Long term relationship gone due to my own irresponsibility
This is the story for context, scroll down for my question I guess:
My now ex partner and I had been together for 4 years and best friends for 8. I’ve had some rough times in my life and they were always there to support me. We are now 23, moved in together unexpectedly at 19 due to my previous living situation. I had a rough start financially because I wasn’t planning to move, and my savings quickly dwindled down as I wasn’t responsible with the small amount I did have saved. Part of it was irresponsible spending, but in the past year or so I have cut back on a lot and rarely buy things that aren’t necessities. I’ve had to cut my hours back at work due some mystery illness (I didn’t have health insurance until this year) and would often be throwing up or having a migraine or some other body pain and couldn’t come into work. I’ve slowly learned how to just push through, I’m at an entry level job so if I take things slow I won’t get in trouble. All of that to say I’ve been living paycheck to paycheck. I’ve had a few medical leaves the past year, for which I only get partial or no pay- my (ex) partner, trying to help me, would spot me rent and I’d pay them back next paycheck, or occasionally they would take care of the electric bill. Though my partner technically makes more, it’s not by much since we are at the same job, they just work more/have higher pay. It all came to a head a couple days ago, we had had some talks this year about my finances and getting things in order but things have just been getting worse. My health, physical and mental, has been deteriorating, I’ve had issues with my family, fallen into a deep depression, etc. My partner had asked about these problems, but since they were also going through a hard time I downplayed it a lot and denied I was depressed. They are the most supportive person I have ever had in my life, my best friend, the only person I have ever felt my truest self around. But they couldn’t take it anymore. The past two months I’ve been on leave and had to drain my savings to pay rent, meaning my partner had to send me $400 to cover this months rent, with no way of knowing when I’m getting paid next due to my injury. The financial pressure was too much, they felt like a caretaker to me. They didn’t know the extent of everything and told me had they known things would’ve been handled differently, but it’s too late. The damage is done. They didn’t want to break up with me but I forced their hand.
Rant over I guess.
Now I’m in a dilemma (multiple). We live together and work together, I don’t want to give up either. My rent is the lowest it’ll probably ever be, but it’ll go up I’m sure once we’re not splitting a room. Our roommates are 2 of our closest friends to us both. More importantly, none of us have family or friends we can go to for support in our state. I would have to move across the country to stay with family for a bit. I only have enough money for rent this month, I don’t have the time or money to move. We wouldn’t be in the same room but would be in the same house. I’m currently at my parents (they flew me out immediately) for a week and then going back. They’re probably lowest on my list of places to stay given our history. My partner and I both still want to be friends, just how we started, but need some time apart not talking/interacting to get there. I honestly think we can, I don’t say that out of false hope. I cannot move out of the city I’m in, honestly mostly because I am terrified of being stuck with family or stuck in another state. I’d need a car which I don’t have money for, meanwhile here there’s public transit. I genuinely have $750 in my account, just enough for rent. If I move out, I’d want to come back no matter what, I love this city. I really need advice, can I keep living with my partner and still be friends after? Has anyone done that successfully? Moving out for a few months might be an option but I don’t know how I’d make that money back.
Posted Sep 2, 2026, 12:42 PM UTC