How can I put myself in the best position to be able to afford to leave my partner?
This is going to be strictly the financial side of things, which is what I am most worried about. All figures are rounded.
I am 22 and married to someone who is around my age. We own a house together. I am a disabled student who does minimal side work when my health allows it. My partner does not work and is a student.
We currently receive benefits, around £1400 in UC, which will soon reduce down to £1100 as the minor in our house leaves education. I receive £750 PIP and about £2000/year student finance. My partner does not get student finance. I can earn anywhere from £100 - £900 a month doing side work, but this depends purely on my health.
Our mortgage is around £700, council tax is £150 and other bills like minimum payments on the credit cards, insurances and such come to £550. Then we have to buy food on top of that, normally £300 a month. I have reduced my regular spending as much as possible, but I have been unable to convince my partner to reduce their regular spending on game services and the like.
My partner has a spending problem and we are in debt, to a total of about £10,000. £1500 is on my cards and overdraft, the rest is theirs, mostly high interest credit cards and overdraft. I have tried to pay this off myself but every time I make a dent they spend it away. I understand that if we were to divorce, the debt would be split 50/50.
I have tried many times to work on this, I am the planner of the relationship but they do not want to engage and I fear they are falling into gambling as well.
We have about £16,000 equity in our house, on the low end. The deposit was from before I got very sick, I worked so hard for it and I can't see my health improving enough to be able to work that hard again.
I have atleast a year, potentially more, to try and put myself in the best position to leave, as I won't leave until the minor in the house is sorted in their own life.
What should I be doing on the finance side of things to set myself up for the best possible outcome, is there any way I could afford to buy a small house or flat once I've left? Housing insecurity is my biggest fear.
if you have any questions, please ask them and I will do my best to answer.