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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:
Farfromtheusual · 16/08/2016 17:39

Also, can't believe no one else has mentioned this.... STOP BUYING HIS CIGGIES!!!

CalmItKermitt · 16/08/2016 17:40

Go OP!! Omg the bloke is beyond words! 😮

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 16/08/2016 17:41

End of the week - so Friday? Saturday? Sunday?

Is he back yet with all his "paperwork" and everything?

How is he going to be able to deal with any of the details and make plans if he has been smoking weed all day (and who the fuck is funding that)??

WhingyNinja · 16/08/2016 17:45

What a lovely person you are, OP. I admire your charitable spirit but I don't admire this feckless entitled twat taking the piss out of you both!

Is he back yet? Tell him to go back to the crack den he's been hiding from his responsibilities in and don't let him back into your home, and stop buying him shit! Food, cigs or otherwise.

Hope he goes without a fuss.

Thelaundrylady · 16/08/2016 17:47

OP you and your DP sound like lovely kind hearted people..
I recently had to ask my 23 yr old DSS to leave our home because he was piss taking, smoking weed, freeloading etc. It was a massively hard decision but absolutely the right one as even he would admit now.
He has grown up since DH and I stopped enabling him.
From my experience it doesn't matter what conditions and rules you put into place they will be broken until you get tough

husbandnet · 16/08/2016 17:50

If you don't get him out you're enabling his ridiculous behaviour and making him worse. It doesn;t even help him in the long run. If you let him stay nothing will change and you will be under too much stress.

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 17:50

Right, here we go!
Will be back later on tonight to let everyone know how it went xx
Thank you for the support today and giving me an outlet Flowers

OP posts:
Mix56 · 16/08/2016 17:52

Skipped to the end.
The more you "baby" him, the less he will be motivated to get a grip.
buying smokes, alternative meals, WTF ?
just DON'T, tell him YOU don't have the money, even if he begs.
Say "if you don't like it, don't eat".
Sounds like he has a drug problem to me.
Its not winter. & maybe a couple of nights under a bridge will make him pull himself together. He DOES have family, he is not your problem,

PoisonWitch · 16/08/2016 17:52

Strength OP

OnceThereWasThisGirlWho · 16/08/2016 17:53

Good luck!

You and your partner sound lovely. You'll have so much to give the non-pisstakers of the world, don't waste it on him.

Flowers
boo2410 · 16/08/2016 17:55

Just read the whole thread, great advice.

He is an addict and I would bet a pound to a penny that he owes the person he smokes with and has told him he'll pay him when he gets his benefit sorted. And so it will go on in a vicious circle.

You won't see any money to go towards his keep.

He won't be eligible for Housing Benefit as he's sleeping on your settee and hasn't got his own room.

It's unworkable on so many levels.

You and your DP are kind people but this will put so much pressure on you both you may find yourselves at each others throats. Not Good. You've got to be cruel to be kind, he needs to stand on his own two feet.

Give him a set time if you really must, BUT DONT GO OVER THIS.

As others have said, don't buy him baccy and do not offer him alternative food to what you are eating. Like it or lump it springs to mind.

You are both kind people, throwing him out after a set time does not make you bad people.

Good luck.

MrsSippy · 16/08/2016 17:56

Just read one of those memes on facebook and thought of you, it said 'Givers have to set limits because takers don't have any'

It seemed appropriate

boo2410 · 16/08/2016 17:58

Blimey this has moved on so much since I typed my response. Out is the only word now.

blessedmummyov5 · 16/08/2016 18:02

To nice for ur own gud Hun , he will suck the life right out of u x

TempusEedjit · 16/08/2016 18:06

I like that MrsSippy

someonestolemynick · 16/08/2016 18:10

I'm chronically "too nice" so ibwoukd very firmly set boundaries and stick to them. My ultimatum would be:

  1. You can stay here till the end of the months (2 weeks is more than reasonable).
  2. While you stay here you will job hunt/ flat hunt/ sort benefits.
  3. Have money sorted by Friday - you must pay for good and share of bills.
  4. If at any point you don't uphold your part of the bargain, you will be out on the street and locks will be changed.

I don't think there's anything wrong with doing a friend a kindness. Just know your boundaries and stick to them.

SvalbardianPenguin · 16/08/2016 18:11

YANBU. He needs to go ASAP. Normally I'd suggest some compassion for a person but hell no, he doesn't deserve it - and I don't think I've ever said that before.

Haworthiia · 16/08/2016 18:13

Do not let him stay. Not even for a few days. You will never see the back of him.,if he's an addict he will take and take and frankly you sound like you e had enough to deal with.

Imagine how you'd treat a friend who'd let you stay if you were down on your luck - you'd be making yourself useful, cooking, helping? This guy knows exactly how far he can push you.,
Get the lock changed when he's gone (you can buy a new barrel for about a tenner and there are videos on you tube.)

And then I read his family has money ?? Shock just no...

Not one more night. We once had someone to stay for a few weeks. He was a nice guy and we had a spare room but it was nearly the end of our relationship...

Haworthiia · 16/08/2016 18:13

Sorry should clarify he meant to stay for two weeks and it ended up over a year!

T0ddlerSlave · 16/08/2016 18:19

Emergency night shelters are pretty empty this time of year as people are more willing to sleep rough in the warm weather. If he gets into a shelter at least he'll get help with sorting his life out, clear deadlines and consequences.

Give him what help you can now but don't feel suckered into letting him stay longer than the weekend.

SoleBizzz · 16/08/2016 18:24

Get rid of him

LottieL · 16/08/2016 18:26

He sounds like a complete waste of space. I wouldn't let him stay until the weekend; he's already shown just how uninterested he is in the idea of actually getting himself together.

MooPointCowsOpinion · 16/08/2016 18:26

Hope he's already out on his arse by now.

Rock bottom is a necessity for entitled freeloaders. Don't take it from him, it will be the making of him.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 16/08/2016 18:27

Don't feel you're duty bound to have him living off you now he's met your criteria... You can still say 'it's not working, please be out by x'. No other reasons needed. Don't get drawn into debates where you end up trying to justify your need not to get sponged off. And dont end with open ended vague statements like 'a few days'. Name days, name times, be specific. Harder for someone to weedle out of.

He's not a poor little bird with a broken wing. He's a manipulative user, who knows how to latch on to people who have a chunk in their armour.

I let people like this use me for years. Like you, I had to learn not to let it happen.

You and your partner sound so kind and gentle. But this 'friend' doesn't sound any such thing! You see someone down on his luck who just needs a helping hand until he gets back on his feet. But what way he's living his life now is his lifestyle of choice. Not a transitional stage. He wants to live like this.

You and your partners hearts, minds, home, money, privacy, family life, mental health... Are all SO precious. Treat yourselves as a precious resource that is widely given and only in small small amounts.

Good luck.

EatsShitAndLeaves · 16/08/2016 18:49

He's not a poor little bird with a broken wing. He's a manipulative user, who knows how to latch on to people who have a chunk in their armour.

^^

This....in spades.