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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not invite friend on holiday

48 replies

TaterTots · 16/10/2016 17:23

Bit of background - long-time close friend (gay male, so purely platonic) hasn't worked in years. This was initially due to ill health, but realistically he's been fit for work for a long time - he just has unrealistic expectations about the sort of job he can get.

A few months back I booked a holiday with some friends (none of whom he knows) that's coming up next month. When I told him and a mutual friend, it turned out mutual friend was also going to the same place that week (there's a big event). My mate - let's call him J - started moaning about what a miserable time he'd be having 'sitting at home looking at everyone's photos on Facebook'. Mutual friend and I both said if he wanted a holiday he needed to try a bit harder to get a job - blunt perhaps, but we've both known him long enough to be honest with him.

This week one of my friends who I'm going away with tagged me in a 'Woohoo, only a month to go!' status. J then messages me saying 'Looks like everyone's going on holiday except me. Seriously pissed off'. I made some sympathetic noises, but to be honest I was thinking he hasn't done much to change his situation. Then I got another message asking how much I thought it would cost him to come, if he spent as little as possible out there.

Because of this event, accommodation costs have rocketed - if I was booking this late I wouldn't be able to afford it. However, the flights are still surprisingly cheap (possibly because accommodation is so expensive, meaning no one is booking flights anymore). I told him this and he said there 'must be' something cheaper and 'remind me where you're staying again?' He didn't ask outright, but I think the implication was 'Can't I share your accommodation?' I said I had a room in town that I got cheaply because I booked so early. The second part is true, but it's an apartment, not a room. It's a one bedroom, but I'd be surprised if it didn't have at least a sofa, so theoretically I could ask him if he wants to share.

Is it wrong not to want to invite him? He doesn't know any of the people I'm going with and, while I'm sure my friends wouldn't mind him joining us, this whole 'minimum spend possible' thing would worry me. It doesn't seem fair that a group of people should have to worry about where we eat, how many drinks we have, whether we can go on a day trip etc. because someone they don't even know is watching the pennies. To be honest, I also don't particularly relish the idea myself. If I'd organised to go away with J (as I did last year) I'd have to accept that we'd work to a smaller budget. But this time I'd like to just enjoy my holiday without worrying that the suggestion of a nice meal or a cocktail will be met with and intake of breath and mutterings about the cost.

Am I being unfair to not change my plans just because of his FOMO?

OP posts:
Suzcat78 · 16/10/2016 18:18

I agree with everyone else, don't invite him. Not sure why he would try to guilt you into it. I'm totally envious over friends who have holidays but wouldn't think of inviting myself along, just happy for them.

As someone said earlier he has bigger things to concern himself with than spending money to go on holiday....which money is he planning on saving if he isn't working? Mmm I wonder?! He'd be an absolute liability, don't even think about it OP! Wink

EnoughAlready43 · 16/10/2016 18:19

If you invite him, make sure you bring extra cash to pay for all the things he's going to want and need, seeing as he has no money.

not a runner, this.
just ignore him and bon voyage.

Benedikte2 · 16/10/2016 18:26

If you work OP you need a holiday and have been looking forward to this break with your friends. Don't ruin it for yourself and possibly your friends as well. You'll resent him if he is dependent on you for companionship and handouts and that will wreck your friendship, anyway.
Be firm and while sympathising say that there's no way he can afford it because it's not going to be cheap and prices have risen because value of sterling has dropped.
Tell him to get a job and save for next year. ATM his whole life is one long holiday

Lindy2 · 16/10/2016 18:29

If someone has chosen to be long term unemployed then they can't really expect to go on holiday. Maybe missing out on what all his friends are doing will encourage him to seek some work so he can afford it next time.
Have fun. He is an adult and not your responsibility.

Atenco · 16/10/2016 18:35

There is no moral dilemna here at all, OP.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 16/10/2016 18:38

OP, you don't need to explain yourself to him, otherwise you'll get into a conversation, that you didn't want to have. Say nothing, don't indulge him.
Don't kid yourself, he knows the score, he's a chancer.

pictish · 16/10/2016 18:41

Yadnbu - do not invite him along with you. He will just put a dampener on the whole thing by not being able to afford to join in with what you're doing...like going out for a nice dinner, or day trips or whatever. You'll either have to leave him sitting in the apartment alone while you go out, or sub him the funds so he can come along.
One thing that is almost guaranteed is that you won't be friends when you get home.

"J then messages me saying 'Looks like everyone's going on holiday except me. Seriously pissed off'."

So what if he's pissed off? What does he want you to do about it?

I would have responded, "Aw never mind. Once you find work you'll be able to plan a holiday yourself. x"

Do not for one second take on even a smidge of responsibility to make it happen for him. He hasn't, so why the hell should you?

ClopySow · 16/10/2016 18:42

He's trying to manipulate you. Don't let him. You'll resent him and it will ruin your holiday.

ClaudiaWankleman · 16/10/2016 18:46

Don't people generally need something to get away from, in order for them to need a holiday? YANBU

WatchingFromTheWings · 16/10/2016 18:48

Maybe suggest if he gets a job and saves you'll both book something for next year?

EweAreHere · 16/10/2016 18:51

He will ruin your holiday. Don't do it.

TaterTots · 16/10/2016 19:10

Thanks everyone.

As one poster said, he's expecting me to look into the costs etc on his behalf - so I think I'm going to use this to my advantage. If I don't organise it, it won't happen... therefore I won't organise.

OP posts:
Ineedacupofteadesperately · 16/10/2016 19:47

I can't believe you're even considering an invitation or looking into costs - if he's not working he has plenty of time to look into costs himself.

Lots of people (working or not) can't afford to go on holiday. We haven't been away (other than visiting family in the UK) for a couple of years because we bought a house. A holiday abroad is a luxury, it's not a human right!

From what you say, it's not like he's never been on holiday, either. He's behaving in a petty and mean spirited way, in my opinion, moaning about how he can't go. He should be cheering you on to have a great holiday if he's a true friend. I've been enjoying seeing all my friends' holiday photos all year and discussing their holidays when they get back. Yes, part of me regrets we can't go too but I'm not sitting around feeling sorry for myself and begrudging them their fun. What kind of friend does that?

ImperialBlether · 16/10/2016 22:18

And while you're on holiday, keep off Facebook. Block him if necessary. The last thing you need is him quizzing and complaining.

TaterTots · 16/10/2016 22:38

The last thing you need is him quizzing and complaining.

Unfortunately I wouldn't be surprised to see this. A few Christmases ago I'd posted something about 'looking forward to a week of parties' and he made a comment saying 'I'm looking forward to worsening health, ever-dwindling savings...' God forbid I should have been allowed to enjoy myself.

OP posts:
ENormaSnob · 16/10/2016 22:41

If you invite him you will be ruining it for your other mates.

EmpressKnowsWhereHerTowelIs · 16/10/2016 22:46

When you're posting on FB there's an audience selector tool that will let you stop your posts appearing on his timeline. I've done that with a couple of people.

DontMindMe1 · 16/10/2016 22:48

He can't be arsed getting a jo....and he can't be arsed researching his own flights and costs?!

You need to be blunt with him more often - how about telling him to do it himself?

He doesn't have any money - he's trying to guilt trip you into funding his holiday - including spends.

MsVestibule · 16/10/2016 22:58

'I'm looking forward to worsening health, ever-dwindling savings...'

Good grief, what a killjoy! And you're friends with him because...?

TaterTots · 16/10/2016 23:10

To be fair to him, he has been very supportive in tough times for me. It isn't one-way traffic. However, I am finding it difficult to sympathise when he doesn't help himself.

OP posts:
Foslady · 17/10/2016 01:01

Tell him that it'll give him a year to get a job and save up for next year......then next year when he tries it again you can reply 'But you knew we were all going, you've had a year to save - can't want to go that much'

Italiangreyhound · 17/10/2016 01:39

Agree with everyone else and especially "You need to decide right away that he is not going to join you. It isn't reasonable to inflict a stranger who wants to spend the minimum possible on a group of friends who have saved up to go away and want to have a nice time. They will resent you for it."

And *Foslady excellent adivce... "Tell him that it'll give him a year to get a job and save up for next year......then next year when he tries it again you can reply 'But you knew we were all going, you've had a year to save - can't want to go that much'"

He may have been kind to you in the past, and I am sure you have been kind to him but this would be unfair to a whole bunch of people.

Pipthedog · 17/10/2016 02:01

Don't forget to send him a postcard......

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