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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mum demanding payments each month

488 replies

Lifeisinshambles · 15/08/2025 15:24

At 17, I moved out of home. This was due to constant, every single day of my childhood, verbal and physical fights. It cooled a little after I moved out, but they got more, almost spiteful? I believe they felt affronted that ‘I’ had caused social services to become involved (they kicked me out so I stayed at a friends house, I told them what happened, and they told their social worker), and therefore never really forgave me for that, even though they made it seem like they had for the most part.
Since then, when I had absolutely zero money, was living on my own, and to be honest I still felt like a child, I would have to end up borrowing small loans from my mum, such as £10-£20 here and there for food shopping until the end of the month.
From there, due to having pay back more and more each month but my income not increasing, I have ended up in a situation where the debt has continually risen. She is now demanding £400 a month from me, my current wage is £800. It used to be £200, which would then of course still leave me short for the month so by the end of it I would have ended up having to borrow more again to get food shopping etc. I’m not sure why it has suddenly gone up to £400 from £200? Basically, it’s an endless cycle that has been going for years, of me not being able to afford to pay that first £20 back and still make money stretch for that month simultaneously, and hence never releasing myself of the debt.
She has recently, in the last 3 years or so, come into a lot of money from various sources all at one time. I’m not sure on specifics but she has at least £150k+, and will soon be getting her share of another £400k+.
I have told her I simply cannot afford to pay her £400 a month, and how will I make it through the month with less than half of my wages left?
She is threatening to cut off contact, and I assume will forever more talk bad about me to the rest of my family.
AIBU, or is she?

OP posts:
jeaux90 · 15/08/2025 15:49

A couple of choices. You can say to her “can I see the record of the debt you are claiming back, I want to know when this is done as I need to start saving” The answer to this might tell you a lot.

Or you can bluff, “right I’ve paid back everything I owe which is great as I need to start saving for x y z”

Or you can tell her to fuck right off and leave you alone which is probably more than she deserves!

Inshockandsome · 15/08/2025 15:49

‘Mum, I love you and I want to thank you for the money you have given me. I am not in a position to pay it back, not now or in the foreseeable future. If you want to cut me off, that is matter for you. Wishing you the best with your life’

AlphabetBird · 15/08/2025 15:49

Ok, so from your updates it seems very clear that you just need to draw a line under it.

JLou08 · 15/08/2025 15:48

Let her cut you off. You may find you are happier without her in your life.
Stop paying her. See if you are entitled to UC or council tax reduction. Citizen's advice or welfare rights may be able to see what youre entitled to and help you learn to budget better. Maybe look into education or training, you're still very young, you can work towards a well earning career. Use food banks whilst you get yourself back on your feet. Don't ask her for anything again, live an independent life where you're not dragged down by her conditions and from the sounds of it financial exploitation.

socks1107 · 15/08/2025 15:48

I would suggest stop paying her and now.
Shes Financially controlling you. You didn’t sign anything and I’ll bet you’ve more than paid it back.

The worst she will do is cut you off. Let her. People like that are going to talk bad of you anyway so live life honestly and to your full potential.
can you contact ss for support

HaddlerScoop · 15/08/2025 15:47

What does she bring to your life that is positive? Have a think about that and the answer is probably nothing. What negatives does she bring? How does it make you feel?

You have been conditioned by her to be in contact. This is called FOG which is Fear, Obligation and Guilt. Have a little google to see if any of that rings true.

As a parent this is no way to treat a child. She is not a nice Mum, you deserved better and sadly you got her. Just because someone is a Mum doesn't make them a good person.

VaseofViolets · 15/08/2025 15:47

Tell her she can whistle for it.

You don’t owe her another penny. Absolutely outrageous behaviour on her part. And this woman calls herself a mother…

ThatGladTiger · 15/08/2025 15:45

You need to explain to her you have paid her back and won’t be giving her any more money!

Do you have any idea of the total you borrowed? Were you planning on giving her a monthly amount forever? This isn’t making sense!

InMyHealthyEra · 15/08/2025 15:45

Let her cut contact, in fact you should do it yourself.

Just tell her no.

Lifeisinshambles · 15/08/2025 15:42

I don’t know if I can cut her off. She knows where I live, I don’t think she’d go quietly. I just can imagine what they would be thinking and saying if I did so. I just can’t picture it.

OP posts:
Lifeisinshambles · 15/08/2025 15:41

Maybe it’s bad to say, I know it’s not my money or my business, and I know she doesn’t owe any of it to me. But I don’t think I would feel so awful about it if she hadn’t got as much money as she does. It makes it hard for me to just get over, knowing that she knows what situation I am in financially, and still demanding hundreds each month whilst I vent to her about how life makes me feel sometimes!! It is hard out here and you’d think I’d know what I’m doing by now since I’m not freshly moved out but I still feel a bit like I could do with some understanding and guidance, I know I am an adult but I truly don’t feel like it!

OP posts:
Inshockandsome · 15/08/2025 15:40

Your mother is using money to secure access and control. I am so sorry she is going this to you.
Are you getting support? Counselling? Young persons support - most councils have a dedicated team to assist you with housing etc

bumbaloo · 15/08/2025 15:40

She’s the absolute worst mother. Just cut her off. You have nothing to feel guilty about. She is the one who should be bending over backwards begging for your forgiveness

SamphiretheTervosaur · 15/08/2025 15:39

You need to.do what I had to do age 17. Absolutely cut all contact. Tell those who are supporting you that you have done so and why, remember you dont know where she plucked her numbers from, you were a minor when you left home, she was still legally responsible for you. You owe her nothing

Do it now. Get some proper adult support and start living your own life

I'm almost 60 and, whilst I have flourished, made a good life for myself, I still resent the unnecessary hardships my parents lay on me whn i was a teen. And yes, 40 years on I maintain that no contact stance. They can Facebook message me, that's it. And I choose not to read messages when they do

You can.remove yourself from her machinations very easily. You just have to trust yourself

ThatGladTiger · 15/08/2025 15:38

Without knowing the exact numbers, I reckon you have already paid back every penny you borrowed and more.

£10-20 every month for 3 years is £720. You would have paid this back in under 4 months of paying her £200 a month.

Your mother is abusing you.

You don’t owe her any money. Stop paying her anything!

Lifeisinshambles · 15/08/2025 15:37

mumofoneAloneandwell · 15/08/2025 15:33

YOU DON'T OWE THIS WOMAN ANYTHING! YOU DON'T OWE HER A PENNY.

so what if she cuts you off? I'm estranged from my mum and step dad and their family (albeit i'm 10 years older than you) but its the best thing ever

Go solo. Tell her to get to fuck.

You deserved a better mother than her. And those who will try to reunite you or shame you, are just jealous of your potential and that you've managed to get away from her.

Keep going girl. Youre doing amazing sweetie xx

Thank you xx

OP posts:
Myjobisridiculous · 15/08/2025 15:37

Why do you feel like you need her.?
I mean wow… for a 20 year old you sound amazing.
Let her go. You’re more than capable of standing proud alone. You’ve already shown that.
Sometimes it’s hard…… but she’s taking the piss…..
Walk away

Lifeisinshambles · 15/08/2025 15:37

Figcherry · 15/08/2025 15:32

Op if you don't live at home stop paying your dm money.
What will she do?
Going nc would probably be preferable to having an abusive parent.

I would feel awful and would never stop blaming myself

OP posts:
Lifeisinshambles · 15/08/2025 15:34

outerspacepotato · 15/08/2025 15:31

Do you live with her now?

Tell her you're not paying her any more money. You need your money to live and she wants half your monthly wage. You left home at 17 when she still had parental responsibility to keep you fed. If you were borrowing £10 to 20 at a time and you've been paying her £200 a month for 3 years, you've more than paid her back.

She's like a loan shark but she's doing this deliberately to keep you dependent in a financial way. She's horrible and she's abusing you financially. Go no contact and tell your relatives she's loan sharking you and you've been paying her all this time.

I don’t live with her now, I haven’t since I was removed 3 years ago

OP posts:
bestcatlife · 15/08/2025 15:33

Just block her @Lifeisinshambles

Campingisnexttogodliness · 15/08/2025 15:33

Presumably while you lived at home she got child benefit for you?
Block her number imo.
She's a fucking scammer. Abusing her own dc..

legsekeven · 15/08/2025 15:33

Let her cut contact!

mumofoneAloneandwell · 15/08/2025 15:33

YOU DON'T OWE THIS WOMAN ANYTHING! YOU DON'T OWE HER A PENNY.

so what if she cuts you off? I'm estranged from my mum and step dad and their family (albeit i'm 10 years older than you) but its the best thing ever

Go solo. Tell her to get to fuck.

You deserved a better mother than her. And those who will try to reunite you or shame you, are just jealous of your potential and that you've managed to get away from her.

Keep going girl. Youre doing amazing sweetie xx

Lifeisinshambles · 15/08/2025 15:33

bestcatlife · 15/08/2025 15:30

Did you sign anything when she loaned you this money, or was it just a verbal agreement that you would pay it back at some stage?
I wouldn't pay it back. She didn't treat you very kindly, and you were only 17 - basically a child.
I remember what it was like on my own at 17, very hard especially financially
Hope you're doing better now

Nope not at all, tbh I hadn’t assumed she would still be holding onto the £2 £3 etc payments 3 years later!!

Still not doing the best financially but better than back then, my situation has definitely improved

OP posts:
Figcherry · 15/08/2025 15:32

Op if you don't live at home stop paying your dm money.
What will she do?
Going nc would probably be preferable to having an abusive parent.