’t understand why I was angry. I told him it doesn’t cost nothing to stay at someone’s house.
Anyway, he still hasn’t found anywhere to rent and he’s staying at mine again. He now brings the odd thing, coffee, wine, some cereal bars, he had shower wash, some meatballs and pasta sauce yesterday with him.
I now can’t help feeling resentful!
He stayed last night, now again tonight. He said he will need to eat later and said he will give me some money. Or he will go to the pub and get himself a meal. It just feels so awkward now. He said yesterday, do I have a shower at the gym as before, you have invited me to have a shower.
I don’t know how to handle it!
I don’t know what’s fair when one person has a home and the other one doesn’t?

OP posts:
VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 23/08/2025 11:57

Why on earth are you letting a bloke move in with you after 5 months, especially when you've got a teenage daughter in the house.

You barely know this man. Quite aside from the money issue, you're completely insane to allow this.

Piggled · 23/08/2025 11:57

Cocklodger. Get rid.

Analysisandparalysis · 23/08/2025 11:58

If after 5 months you’re already both nitpicking and resentful, this isn’t going to work.

You're clearly both at very different life stages, him never having had kids and still sponging off his mother (and now you) and you as a single mother to 3 daughters.

You both don’t sound compatible at all.

charlieandthechocolatfactory · 23/08/2025 11:59

wtf are you doing woman

catin8oot5 · 23/08/2025 12:00

Are you actually even asking this? He’s paying you a pittance and asking you who is going to be buying the bread?

God I thought I had low self esteem but ffs treat yourself and your poor daughters with respect and kick this prick out immediately

arcticpandas · 23/08/2025 12:03

catin8oot5 · 23/08/2025 12:00

Are you actually even asking this? He’s paying you a pittance and asking you who is going to be buying the bread?

God I thought I had low self esteem but ffs treat yourself and your poor daughters with respect and kick this prick out immediately

Edited

No, she sent it back so he's not paying anything.
@DaisyDaisyDaisy3 he's clearly a user taikng you for a ride. Please get rid of this cocklodger.

YetanotherNC25 · 23/08/2025 12:08

Unbelievable! You move a virtual stranger into a home where you have 3 daughters and it’s the money you’re complaining about?
Get rid immediately.

Pigeonsandgiraffees · 23/08/2025 12:10

Good lord. Tell him today that the relationship is over.

This is the only sensible and right thing to do. He's a selfish piss taking cocklodger.

NewYorkSummer · 23/08/2025 12:14

This can’t be real? Wtf. I’d rather be single. How do your daughters feel about the fact this man they barely know is practically moving in?!

TwistedWonder · 23/08/2025 12:14

Can only concur with PP - wtaf are you thinking letting a pathetic cocklodging twat you barely know move into your DD’s home.

Honestly this place never ceases to amaze me the subterranean level women set their bar just to have a bloke in their bed.

DaisyDaisyDaisy3 · 23/08/2025 13:49

Ok, thankyou for the messages.
I have been single along time and I don’t even know what is ‘normal’. What I should expect!
He isn’t moving in full time, it’s a couple of evenings a week! I have known him a long time as I work with him.
I just wanted to post to ask what is normal? He isn’t moving now!

OP posts:
Noelshighflyingturds · 23/08/2025 13:51

£250 ?
My daughter on minimum wage pays 390 per month to cover the cost of gas electricity and Mortgage and water and Wi-Fi
And then she buys their own food

Dabberlocks · 23/08/2025 13:52

As has been said on here many times before: No-one falls in love quicker than a man who needs somewhere to live.

Please don't let this person move into your home.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 23/08/2025 13:56

DaisyDaisyDaisy3 · 23/08/2025 13:49

Ok, thankyou for the messages.
I have been single along time and I don’t even know what is ‘normal’. What I should expect!
He isn’t moving in full time, it’s a couple of evenings a week! I have known him a long time as I work with him.
I just wanted to post to ask what is normal? He isn’t moving now!

You don't need to think about normal. Plenty of things people "normally" do are actually pretty stupid ideas.

Instead you need to think in terms of good decisions. Is having this man living in your home paying you barely anything a good decision for you. Would it be a good decision for your daughter's. And you need to think through all the consequences, not just the good ones. Do you know this man well enough to know that he won't sexually assault your children? Do you know that your children won't resent you for having a strange man forced into their lives and home?

Normal isn't important. What's right for you and your children is.

Bathingforest · 23/08/2025 14:00

That's insane. He's a man child. Your choice to have him or rid off

Bathingforest · 23/08/2025 14:02

TwistedWonder · 23/08/2025 12:14

Can only concur with PP - wtaf are you thinking letting a pathetic cocklodging twat you barely know move into your DD’s home.

Honestly this place never ceases to amaze me the subterranean level women set their bar just to have a bloke in their bed.

Me neither

DaisyDaisyDaisy3 · 23/08/2025 14:05

Thankyou!
I’m not going to allow him to move in. I have spoken to my daughters and they appear to be ok with him staying. They like doing their own thing too! He stays 2 times a week at most.
It’s not the money, it’s me feeling resentful as he seems to think it’s ok. Well he did until I told him it’s not. He is now offering money like it’s a transactional thing!
Ok, thanks for the messages! I would just like to say, I would never allow someone in my home I didn’t trust. I have known him many years. I also now work with him!
I was hoping to post to understand what I should expect from this relationship?!

OP posts:
Bathingforest · 23/08/2025 14:12

It's somewhat transactional. Why he would take things off you but keep you getting 0

tripleginandtonic · 23/08/2025 14:13

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 23/08/2025 11:57

Why on earth are you letting a bloke move in with you after 5 months, especially when you've got a teenage daughter in the house.

You barely know this man. Quite aside from the money issue, you're completely insane to allow this.

This. And you're £250 down.

Dryshampoofordays · 23/08/2025 14:16

He’s getting a lot more out of the relationship than you are, things should feel equal. It will be difficult to achieve this when you both have such different levels of responsibility and maturity (he does sound like a man child).

You want to understand what to expect in the relationship? You should hope to feel valued, respected, wanted and cared for. Not used, disrespected and taken for granted.

He shouldn’t have to be told to contribute financially and show gratitude and good grace for being welcomed into your home, and you shouldn’t be feeling confused about whether that is unreasonable or not.

the whole “shall I shower at the gym then?” Sounds passive aggressive and petty.

🚩 🚩🚩

iamnotalemon · 23/08/2025 14:16

How did you arrive at £250 a month? I do think that he should contribute to food or bills if he’s staying at yours 2 nights a week but I do also see his point - he gave you money, you could have used that for the EPC.

aquashiv · 23/08/2025 14:22

Please get rid of him. He's keeping score not out of necessity, but out of greed. Buy a goldfish; you'd have a more rewarding relationship

outerspacepotato · 23/08/2025 14:24

If I was one of your daughters, I'd be moving out of you moved a controlling man you've known for a mere 5 months in

TwistedWonder · 23/08/2025 14:25

Knowing someone as a mate or a work colleague is nothing like knowing them as an intimate partner. He might be a decent friendly bloke at work but he’s showing you as a partner he’s a selfish petty tight arse who sees money matters between you as transactional and gets sarky and passive aggressive when called out.

Seriously he’s waving the red flags right in your face - ignore them at your peril

brunettenorthern91 · 23/08/2025 14:27

So this is a strange one. If I was dating a guy and after 5 months, was at the Fri-Sun night at his house stage and I’m paying my way for dates/drinks but he might treat me if he’s cooking us pasta at home (I bring some wine) I WOULD be concerned if quickly into that arrangement he’s asking for £250 per month for 2 nights a week if I’m say showering 1-2 times and eating 1-2 meals there?

I used to have the same arrangement with an ex and he suggested I pay something (he earned a lot more than me and I paid my way on dates and for petrol or for holidays) towards his house after 6 months and I flat out told him no. It was HIS flat, he’d invited me to stay on weekends and we probably ate 1 meal in and I’d go half on the groceries. Had I not been there, he’d still have the lights on, the TV on and cook the same meal…. So I think it goes both ways? It’s easy for people to see him as a scrounger due to his circumstances, but based on my own experience, him just giving you £250 without question is actually nice IF it’s only Friday-Sunday he’s at yours? (If it’s more, then yes he should be paying and if he’s doing it forever with no breaks (I was not always staying at my boyfriends every weekend maybe 2-3 times a month) then he should contribute for the time he’s there without asking “what it’s for”.)

hope that helps give an alternative perspective! Only you know him personally to pick up the vibes!

PS I moved in after 6 months of dating my husband, staying occasional weekends (no money) and after 5 months of continuous living there I had to insist that he accepted money from me. So I will/have paid when fair to do so and there’s commitment!