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Work dilemma

14 replies

WildRose42 · 13/01/2023 17:30

I am just looking some advice from those who might be in a similar situation.

So, I work part time (if you can even call it that) but it’s 7.5 hours a week as a midday supervisor, Mon-Fri. I’ve only been doing this job a stop gap as the area I live in doesn’t really offer many jobs in what I’m qualified in, which is school administration. Also, I can only really work term time due to having little ones, and just cannot afford childcare on low wages.

I am married, my partner works full time, 32 hours a week, 4 days a week. He earns a decent wage, where he also gets annual bonuses and does ok.

Recently we both received a refund from our Mortgage company, from fees overpaid and we spilt it between us. It wasn’t a great deal, but nevertheless we had half each as we saw this as being fair. Anyway, he’s arranged to buy something with his share, using the whole
amount, but has also asked me if he can use half of the money I had too. This item is a luxury, for him alone, for his hobby.

Now, I don’t have an issue with him having the money, but I had plans with my half, to help towards setting up my own business. Something I’ve wanted to do in a while, which he knows about and was on board with. Sadly, with my wages it’s hard to save, plus I buy all the food, pay for school trips, meals, uniform, shoes, and other bits like my phone, car, clothes for the kids, petrol, etc. my Partner pays bills, mortgage, etc, before you ask, yes this was his idea how we pay for things, he was happy to do it this way and his own choice.

So tonight we’ve had a conversation and it’s turned into a little row cause he’s saying he needs even more of the money to help fund his hobby which will now leave me short for my business ideas! Plus, I still need to buy our weekly shop, pay for two school trips, some new uniform for my teen as his it old snd tatty, plus my car insurance, my phone bill, food for school lunches. Im not at all materialistic , and I’m walking round in rags for clothes, I can’t afford to look glamorous. I even had to spend all my Xmas money on food shopping, and other things the kids needed. My partner spent his Xmas money on himself.

My argument is that he’s being greedy now, to fund his hobby, I feel he’s being selfish, because he’s spent all of his wages on other things such as new clothes, bits for his car, and his hobby, and now he needs more. I told him I didn’t want to break into all of my half of the money, or I’ll not be able to start up my own business and it’s unfair that he’s over spent this month and didn’t consider the fact this will lead to him being broke too so he won’t be able to fund his hobby alone on his share of the money.

Hes said to me tonight ‘why you a damn midday supervisor if you can’t afford nothing then’?

So I told him again, like I have several times , that where we live there is no jobs that fit in with the little ones and school run. They he never helps with the school run or with the little ones, he’s either playing games, asleep or working, doing his hobby or at his moms. He won’t cut his hours, not even slightly so I can do extra hours in a non term time Job, he says he likes his wages and he also said he isn’t prepared to look after the kids weekends if I get a weekend job! So with no help or support, my wages will continue to be low, unless I can find a 9:30-2:30 term time job. That won’t pay huge amounts but it’s better than what I’m on now and it’s what I am experienced and qualified to do. So how
Can I earn more, if one there’s no suitable jobs around, within a good distance and if I don’t get the help and support from my partner, what does he expect me to do, if he won’t budge on his hours so it’s fair we both can work more hours?

anyone else in this position and can give advice

many thanks and sorry for the essay.

OP posts:
Ohgodthepain · 13/01/2023 17:33

Your partner doesn't work full time, he sounds like a knob tbh.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 13/01/2023 17:39

You should be sharing the money equally so you both have the same amount of disposable income, the only reason he can work and earn the money he earns is because he's not paying for childcare because you are doing it.

You're married so your assets are shared.

Homedeco · 13/01/2023 17:45

You have definitely posted this in the wrong board, it’s not really an employment issue between you and your employer. You might get more support/traffic in a different board

personally I don’t think you should give up your % of the fee refund to him. It’s horrible that he’s guilting you like that. You may be able to get help with childcare costs from the government if you do increase your hours

Redblanky · 13/01/2023 17:49

I think there's a very strong case for you to have it all for your business TBH.

He sounds awful. Just a thought but how much do you need and how much woukd you get fro a divorce? It's all wrong that you're spending your own money on DC expenses and food if he's not.

PumpkinTruffles · 13/01/2023 17:54

I think you should stick to your guns on this one, he's being really selfish. It seems like a small part of a much bigger issue though - he's not treating you like a partner and not doing his bit. I would be keeping that money and also starting to ask a lot more of him too.

ImaniMumsnet · 13/01/2023 18:10

Hi OP,

Thanks for posting... we think you might get better responses on the relationships board. Please get in touch with us on [email protected] and we'd be happy to help.

daisychain01 · 14/01/2023 04:38

I wouldn't bother getting this moved to Relationships, as it isn't worth the effort when what we can tell you for sure is that your 'D' H is utterly self-centred, grabby and selfish - why isn't he supporting you in your business venture. He could have let you keep all the money to show you support as your life partner.

It's also odd that you're splitting that money in half when another option could have been to put it towards household bills when you're only working 7.5 hrs and he's what's classed as part time (Knob does just about cover his situation, as pp rightly said).

sorry OP not a lot of help probably but I can't stand tightwads like that.

HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 14/01/2023 05:13

Awful man. Puts his hobbies and own luxuries above you investing in a job. No support to you in any form. Why are you with him?

autienotnaughty · 14/01/2023 06:15

I work ten hours a week. Dh is full time. We pay our bills and what ever is left we save/split equally so we each have same left over. We also have a joint cc for shopping and kids expenses which we clear each month. YANBU of course your share of the money should go to starting your business. And you are not just a mid day supervisor (which by the way I have done it's bloody hard work!!) you also look after the children saving 1000+ in childcare fees and I'm assuming you do most of household tasks. If you worked full time your dh probably wouldn't have time for his hobby as he would have to share responsibilities of household running. How dare he try to make you feel less for wanting to do something for yourself. I'm furious on your behalf.

crisscrosscringle · 14/01/2023 06:44

A few things-

  1. 32 hours, 4 days is not full time work
  1. How on Earth do you afford all that on a midday salary? Assuming &11.50 an hour x £7.5 hours that's just over £85 a week.
  1. You shouldn't share your half. If anything it makes more sense for him to invest his half.
  1. Not clear if you're married. I would recommend you leave this man because he sounds like a bad egg but if you want to stay and you're not married you are vulnerable and really do need to look at working more hours.
nzeire · 14/01/2023 07:14

This just sounds SO FUCKING SAD

what a meanie :(

Poppyblush · 14/01/2023 07:16

Don’t give him your half, use it to see a solicitor as he’s a selfish nasty person. And he doesn't work full time, so he’s a lazy git too.

Highonpower · 14/01/2023 09:30

You are not acting as a team - everything separate, he lives one lifestyle (a bloody nice one) and you live like a second-class citizen - of course he agreed to this split, it works out well for him but why did you ever agree to it? I don't know if you are enjoying your life with him, maybe counselling would help but long term if he continues to behave like this you need to consider your options and get out of that marriage. I

DinkyDaisy · 14/01/2023 12:40

I'm a TA on shit wages but 32 1/2 hours a week. DH full time wfh and paid lot more than me. Our split similar to yours. Him mortgage and bills and me food/ clothes, etc...
How you can do this on Midday wage is incredible. My DH prone to be a tight wad but myself and teenagers squash him as much as possible as an unpleasant quality...

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