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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think helping one person out financially doesn't mean I have to help everyone?

115 replies

OreosAreLovely · 18/07/2017 11:47

Hello, hoping for some advice.
My mum who lives in my home country (the uk) has struggled a fair bit recently.
Her income dropped considerably and she ended up in a big cycle of debt. She was forced to move due to bedroom tax and her new home was completely bare floored etc. she couldn't afford carpets and was already sinking because of everything (credit cards a catalogue etc) and moving costs.
So I helped her out, ordered her a few bits and pieces and paid someone to carpet her bedroom, put Lino down in the living room and bathroom.
I'm about to finish this off for her by paying for her hallway carpet and my young siblings bedroom carpet and buying him some new sensory things (he has ASD).
On top of this I pay her (very low) weekly rent, chunks off the biggest of her 3 debts and a monthly shop so all she has to buy is bread/milk and fresh things.

I'm not looking for criticism on what I do for my mum she is an amazing woman and I wouldn't be where I am today without her help... she is hardworking and generous and has helped me in the past too. I consider her my best friend.
My sister on the other hand... well we'll see what you think.
Works 15-30hrs per week her partner works full time, 1DC. No childcare costs and as far as I'm aware they're ticking along nicely.
Today she messages me and says the following (copied and pasted but names removed)
"Hello Oreos.
I'm really unhappy about something...
you offer all this help to mum but none to me!
We'd like to come out and see you but can't really afford that what with (dh expensive hobby) and saving for a holiday for ourselves. Offering to pay for this would be nice but no you don't offer anything! Mums told me all about the things you do for her, my carpet is almost 8 years old I could do with a replacement too but yet again you don't offer this. Why do you want to see me struggling?"...
was I justified in my response of
"Hi sister name.
It's difficult for me to see where you're coming from.
I'd be happy to consider helping you if you asked for my help or were indeed in need of it.
I think having extreme financial difficulties cannot be compared to saving for a holiday or (her dh name) spending x amount on (hobby). Rest assured that if you had lost 25%+ of your income and was forced into spending £1000 on moving into a home you couldn't afford to furnish I'd be the first person there to help, but you're not, so I don't get where you're coming from"

Sister has always been quite entitled (think asking for £7000, which is a lot to me, for Christmas Hmm ) and when I gave her young son a birthday card with £200 she questioned why I couldn't afford/didn't spend more... so this may colour my opinions drastically.

So was i being unreasonable in my response and would you be bothered if your sister or brother was helping out a relative a lot but didn't offer you help?

OP posts:
BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 18/07/2017 12:13

Will Brexit stop the influx of twats from CheekyFuckerLand?
How do I apply for a CFL passport?

ijustwannadance · 18/07/2017 12:16

Tell her to fuck right off. Your sister clearly isn't in need.

£200 for a young relative in a birthday card?! Bloody hell. That will be expected now for every birthday/xmas for every child. You are being taken for a mug op.

Zaphodsotherhead · 18/07/2017 12:16

But your mum presumably made sacrifices to bring you both up? (Maybe she stayed in low paid jobs so she was home for you before/after school? Didn't move up the career ladder so you had a settled home life -stuff like that?) What sacrifices has your sister made for you?

You are just paying your mum back - in the nicest possible way - for things she did for you in your childhood. Your sister needs to get a life.

SonicBoomBoom · 18/07/2017 12:17

Why did you give your DN £200?! That is too much, regardless of your circumstances IMO.

But yes, she's awful. You were perfectly justified in your response, absolutely. Don't give her anything.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 18/07/2017 12:18

Does you sister reciprocate with gifts?

Why does she have these expectations of you?

OreosAreLovely · 18/07/2017 12:18

I thought £200 was fine. I'd normally give £100-£150 but I generally buy a token gift like a pj set or socks to go with it but as id not got the chance to buy anything I just gave a bit extra.

OP posts:
OreosAreLovely · 18/07/2017 12:19

She does buy gifts yes at birthdays and Christmas. I buy for her too (certainly not 7k though!)

OP posts:
OreosAreLovely · 18/07/2017 12:21

Mum made huge sacrifices for us as children and has done so for us as adults too when able.
My sister hasn't sacrificed anything.
I think I ate a lipstick of hers as a kid once... does that count? Wink

OP posts:
Buthewasstillhungry · 18/07/2017 12:21

What a horribly immature, irrational woman child she is!!! I am astonished that anyone would be so unreasonable!

If I was you id be going NC.

I stopped giving my slightly entitled sister any money years ago.

notapizzaeater · 18/07/2017 12:22

Don't think I will ever moan about my sister again

Janus · 18/07/2017 12:22

Wow, just wow!

You are doing a lovely thing for your mum, don't let your mad sister get in the way of that.

I would definitely point out to her what you have put in your suggested reply (or have you already sent that?). She is her own person, has her own husband and family now, she is responsible for her own holidays, carpets etc!! You are very generous at Christmas, leave it at that for nephews etc, I'd give her a £10 book token this year!

I cannot get over her cheek.

Hissy · 18/07/2017 12:25

Your sister is a twat. YANBU in the slightest. Not in the history of AIBU has there been a less U person than you in this respect OP.

Drop the involvement way back for your DN, open up an account for her to access when she's 18 or something, but that is it for you and the money tree.

OreosAreLovely · 18/07/2017 12:25

I'm not sure nc is possible(I'm not sure I'd want it to be either I love my DN very much)... reduced contact perhaps.

OP posts:
SleepFreeZone · 18/07/2017 12:25

Well your sister is hideous.

PickAChew · 18/07/2017 12:26

The newest carpet in our house is 13 years old. Cheeky cow.

Tell her you honestly don't mind if she doesn't visit.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 18/07/2017 12:27

If I was your sister I would feel embarrassed that I hadn't been able to help my mum out, not asked for a handout myself.

Op, are you richer than Croesus?

Bobbins43 · 18/07/2017 12:29

Fucking hell. She's such a piss taker!

viques · 18/07/2017 12:32

bless her. tell her she has been mentioned in your will.

"To my dear sister Oreosarethedevilsworkactually, here is the mention I promised you. Hi!"

MumW · 18/07/2017 12:33

You sound like an amazing daughter/auntie.

A gift of £200 moaned about as not enough. Shock Confused
I'd be extremely grateful if you were my sister as well as a little embarassed that I couldn't return the favour.

Why is it that some people seem to think that they are entitled to a cut of someone else's hard work and success?

OreosAreLovely · 18/07/2017 12:35

moving
I bloody wish Wink

OP posts:
Marmaladeorange · 18/07/2017 12:36

It might be a nice idea for you to give your nephew smaller amounts of money as a gift for birthday and Christmas. Any extra that you would have given him could be put into a savings account for when he's older? Realistically he doesn't need large lump sums at a young age and it seems this has made your sister realise that you can be very generous with your money - leading her to make such unreasonable requests.

OreosAreLovely · 18/07/2017 12:38

I think I'll look into making an account for him - does anyone know the logistics of this? As his auntie I didn't think I could open an account in trust for him

OP posts:
QuizteamBleakley · 18/07/2017 12:39

SisZilla!

StealthPolarBear · 18/07/2017 12:40

Did you ask why she didn't help your mum too? You should be annoyed with her.

LonelyGir1 · 18/07/2017 12:41

You sister is being unreasonable.

You can't open a bank account for him without consent from his parents.

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