So I know that this is probably going to get a lot of heated replies and what not but I am really looking for some advice and help. And by advice and help I mean something other than, "divorce him."
My H is an admitted cocaine addict and has been spending a lot of money on it. We recently started our own business that he runs by himself and with the extra income we should be able to pay all our bills, save some, etc. But right now we're overdrawn on our bank account on a regular basis. I am currently in a treatment program for a deferred DUI and know what it's like to be an addict, etc. So I understand that he's not doing this to hurt me, etc. But I'm trying to figure out a way to protect myself and our unborn child financially. Obviously there are a lot of other considerations as well but right now I'd like to focus on being able to pay my bills, put gas in my car, and buy groceries.
We currently have a joint checking account that we both use for everything. Right now this account allows you to basically be hundreds of dollars overdrawn. I'm pretty sure in order to get that feature removed we'd both have to sign off on it since we're both on the account. I don't know that he'd be willing to do that.
I'm currently trying to get an appointment with a substance abuse counselor at a local treatment center who is also does couples counseling. He has said that he was willing to do this. In the mean time, what should I do? Should I get myself a personal checking account so that I can control where the money goes? What do I do about his paycheck which I need to be able to pay all of our bills?
Sorry this is really long and drawn out. I'm scared at what everyone will say but am really looking for outside input. Also, I will be gone for lunch so will not be back to answer questions for an hour or so. Please be kind. I realize how this whole thing looks and am already feeling bad enough about it as it is.
Are you working? Can you help out with the business to increase your income? If you open your own account, do you have a way to fund it without your h?
ETA- nm, I read the rest of it.
Girl, you need some tough love. This is no situation to raise a child in. I'm sure you love your h, and I know it's hard, but you cannot raise your child with a coke addict.
((hugs)) I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. I really don't have any advice to give, re:addiction, but wanted to offer my support, and good thoughts.
I think that opening your own account would be a great idea. if you are working, I would make sure that my paycheck goes directly into my own account, where he does not have access to it. Let him know that you are doing this b/c you HAVE to be able to have money when the baby comes, and that you still plan on contributing to the household bills etc, but expect him to do the same.
I dont know if that will actually work, but i guess you could give it a try.
Are you the one that got married not too long ago?
Yes, and I knew going into it what I was getting myself into. I understand that a lot of people would just walk away and write him off. At this point, I am not willing to do that.
I think you need to do some time with Al-Anon. At this point, you only know how to be an addict, you don't know how to be the loved one of an Addict, or the wife of an Addict, if that makes any sense.
You get, in the rational part of your brain, that it is not safe for you in any sense of the word to stay with him while he is actively using. And the potential repurcussions that could exist for you and your unborn baby. But the part of you that loves your husband and wants to take care of him wants to treat this as a disease and "its not his fault that he has a disease." And you're right, its not. But that does not mean its ok to risk your own safety or your child's safety for him.
Go to Al-Anon. Put an exit plan in place for yourself. Start stashing some money in an account he has no access to so that you can leave. Put things together so you can make a break, beacause either he stops using or you have to go, and you know that.
My heart hurts for you. Please take care of yourself and I wish you all the best in the world.
Talk to an accountant and a lawyer regarding the business money vs. the personal money, so you can have the best set up (s-corp vs. ccorp vs. llc - Im not an accountant, I don't know which one is best.
Talk to the lawyer about power of attorney. Or set up your own bank account and pull all the money for the bills over there, so your H doesn't have access to the money that you need to pay the bills.
It took a lot of guts to share this. I'm glad that you're looking for some advice.
I would definitely make the counseling priority #1 and get the separate account going, just for safe-keeping. Depending on his use, a lot of things could change, financially, as he rehabs, and you need to be prepared.
1. Does he agree he is an addict? Is he in recovery? 2. If no to these you should really focus on getting some money put away. Addicts will spend what they have and then some. if you have direct deposit of your check halt it immediatly. Get a reg check and open a checking account in your name only. 3. Then once you have yourself financially settled you should have an intervention. You are pregnant yeS? This is not a good place to bring a baby into. I am not saying divorce him, I am saying get him help. Divorce may have to be your bottom line though if he doesn't get help.
Coke is one expensive drug. And I am sure he feel like shit usiing and depleting all your money. But to help him you MUST help yourself and focus on you and that baby. Call the bank and get yourself OFF of that account. Tell hubby why you are doing it. You don't need to be secretive. He is doing drugs, spending all your money. Talk to hm WHEN HE IS SOBER. Good luck I am sorry you are dealing with this.
PS when was your DUI? did you go to treatment? This relationship sounds very codependent to me. why you are feeling bad about it is understandable you love the sober man. But skirting the issue is only going to keep him sick. Good luck
If he has actually admitted he's an addict can you talk to him about giving you a check for x amount of dollars each month for household finances? I would then separate all of my finances from him completely. No joint cards or accounts and I would start filing separate tax returns. You know that he will run through every dollar and then extend every credit line he has available to him to keep his charade going. Is his business one that a drug addict can actually keep going? If not I would start thinking about how you are going to support yourself and your child if it goes belly up.
I think you need to do some time with Al-Anon. At this point, you only know how to be an addict, you don't know how to be the loved one of an Addict, or the wife of an Addict, if that makes any sense.
You get, in the rational part of your brain, that it is not safe for you in any sense of the word to stay with him while he is actively using. And the potential repurcussions that could exist for you and your unborn baby. But the part of you that loves your husband and wants to take care of him wants to treat this as a disease and "its not his fault that he has a disease." And you're right, its not. But that does not mean its ok to risk your own safety or your child's safety for him.
Go to Al-Anon. Put an exit plan in place for yourself. Start stashing some money in an account he has no access to so that you can leave. Put things together so you can make a break, beacause either he stops using or you have to go, and you know that.
My heart hurts for you. Please take care of yourself and I wish you all the best in the world.
Thank you so much for this. I am going to start going to Al-Anon with my AA sponsor and have been reading through some Al-Anon literature.
And I am trying to stash money away for whatever happens. Thank you again.
The idea of a coke addict and a baby in the same house probably scares you, too. Just really push this hard, but try to remember to breathe. Your anxiety right now affects your baby. Just work it, but don't flip the hell out over it, kwim. I mean it, right now as you're reading these posts, just breathe. :heart:
I believe you are trying to treat the wrong problem. Instead of worry about the money, worry about the coke.
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I understand where you're coming from but you cannot force another person to quit something like that without them being ready. This is part of the reason I want to start couples counseling, etc. Please do not think that I do not worry about the coke on a daily basis. But I also have to worry and take care of the things I PERSONALLY have control over.
telling her to open a personal chequing accoutn and move the money over so she can pay her bills is a little futile, no? i mean, she can do it once, but i'm sure cokehead witll flip the fuck out. it won't be easy (or possible) to do it the next/subsequent times.
But going back in time about a month and not marrying him at all isn't an option, so... I guess it's all she's got at this point.
Personally, if it were me and I wasn't willing to divorce and my Husband was willing to go to counseling, I would open another account and direct deposit his checks into the account without his name on it.
My Husband was just crappy with finances, in general, and that's how I got him out of the over draft cycle. I locked that shit down and he only got out of his own paycheck what was left after all bills are paid. Now that it's been a while, it goes into a joint account and such.
But for the sake of your unborn kid, the bills, and worrying about if there will be money or not, lock it down. All down. And direct that check into your account if you can get him to agree.
It boils down to, locking the account down and getting him help or no marriage at all. I'd feel a bit different if there wasn't a child coming into this but there is. And that child needs care and for you to have the ability to withdraw money and buy the items baby needs. If your Husband cannot see this and/or wont agree to putting the money into another account until he is clean and sober long enough to not run off and buy drugs, then you may need to think about leaving. It's you and your child or him and the drugs.
OP, while I can understand that addiction is a disease, remember that you made the really, REALLY hard decision to get clean, get healthy, get your act together. You did the work. If he'd rather choose the coke than a lifetime with you and your baby, then you may have to give him what he wants. Your baby is more imporant, because he/she cannot make the choice not to live with an active addict if you bring him/her home to that situation.
I cannot even begin to imagine how hard this is for you, the decisions you have to make and what is at stake for you. But the stakes are higher now, and you know it.
I believe you are trying to treat the wrong problem. Instead of worry about the money, worry about the coke.
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I understand where you're coming from but you cannot force another person to quit something like that without them being ready. This is part of the reason I want to start couples counseling, etc. Please do not think that I do not worry about the coke on a daily basis. But I also have to worry and take care of the things I PERSONALLY have control over.
You can't force another person to quit an addiction, but you can decide if you want that person in your life--and if you want to reproduce with them. I don't want to kick you when you're down, but if you knowingly married a cocaine addict, you must have expected to end up in this situation sooner or later, right?