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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU in thinking we should just chuck him on the streets and let him fend for himself?

286 replies

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 14:59

Backstory

DP has been friends for a really long time with "B". They used to work together until my DP got a job with a new company.
Now B has no family in the area and the ones he does have do not want anything to do with him. B split up from long term partner a couple of years back and has been on a spiral ever since. In the last few months he has lost his job (through not going in) and as of yesterday, his home.

B was staying with DP and myself for the last week when this happened as he had no money for food, so we were feeding him and buying him smokes until he benefits came through.

Well, B did not get his benefits on the day they were due, or the days after. Instead of chasing it up like a normal person he just "would do it later" but of course, later never came. So his landlords, tired of bailing him out and waiting for rent have kicked him out. He had no formal agreement with them so fair enough, whatever.
He was round ours when he got this call (DP was still at work) and he just carried on playing xbox....
I didnt understand how he could be so calm so I forced him suggested he call his landlords and find out whats going on.
So he did and they confirmed he needed to collect his stuff as soon as possible, including his paperwork (that he needs for his benefits).
My partner then comes home and B explains whats happened to him.

My partner and I discussed it and agreed B could stay with us for a few months until he finds his feet, providing he sorted out his benefit money and worked hard at finding a new job.
Me and DP living in a one bedroom flat with our DCat, so its not an ideal arrangment as B would need to sleep in our living room.

We are a few years younger that B and have our own problems. We both suffer with stress and depression/adjustment disorder ever since we lost our daughter a few years ago, had cancers and chemo and lost fertility... we are not your average 24 year olds and already live with a lot of stress. We are quite happy in our little bubble how it is and this is going to add a lot of stress on us. We dont have any savings and at the moment live paycheque. BUT we are of course willing to do this for a friend in need.

So, it gets to about 7pm last night and we start discussing how all this will come into being and making plans. B decided that would be a great time to go to his friends house and get high.

Now DP jumped on him and said "come on mate, you NEED to collect your stuff and paperwork so you cant get your money sorted first thing"

B said "Oh yeah I know man, but I just need a night to de-stress. Once night and I will be on it first thing tomorrow"

So after about 15mins of this he goes to his friends house, with a promise to collect his stuff and paperwork and have it sorted by morning ready to call up and chase after his benefits.

Morning comes, I havIm home from work today and have spent my day budgeting in an extra person to shop for and also ringing shelter to find out where he would stand on getting housing benefit as a lodger.
I give him a call, he tells me he has not got his paperwork or anything yet but will be round by 12 with his stuff, so we can sort through it and find him space in our home.
So I spent the rest of the morning finding him his own chest of draws and room for his things. It gets to 2.30pm and I give him a call, only to find he has been smoking weed all morning and has done nothing all day. He will "be round for dinner or whatever".

No. Fucking hell no.
Ive spent my day off chasing round after him, making room in our home for him, spending our hard earned wages on his ciggies, food and toiletries all for him to not even help himself.
DP said last night he wouldnt stand for this, and I know he will not. But I dont think he would see him on the streets either.

I know in my heart this is how it will be. He wont sort his money out for ages/if at all. He wont bother looking for work and he will nip and get stoned every few nights while we support him.
He is not our child. He is not our stay at home wife. What they hell are we doing?

My dp is going to be livid with him. I personally want to stick a hot poker up his arse to make him get up and sort his life out.

So, wise women of mumsnet, am I totally unreasonable to want to nip this in the bud before its even begun?

OP posts:
Arfarfanarf · 19/08/2016 12:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImperialBlether · 19/08/2016 12:26

I think you're incredibly patient, OP.

So sorry about your daughter Flowers

BlueFolly · 19/08/2016 12:37

Thank god for that! I was getting more and more worked up on your behalf as I read!

xexxsy · 19/08/2016 13:22

I hope it has all worked out for you and your partner now, and he is gone for good.

It would never have worked out, although I know you both, (well your partner anyway) wanted to help him out. Freeloaders don't think of the impact they have on others, just think of themslelves really.

I am so sorry for your loss and your illness. What a sad story, but you do not dwell on it. You sound amazing. Best of luck.

PersianCatLady · 19/08/2016 13:38

Aaaaaaand B is going to have to move on. DP told him thismorning
Excellent, that's great.

I take it your DH saw the light.

What a relief!!

BewitchedBotheredandBewildered · 19/08/2016 13:44

Another one here who has been shouting "NOOOOOO!" at everything you post OP.

I hope B has actually gone, without giving you any bullshit and you can relax and have a nice week end.

I'm very sorry for the loss of your daughter.

flumpybear · 19/08/2016 13:56

Wow what a horrible situation - glad you've decided he's leaving!
So sorry for your loss with your child, and having cancer must have been really hard for you and your family ... Think you need some alone time, not squatters!!

coconutpie · 19/08/2016 14:20

So glad to read you're kicking that leech out. Never let him back.

zingally · 19/08/2016 15:03

Kick him out.

If you're feeling kind, give him a week/10 days to get himself together (give him written notification of this) and then, if he's not moved on, put his stuff in a bin bag on the doorstep.

If you think he needs it, by all means leave him with a care package in the form of a couple of days food, or even some addresses/phone numbers of agencies that can help him.
Just like the rest of us, he's a grown-ass adult. He can sort himself out.

McflyTeenWolf · 19/08/2016 17:12

I'm OP's DP. Kicked him out this morning after when he received his first benefit payment he spent all but £20 of it on debt repayments.

He's my oldest friend and it kills me to do this but I just completely lost my rag with him, told him to stop being a manipulative arsehole and guilt tripping me into paying for his shitty life choices.

Just want to thank all of you lovely ladies for making me see a bit of sense with him, I've been reading since this thread was started and it's helped a lot.

My flat is a lot more peaceful already and I'm sure my DP is a lot happier.

Kateallison16 · 19/08/2016 17:16

McflyTeenWolf What a name...

Its exactly like DP said ladies, I am really grateful for all of you who have listened and advised me last few days. Thought I was going crazy and this post helped a lot.

Its been such a lovely afternoon, peaceful, Dcat is happier as well haha.

xxxx

Flowers
OP posts:
Mix56 · 19/08/2016 17:29

get back to your own lives !!!
Well done

Stormtreader · 19/08/2016 17:29

Great news! I hope in the long run this actually prompts him to sort his life out as well, you might find you've actually done him a favour.

Memoires · 19/08/2016 17:53

Well done, McFly. A hard thing to do, but needed to be done. Glad things are calm and happier already, especially the cat Kateallison! Don't feel guilty later - he has had better opportunities than many of us, and is old enough to sort himself out.

Have a good w/e.

BewitchedBotheredandBewildered · 19/08/2016 17:58

Aw, I think I have something in my eye ...

You both sound like very special people and now please make sure you bestow your astonishing kindness on someone who deserves and appreciates it.

FlowersWine

expatinscotland · 19/08/2016 18:15

'Kicked him out this morning after when he received his first benefit payment he spent all but £20 of it on debt repayments.'

He fully expected you both to fund everything else from fags to weed to food.

MrsHathaway · 19/08/2016 19:21

Kicked him out this morning after when he received his first benefit payment he spent all but £20 of it on debt repayments.

It's relatively sensible for someone with significant debts to prioritise debt repayments over cigs etc, so it shows at least that he has some concept of responsibility.

But no sense of the huge favour you and McFly have been doing him, nor the enormous debt he owes you, nor his ongoing expenses/responsibilities.

Onwards and upwards BrewBrew

TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 19/08/2016 19:30

You only have his word he did that. My cynical head says it's a sob story and him attempting to dodge the rent.

He obviously has serious issues. You and your partner can't fix those - he has to do it.

Well done for stepping up. Not an easy thing to do

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 19/08/2016 19:33

Well done OP and Mr OP. Very happy for you that he is gone.

QueenieBob · 19/08/2016 19:59

Kateallison and Mcfly, may peace and happiness reign in your home! Really difficult thing to do & I genuinely hope that B realises what good friends he had (but I'm not holding my breath). You will never regret being kind so don't let this put you off being the lovely people you are. Go and be happy and one or two fruit ciders! Smile

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 19/08/2016 20:17

Yay for kate's DP! Really pleased you're kicking him out, he's clearly a massive chancer and this could be the wake-up call he needs.

PersianCatLady · 19/08/2016 21:29

It's relatively sensible for someone with significant debts to prioritise debt repayments
Actually the CAB often advise people to stop meeting debt repayments if they cannot afford and instead suggest contacting the creditor to explain the situation and to offer token payments of say £1 a month until the situation improves.

Benefit payments are really only intended to cover a person's immediate day-to-day needs and not to repay any existing debt that a person has.

People don't like to do this because it can mess up their credit rating for years to come but if they are out of work for any significant period of time it is just not feasible to try and keep up with debt repayments and pay day-to-day expenses.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/08/2016 21:32

Kateallison and Mcfly you guys rock. If he's really a friend, one of these days he will thank you for your tough love. Star

expatinscotland · 19/08/2016 21:39

I agree with his telling you that he had only £20 so he could dodge paying rent and food. £20 for weed, more likes.

MrsHathaway · 19/08/2016 21:39

I stand corrected, Persian, although I was trying to give B the BENefit of the doubt and hope he had good intentions.

Mind you, we know where they lead.