Why do I manage to pick the liars, the deceivers, the downright dishonest?! I swore I would never get into a relationship with someone like my ex, who lied and manipulated me to the extreme. I promised myself I'd regain my self confidence, become independent, and never let myself be used again. And yet, I seem to be right back where I started.

I almost split a few months ago from my current(ish) girlfriend. Things hadn't been great with us due to her grandad passing away, losing her job, us trying to live together for the first time and money being incredibly tight as I tried to support both of us. It was at that point that I discovered what a lier she was. Sometimes about little stupid things that there was no point in lying about, sometimes huge things that could really damage our relationship. And she's not exactly any good at lying! So in the end it all came to a head, I told her what I knew and I thought (after lots of talking and crying) that we could move on from it. I was wrong.

She's stealing from me. I keep money in a box beside our bed for spending and/or putting in the bank when I get a chance. Now and then there has been £20 less in there than I expected, but I tried to convince myself I had forgotten spending or dipping into the money. Even then I was suspicious because it happened frequently enough for me to doubt I could forget that often. So this month I double and triple checked how much money went in that box. In 2 weeks its £120 down. I can't believe it.

I know she spent her money too quickly so she had nothing by 1st June. But what on earth could she need that much money in that short a time scale for?! I've never let her go without. I've kept a roof over our heads, paid the bills, bought the food, given her spending money to go out, bought her books to fill her quiet time at work, given her lifts......and this is how she repays me?! There is no excuse. It's over and I will not be swayed on that. Once I get the £100 she owes me for bills on Fri, we're finished. She's got till the end of the month to move out.

I just can't believe I let myself be taken for a mug again.