Sitch seems to have nosedived ever so slightly and wonder now if I really need to drop the rope. W asked me over to talk about finances. In summary I had been left with 40k marital debt but we had agreed that instead of regular maintenance I would contribute to clothes etc for kids given I would pay off all the debt. I cannot afford to pay regular maintenance but have contributed over the last 12 months.
W is on benefits but managed to land a large 4 bed house (for 2 of them) which her housing benefit does not cover. Basically above her means. The deal was that I would cover the debts and once paid off would pay full maintenance.
Well W after just getting back from a holiday abroad is giving the she cannot afford to eat etc etc. I asked about the house/holiday and her view is she is entitled to this.
I kept with I will continue to buy clothes, have kids etc. For the record I have youngest S every weekend Sat morning and drop him at school Monday morning, eldest is at Uni but has stayed at my place 5 nights out of the 7 during the summer break.
So then she mentions the big D and starts on whats the property worth etc. Basically it has negative equity. First time she has mentioned D and then followed up by saying she assumes we will do the separation for 2 years and a straight forward D.
If I could afford more, I would, I have the kids as much as I can and she is living beyond her means. So I now have to somehow find more money for maintenance otherwise go to court to split the marital debt, which I am not sure will be successful given she is on benefits.
This whole thing came about because I had started to get some long overdue improvements done to the house to get it into a fit state to sell if it came to that! Fairly minor stuff but obviously on her radar!
So if she pushes I may be staring bankrupty in the face! The annoying thing is she has no comprehension of the fact that she is living in a house that a married well of couple could barely afford and still enjoys luxuries like holidays. I have not been able to afford one for 2 years! My only luxury has been a cheap gym membership and horse riding lessons that I pay for.
Sorry to sound like a victim here but would welcome view on this.
