When it comes to modern relationships, lots of partners like to go Dutch on expenses, paying half for almost everything, or taking turns to foot the bill.
But one woman has shared how this was not the case for her and her ex-partner.
The unnamed woman took to Mumsnet to share her jaw-dropping story, claiming she had paid for almost everything during the 12 years they were together – including buying their flat and her own engagement ring.
She says her ex had a low credit score and he didn’t have much money, so she would pay and he just contributed some cash for their utility bills.
However, now that they are separated the man is claiming she ‘owes’ him money, leaving the woman and fellow Mumsnet users flabbergasted.
The full post reads: “Do I owe him money?
“I was with my ex-partner for 12yrs. When we met I owned a flat. We lived in that flat together for 5yrs. When I wanted to move I tried to buy another property with him but his credit score was low so I ended up having to buy a cheaper property myself.
“We lived in that new property for 6yrs before breaking up. During those years he paid me ‘half’ the bills. It was never actually half as he never had enough money because he was always getting fines and getting silly APR loans and generally mismanaging money.
“Asides from that, it was always me paying for holidays, restaurants etc. I paid for our IVF. Now he’s saying that I owe him money for him having contributed towards bills. AIBU by telling him to get lost?”
In the comments, the woman added that they were engaged for seven years – and she’d even had to buy her own ring.
More than 280 people responded to the post, with many agreeing that if they weren’t married, the woman didn’t owe her ex a single penny.
One person said: “You weren’t married. He would have to prove that he had paid sufficient money to have acquired an equitable interest in the property and by the sound of it he paid little more than his share of the bills he used.”
Another replied: “So, he wants you to refund the ‘half’ he contributed during your relationship. Where would he have been living if he hadn’t lived with you? Wherever it was, he would have had costs to pay one way or another. Tell him to get lost.”
A third added: “So he’s demanding that you retrospectively fund his existence? Just ignore him.”
Someone else wrote: “No you don’t owe him anything, he’s also skint so unlikely to pay a solicitor to try and claim anything.”