Expenses for someone with low income and no children
Partner makes easily twice what I make, though that is partially through side/extra work outside of their 9 to 5 FT job.
We are both divorced and they have two children, one in high school and the other in grade school. They stay with us 30% of the time.
Because we rent a three bedroom, I do not think I should have to pay 50%, especially because I have such a smaller salary.
This is NOT an exaggeration, I do 100% of the chores (laundry, cleaning, dishes, garbage, vacuuming, etc.) and pay for almost all of the household goods: hand soap, tp, cleaning supplies, towels, sheets, furniture, TV, stereo, etc. They have a car that I am allowed to use with permission to run errands or go to work. Soon I’ll have my own. They pay electric. I pay for internet.
I pay all of my own bills: clothes, food, medical, cell phone service, streaming subs, etc. and pay for all the supplies for our shared pet, and I am also the only one who cares for the pet, cleaning, feeding, etc.
Partner makes a lot more because they have several part-time or contract jobs, but I never see any benefit from that. They use their money as they wish (admittedly, they have almost $2k a month in child support to pay) including traveling wherever and whenever they want for “work”, which they pay for by working extra jobs. That’s fine, but it means I have to do all the household chores because they “don’t have time”. I am expected to participate in all family activities that do not involve the ex (birthdays, holidays, etc. general in-law nonsense), some minor child care, and I get an earful if I sleep late on weekends or just want to be left alone.
What can I say to this person who thinks they are doing me a favor just by letting me use their car? I paid the deposit for the apartment, but when I needed to borrow $300 for a medical emergency before I had health insurance after moving across the entire country to live with them, I was hounded and resented until I repaid it.
I realize this is a terrible situation, but I need the language to speak to my partner, who is more or less immovable on almost all topics.