AIBU to keep getting annoyed and upset about this bloody situation

[DropYourSword]

I'll try to be as succinct as possible!

I married DH in December after 4 years together. Before I'd even met him he got caught up in a business venture that went tits up. It eventually left him in a huge amount of financial trouble as his business partner fled abroad and abandoned him to deal with it on his own.

DH jointy owned a property with MIL (his DM). He was forced into this at a young age when his DP's divorced and MIL was stuck. When he started his business MIL was aware of, and indeed cosigned papers that used the property as collateral for the business. When the business failed the property got repossessed, just about the time I popped up into DH's life.

Now, I have a huge amount of sympathy for MIL's situation. Although she wasn't living there she has lost her property and with it security for her future. She had never worked and lives on benefits, but the property was paid off when she was married. Now she had nothing because of her DS's mistake and that's awful. Sometimes I get extremely irritated that DH was so stupid to get involved in a business he had no clue about and risked MIL's future security. However, however irritated I get it is done now and we can't turn back the clock.

My problem is that family got involved and demanded he make it right, saying he should pay her back for her half of the house. We will never never never be able to afford to do this, so it was agreed that we would pay her back an agreed sum. This amount is more than my (and his, we earn roughly the same) yearly salary and it was decided we would pay her it within 3 years.

I know she deserves to be compensated, but this is affecting my life so much now. I wasn't around when these mistakes were made yet I now feel I'm paying the price. Between rent, bills and this repayment I have so little left at the end of each month. I'm so sick of not being able to afford anything nice when I worked and studied hard to get where I am right now. We got married on an absolute shoestring (and I truly mean that, registry office, back to my parents house for the reception, mum baked a cake etc).

I just checked my bank account this morning and I'm over drawn although I spent no money on nice things . It's all gone on petrol, insurance, registration and union fees. We are only 18 months in to the repayment and I just keep bursting into tears thinking how I can't even consider starting a family until this is over. I just feel like I'm paying a very steep price for something that was never my fault but I love my husband and he deserves support too. I just want this to be over with.

( For what it's worth, MIL is not a particularly nice woman.)

[StickyFloor]

I think the ttc issue is blurring things here - if you weren't repaying this amount it doesn't sound like you would have a mortgage, house and savings safety net that you wished for, so you can't blame the repayments for not being where you wanted to be.

People's circs change all the time, clearly in your dh and dmil's case they know that, so if you fall pregnant there is even stronger grounds for you to say we will honour the agreement but over a longer period of time. If she has a problem with that and actually prefers to see her son and grandchild suffer then you can cancel the whole agreement with a clear conscience.

But there is no point harping on about the fact that this isn't your problem, of course it is. If you met someone who was fabulously well off for reasons that happened before you met then that would be part of your life, or if they had children, or elderly relatives to take care of etc etc. We all have baggage and you took dh on together with everything that was part of his life.

[DropYourSword]

Hi Stickyfloor ... I think the thing is, if we weren't making these payments to her I could have used the money to save up for a deposit on a house instead.

My concern, like some others have pointed out is that although I'm not too old to ttc delaying it isn't always a great idea. Really interesting to hear everyone opinion, as believe me, I've gone through a lot of those thoughts myself!

[PorridgeBrain]

You could wait 9 months before ttc, so if you did conceive straight away you would still be clear of debt before baby was due. Could also get a 2nd job for 9 months-1 year to get some extra income behind you for the baby.

Next May is not that long away as a goal for starting a family IMO

I sympathise but I do think you have to suck it up unfortunately and if it were me, I would want to be debt free as soon as possible rather than extend the loan date.

[mumofweeboys]

Hi
If your dh is bankrupt then woudnt it be impossible to get a mortgage? I would start to ttc, if something happens then renegotiate with his mother

[Lavidaenrosa]

Money comes and goes. But you don't have all the time in the world to have children. Think carefully because IVF is expensive. I say you should re negotiate the payments and pay over a longer period of time.

[DropYourSword]

An update for anyone who is interested. We have now come to the third and final instalment of the payment agreed. We are now TTC and have had an offer accepted on a house!

Unfortunately DH is considering going totally NC with his DM, as whatever we do, nothing is ever enough for her and she continues to guilt trip him endlessly.

[Name7]

I'm so glad you've finished, you can do what you like now, conscience free (including going nc). Very best of luck ttc and with the house. And I love your user name!! x

[MokunMokun]

Well done! I didn't notice this was an old thread but I think you did the right thing. I really hope things move onwards and upwards from now on.

[Optimistletoe1]

Just realised that most of this thread was Ancient History! I was thinking throughout that paying off the agreed amount within the agreed timescale was the thing to aim for, with a view to your DH being able to disconnect from his old life and commit financially and emotionally to you. It sounds as though now the financial shackles are off he'd like to be even further removed from his mother - can't say I blame him. Congratulations to you for supporting him through this, and best of luck with your plans for the future.

[madsadbad]

I didn't notice this was an old thread, what a lovely update. Best wishes.

[oldgrandmama]

I hadn't spotted that it was an old thread either. So glad you're at the end of paying back MIL. And buying a house, and trying for a baby. Well done. As for going NC with MIL, don't blame you and your DH.