38-year-old gets into $78k debt with mobile gaming, wife takes the house out of his name: 'He doesn't have bills outside our mortgage'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
May 26, 2026 3:45 PM EDT

Can a relationship survive somebody being dangerously irresponsible with their money?

When it comes to the things that cause problems in marriage, many people think of infidelity or lack of compatibility as the things that prompt many divorces. It is easy to downplay the fact that finances can also be a major cause of relationship strain, namely when one partner gets themselves in a heck of a lot of debt.

Being sensible with money is not a trait that always features high on the top of the list when it comes to the traits that people look for in a prospective spouse. Nonetheless, it can prove to be a very important one. Even those individuals who thought they chose a prudent partner can face an unwelcome surprise in the finance department somewhere down the line, and it can be a mess that takes a lot of work to get out of.

Ultimately, divorce is only going to add to the expenses. Wanting to make it work with a partner who is in the red is understandable in some cases, but it is never going to be an easy ride. First things first, you want to be able to trust that they can't make the situation any worse.

 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • A man sits on a couch and smiles as he uses his phone
    via Vitaly Gariev

    A man sits on a couch and smiles as he uses his phone

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • In this story, a wife was astonished to find that her husband had gotten himself into tens of thousands of dollars of debt. He revealed that he had racked up $30k on a credit card while being unemployed, as well as attempting to take out a loan with her as a co-signer and borrowing significant amounts of money from family members.

    The woman eventually found out that his obsession with mobile gaming was the primary cause for this major debt. She was in disbelief that such a scenario could happen with her husband, and was eager to receive advice on how to navigate things.

  • My (35F) husband (38M) spent $78k on a phone game. Need advice & opinions.

    I have been married to my husband for 2 years together for 6.
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • A few months ago he came to me saying he had stress due to credit card debt from when he was unemployed. About 30k. He isn't a shopper and doesn't really have bills outside of our mortgage. I consoled him and told him I loved him, that we were a team, and we would figure it out together.
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • A few weeks later he told me he had listed me as a cosigner on a loan but, but didn't get approved because his credit score is so low.
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • Then last week I noticed he took $1250 from our joint savings. I asked him what it was for and he said it was to pay off our Home Depot card, and because we had agreed that he would stop paying into our joint savings because he was making significantly less than his past job.
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • Friday I logged on to his bank accounts with him to make a plan of how to attack his debt. When I logged on I found that he had $38k in debt, almost all from in game charges for a game called . Then I found out that he had already borrowed $40k from his mom and grandma to pay off debt, mostly from the same game.
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • It's just crazy because my husband outside of this has been amazing. He's my best friend. I never thought I would get married, because I didn't think I would ever feel like someone was my partner until I found him.
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • Now like my brain and my body don't understand how to rectify that the man in front of me is the one who did this. He's seeking help, and attending gaming addicts anonymous.
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • I am going to take the house out of his name and he agreed. I just don't know how to move forward. Any advice?
    via Expert-Citron9992
  • A man sits on a couch and looks at his phone
    via Vitaly Gariev

    A man sits on a couch and looks at his phone

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • AsparagusOverall8454 Outside of this? He's lying to you about money and he tried to commit fraud by putting your name on a loan without your consent.
    via AsparagusOverall8454
  • Them some big rose coloured glasses you've got on there.
    via AsparagusOverall8454
  • OverRice2524 Get him a flip phone and sell every electronic he has and shut off the wifi. Then he can get two extra jobs and start spending 80 hours a week paying his debt off.
    via OverRice2524
  • If he isn't 100% on board with this - divorce him.
    via OverRice2524
  • Youdontuderstandme Lock your credit. It's free. He won't be able to incur debt in your name. He should lock his credit too, but he could of course unlock it if he wants.
    via Youdontunderstandme
  • Separate your finances as much as possible. All the money goes into your account and he doesn't have access.
    via Youdontunderstandme
  • SnooWords4839 Freeze your credit! He signs a quit claim now.
    via SnooWords4839
  • Do not have joint accounts. Tell his mom, she needs to not expect the money back, and refuse to pay towards it.
    via SnooWords4839

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

marriage gaming relationships debt
Scroll Down For The Next Article