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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not go to a friend’s party because she still owes me money?

737 replies

SpaceMoo · 01/04/2025 09:44

They are DH’s friends really more than mine, and have borrowed money from us to help out their son buy a house. That was a year ago. She’s now having a massive 50th party and is very keen for us all to go. She’s also been on holiday (flying business class she raved to us - it was a gift apparently.) We’ve asked for the money back three times now and she said it’s so hard to take out loans and her other property didn’t sell, problems with tenants etc.

Anyway, I would prefer to cut her off and get solicitors involved. DH trusts her he said and thinks they’re just putting the house on the market and will give the money back. He sees her more often than me as they work close by. He doesn’t want to end it and thinks I’m being petty, it’s just a matter of time. In the meantime she advised us to remortgage our property (which me and DH argued about and a) I resent the arguing and b) point blank refused.

It’s time to get solicitors involved I feel. (Money amount 40k)

OP posts:
Starling7 · 19/04/2025 20:19

Hmmm, is your husband having an affair with her?

curtaintwitcher78 · 19/04/2025 20:16

I take it he went to the party? Are you ok OP?

Chezxx · 18/04/2025 21:58

After 35 years of marriage I am someone who would be inclined to try to work things out.

However, risking the family finances and being disloyal are deal breakers.

The OP has had a horrendous year of worry over this.
Marriage and loyalty go hand in hand.
He has been spectacularly disloyal to his wife and children.

Denying this fact will not help the OP.

In the long loving marriage that I have, and being financially very comfortable and debt free, I would be furious to find my husband was giving our money to some grifter.

Even more so if it was money that was needed for debts.
This is not normal behaviour and that is why I would tell the OP to protect herself and be very wary of her husband whom appears in the thrall of a grifter.

He is no longer trustworthy IMO.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 18/04/2025 18:41

cornishatheart · 18/04/2025 18:09

This is very considered and rational advice.

What she actualy said was everyone's advice is shite, except for mine. 😂😂😂

cornishatheart · 18/04/2025 18:09

AngelRoja · 18/04/2025 17:16

Ok. This is Mumsnet where everyone gives radical advice to posters but dont have to live with the consequences if the póster follows it.

The loan business to your (ex) friend is certainly serious and she certainly has an undeserved credibility as far as your husband is concerned, but people like her can be very convincing. I thought it was very telling that it was her husband who quickly dealt with the situation when he found out.

HOWEVER, It's your marriage and your family and if this is the only ocasión that you have had a major disagreement, I would go for the idea of councelling. Breaking up a marriage with children involved is a big deal and not to be taken lightly, and definitly not because of advice on Mumsnet!

This is very considered and rational advice.

AngelRoja · 18/04/2025 17:16

SpaceMoo · 18/04/2025 13:54

Agree. Odious creep! Will counselling help?
It feels too late.

Edited

Ok. This is Mumsnet where everyone gives radical advice to posters but dont have to live with the consequences if the póster follows it.

The loan business to your (ex) friend is certainly serious and she certainly has an undeserved credibility as far as your husband is concerned, but people like her can be very convincing. I thought it was very telling that it was her husband who quickly dealt with the situation when he found out.

HOWEVER, It's your marriage and your family and if this is the only ocasión that you have had a major disagreement, I would go for the idea of councelling. Breaking up a marriage with children involved is a big deal and not to be taken lightly, and definitly not because of advice on Mumsnet!

Kindling1970 · 18/04/2025 15:42

SpaceMoo · 18/04/2025 13:54

Agree. Odious creep! Will counselling help?
It feels too late.

Edited

I’m a therapist and although there is no guarantee it will help, it could hopefully be a space where he can reflect with someone objective and realise his behaviour is really concerning. Is he just an unbelievable people pleaser and that’s why he have the money? Or does he want people to think he is rich as that’s important to him? Counselling could help work this out and hopefully change his behaviour.

SpaceMoo · 18/04/2025 13:54

Chezxx · 18/04/2025 13:39

I find your marriage dynamic so strange.
This woman is clearly more important to your husband than his marriage.
I really wish you would get some counselling to see that it is only a matter of time before he betrays you again.

He is an odious creep whose insecurity has risked his own family finances.

Your poor children.
I suspect he is some type of narcissist or has a severe personality disorder because he clearly has zero loyalty to you or his children.

It is only a matter of time before he betrays his family again.

Edited

Agree. Odious creep! Will counselling help?
It feels too late.

OP posts:
Chezxx · 18/04/2025 13:39

I find your marriage dynamic so strange.
This woman is clearly more important to your husband than his marriage.
I really wish you would get some counselling to see that it is only a matter of time before he betrays you again.

He is an odious creep whose insecurity has risked his own family finances.

Your poor children.
I suspect he is some type of narcissist or has a severe personality disorder because he clearly has zero loyalty to you or his children.

It is only a matter of time before he betrays his family again.

fieldofstars · 18/04/2025 13:32

I should probably go into the gift box and remove the earrings and replace them with some maltesers.

Hahaha! So good! Just two maltesers.

curtaintwitcher78 · 18/04/2025 12:26

Whyyyy is he letting this meff come between you like this?
I'm glad you're not going. Life's too short. You have people like the friend you saw last night, and they're worth your precious time.

SpaceMoo · 18/04/2025 12:17

I went to my friend’s exhibition thing last night and how lovely and authentically genuine it all felt. The people, the vibe. No anxiety beforehand. Amazing.
Made me realise I can’t even pretend anymore that I like this CF or to wish her happy birthday.

DH is pretending he’s with me. Not sure he realises that I resent every single argument I’ve ever had about the money CF owed us.

I even bought a dress from Karen Millen. Oh well, will wear it some other time.

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 18/04/2025 12:06

SpaceMoo · 18/04/2025 12:01

Decided not to go. DH can go and play the happy clapping dancing monkey. Told him so as well so he knows what I think of him.

DH has to go, he bumped into her yesterday and they talked. He said he’s going and I’ll be there also. Looking forward to it etc.

He’s so pissed off at me right now. He said I wish I’d said it yesterday that I’m not going so he could have made some excuse to also not go.

I should probably go into the gift box and remove the earrings and replace them with some maltesers.

Please do this!!

MarkingBad · 18/04/2025 12:05

Yeah do it!

Tbh OP surely your DH can still cry off the party, there are always plenty of excuses to not go if that what he wants.

Is this friendship over for both of you or just you?

SpaceMoo · 18/04/2025 12:01

Decided not to go. DH can go and play the happy clapping dancing monkey. Told him so as well so he knows what I think of him.

DH has to go, he bumped into her yesterday and they talked. He said he’s going and I’ll be there also. Looking forward to it etc.

He’s so pissed off at me right now. He said I wish I’d said it yesterday that I’m not going so he could have made some excuse to also not go.

I should probably go into the gift box and remove the earrings and replace them with some maltesers.

OP posts:
Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 15/04/2025 15:11

Please go to the party and use it as an opportunity to find out if she's 'borrowed' money off anyone else, consume as much food and drink as you like, 'borrow' anything you want from her house, and keep an eye on your (sketchy and/or stupid) DH.
I would not be handing over any earring-type gifts, unless they were extremely cheap (under £10) and likely to leave green marks on her ears/ get infected.

SpaceMoo · 14/04/2025 20:11

18th:( too soon. I really don’t want to go. Yes I have the money back. The party gave us (me) the leverage I needed to force CF to return the money. .

I might pull out because I see absolutely no reason to continue this farce a moment longer.

To hell with the meal options.

OP posts:
curtaintwitcher78 · 13/04/2025 22:52

When is the party?

MarkingBad · 12/04/2025 23:01

Calliopespa · 12/04/2025 22:35

What were your meal options? 😋

I hope it was the:

Almas caviar on lightly buttered toast points

Matsutake mushrooms wrapped in kobe beef served with sea urchin

Finished off with Frrrozen Haute Chocolate ice cream sundae flown in from New York.

That should get some of OPs interest paid back

Calliopespa · 12/04/2025 22:35

What were your meal options? 😋

SpaceMoo · 12/04/2025 14:18

Definitely feels better without her calling every day. DH has not called or spoken to her since the money has been returned!

The meal options for party are via text message from her daughter arranging things.

Just hope the party and fakery doesn’t drag him back in.

OP posts:
SpaceMoo · 12/04/2025 14:13

Haha yes, for kids! She really made an effort!
So we had to reciprocate.

OP posts:
KeziaOAP · 12/04/2025 13:26

BBT213 · 12/04/2025 13:16

Why did she buy you remote controlled cars? What an odd gift

Remote control cars were presumably for the kids.

BBT213 · 12/04/2025 13:16

Why did she buy you remote controlled cars? What an odd gift

SpaceMoo · 12/04/2025 11:31

CannotWaitForSummervibes · 12/04/2025 10:55

Does your husband agree with distancing himself from her?

and why on earth did he get her earrings?? That is a weird gift to give someone you’re not very close to.,

I got into the habit of buying her earrings which she always loved. Back before £40k
She always bought expensive Lego gifts for my kids for Christmas and remote control cars and perfumes for me sometimes. Always gifts from her holidays. Expensive rum, olive oils etc from nice places. Earrings became MY go-to-gift. DH prefers it to look like it’s from me. Last few gifts he’s bought her and it was whiskey I think.

OP posts:
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