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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Financially abusive 'd'm

53 replies

ncbacktoblack · 09/08/2017 13:11

Posted here for traffic. I'll try and keep this as short as possible without drop feeding.

I'm 29 and live at home. I suffer from ptsd and depression after a car crash. I fully admit I am also a problem drinker as I struggle to deal with day to day life and also lie awake at night with panic attacks.

My mother has her own problems and wasn't working for a period. I came into some money from an old tribunal claim and paid off some of her debts, including mortgage arrears, to help out and take the pressure off us both. I also took her away for an all expenses paid holiday.

With the rest of the money I set up a cleaning business. I don't drive, and because mum wasn't working herself we decided to work together. Bank account etc in my name.

Except we would get paid and the money would all get spent by her. At first I thought I could help her out of the financial mess she had got herself into, but for 2.5 years I have been going out to work, and essentially she is getting paid double the hourly rate we charge, but only doing half the hours.

On top of this, she is controlling and abusive to me. Numerous times she has kicked me out when I dare to stand up for myself. I have gone to my dad's 3 hours away and within a day she's phoning and asking me to come back because she doesn't know how she's going to do the cleaning by herself.

Sometimes she would orchestrate arguments in the morning and then use it as an excuse to refuse to go to work. She would let people down or turn up really late.

I began drinking again to the point where I couldn't get out of bed to work. A passive aggressive stance against her behaviour I guess.

Then I got a large-ish compensation payout from my car crash. I set up a new, different business, but her behaviour and my drinking games whilst trying to clean on the side meant it all got too much and I've been given anti depressants by the GP again.

I'm now eating into this compensation money paying all her bills, Inc mortgage and food etc, because she refuses to go to work if I'm not going. But if I go, I'm only working to pay her bills. There is never anything left over. She will always find something to spend it on!

Today it came to a head as I've let her use a credit card of mine for 5-6 months. It was only for food and vet bills (see my other threads) and she agreed to pay half. She never has.

I took the credit card back and she told me not to go to the cleaning jobs today and to move out. I've also put 2k in her account to stop bank charges as she won't keep an eye on her account and direct debits, and we've had some unexpected bills lately. She let's it get so out of hand that we've had debt collectors round before which I find really stressful so was just trying to avoid that.

She told me not to come to the cleaning jobs, but as I went to get out of the car she began speeding, me with the car door open and no seat belt on, not even stopping at junctions and driving dangerously (wreaking havoc on my ptsd that I was shaking).

When I finally got out she followed me in the car and said I was irresponsible not going to work and it was all my fault, so I got back in the car.

She then refused to go to work herself. But that was my fault too.

Im hesitant about moving out due to my mental state and drinking. But tbh she's making both of those worse! Sorry this is so long but I have nowhere else to turn. Please help with some brilliant brutal MN advice

OP posts:
KimmySchmidt1 · 09/08/2017 13:21

Unfortunately, if you keep giving away free money to people, they will keep spending it.

You just need to stop giving your mother your money. Stop giving her a credit card, stop giving her access to your bank account.

Pay her per hour for the cleaning she does, and pay her a rent contribution while you live at home.

Pay for the food you eat.

THATS IT. There's no point in labelling it all "abusive" - it is you giving away money. So do the practical thing you can control and stop giving it away.

Moanyoldcow · 09/08/2017 13:23

This is a complete mess. You need to extricate yourself from her and her abuse.

You will never be able to stop drinking if you are living like that. It sounds like you can afford to move out so do it. Find a little place, make it nice and leave your mum to sort out her own mess.

Keep your cleaning business just for you - it will give you something to concentrate on and an income. Stop bailing her out and start concentrating on your own mental health.

SleepyHeadThisTime · 09/08/2017 13:25

This sounds like an incredibly unhealthy relationship. You must stop giving your mother money - her debt, her responsibility. Can you move out and gain some independence from her - use your money for a deposit for a house to buy or rent?

DonaldStott · 09/08/2017 13:29

You could have paid a deposit on your own home by the sounds of it. You need to move out.

Witchitywoo · 09/08/2017 13:29

Cut your ties with her. Just because she's your mother doesn't mean she can abuse you. You would not put up with this from a friend so why put up with it from your mother? See if you can stop with your dad until you're in a better place emotionally. Get the support you need from different agencies (AA, docs, counselor etc) and take back control of your life. Block her in your phone and all social network sites. Ask your dad to help you do this. She is an emotional and financial leech. You may have to take a hit on the compensation money if you have debts with her (get some advice from solicitors/CAB) but get out of her clutches. You may surprise yourself at how well you can manage without her. Good luck SmileFlowers

Queenioqueenio · 09/08/2017 13:32

Without your mother spending the money is your business profitable? Could you live off it and support yourself alone, without eating into your compensation?
If so, move out and open a new bank account pay the money in there, and pay your mother a weekly wage (or per job) if you feel she is unreliable.
Well done on starting a business, focus on building this up and breaking away from your mother.

ncbacktoblack · 09/08/2017 13:33

donald yes I could but you need two years of accounts as a self employed person to get a mortgage. The work is cash in hand/bank transfer about 50/50 but with everything just disappearing on debts etc there's no way I'd get a mortgage yet. I could rent a houseshare though.

My big worry is escaping her and going on a rebellious bender. I don't want this life for me anymore but it is a huge coping mechanism for the guilt. Last time I moved out she cried, begged me to stay and I cried myself to sleep at a friends house thinking I was a terrible person Sad

OP posts:
hovipukag · 09/08/2017 13:35

This reply has been deleted

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RandomMess · 09/08/2017 13:35

Go to your Dad's!

Quartz2208 · 09/08/2017 13:39

I think you need to let her make her own choices and stop enabling her. Focus on yourself. If she wont do it for herself that is her fault not yours

Topseyt · 09/08/2017 13:40

Very easy to say obviously, but STOP GIVING HER MONEY. Cancel the credit card.

Agree an hourly rate and just pay her for the work she actually does (not very much by the sound of it). Stop paying her mortgage and bills. She is taking you for a mug.

Is there any of your money left? If so then could you not use it to move out of her house and run your business from somewhere you could rent?

StormTreader · 09/08/2017 13:46

You are trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom at the moment - there is no amount of money you can pour in that will be enough for your mum to stop spending it. Giving money to help people in that mindset is like giving an alcoholic booze - its what they want but its not helping anything in the long run.

Bemusedandpuzzled · 09/08/2017 13:48

First of all, join the stately homes thread. Lots of good advice in there. You sound like you're currently trapped in what is called the FOG - fear, obligation, guilt - which is how many parental abusers trap their kids.

You need to get out of this situation and start living life as an independent adult. That means having your own house, car, and business. You can still help your Mum out, but on your own terms and not just out of duty/fear.

I think you will find life is a blessed relief once you gird your loins and go!

Tiddler7 · 09/08/2017 13:50

Can your condition get you a council flat?

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/08/2017 13:50

She cried when you moved out. Bet she did. She thought she was losing her personal punching bag and personal bank account.

Please, open your eyes. Move out. If that means you think you may resort to alcohol, love yourself, give yourself what you need and go and get the help you need.

She sounds as if she may be a nasty narcissist and you are her scapegoat. You are in the FOG. (Fear obligation and guilt).

Lucysky2017 · 09/08/2017 13:54

Thsi thread seems to sum up the UK's compensation culture and why we need to put a stop to it - tribunals, car crashes - constant gravy train. No wonder all our premia are so high.

rightwhine · 09/08/2017 13:55

Your mother is the cause of most of your problems. Until you get emotionally and physically out of her grasp you are never going to recover.

Move out (into a shared house if need be) , Extricate your finances so you don't get a bad credit history from the trouble she's going to get herself into, and get some counselling.

StormTreader · 09/08/2017 13:56

Err Lucy, those things are only bad if they are fraudulent, which the OPs dont seem to be. There is nothing wrong with claiming and receiving compensation for losses someone incurs for something that isnt their fault.

mylaptopismylapdog · 09/08/2017 13:58

She's not just financially abusive she's physically and mentally abusive, as you say your mother, has her own problems, leave her to sort herself out, she doesn't have the right to use these to justify abusing you so get out. Go to your Dad's if you can and contact Women's Aid and see if you can get advice/ help in leaving an abusive relationship. Make sure that you concentrate on your own health and wellbeing you don't deserve having your generosity and efforts squandered in this way.

EezerGoode · 09/08/2017 14:02

LBT. Here's my first ever LTB...leave the bitch....I can not belive what I have just read..parents are supposed to care about their children.your mother does not care.she is a user....get yr money away from her.she will bleed you dry and then kick you out...leave asap

ncbacktoblack · 09/08/2017 14:02

Thank you, Lucysky2017 for passing judgement when you know nothing about any history of said payouts. The tribunal was when I asked my manager to informally talk to my colleague for grabbing my bum and saying 'I want to fuck you hard, suck my dick' just because I was wearing a skirt to work. I was fired two hours later.

I was the passenger with an (unknown to me) drunk driver. He had been drinking most of the day and we went out to dinner. I suffered broken ribs, concussion and ptsd.

But thanks. I'm grabby. Wait, is my mum on mumsnet because that's the kind of shit she spouts at me whilst reaping the benefits

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 09/08/2017 14:04

Learn to drive
Employ someone to help with the business - a car owner - will expect higher pay but it will cost you less in the long run

Oldraver · 09/08/2017 14:05

You need to move out

DonaldStott · 09/08/2017 14:05

What a horrible post Lucky

If you have no helpful advice for the OP, you know what to do.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 09/08/2017 14:07

Can't you move to your dad's and set up the business there away from her?