To think she is in the wrong?

[Jellybaby75]

My sister has recently returned to the UK after a few years travelling and is apparently skint - she reminds everyone when anyone suggests doing anything together.

She’s told me that she actually has several thousands in the bank but this money is put aside for her to go on her permanent residency visa she’s applying for. Other than that, she is temporary unemployed and no other money.

So she’s basically picking and choosing what to spend her money on and sponging off people when we go out for meals/drinks.

If no one offers to pay for her, she’ll say she won’t go (but is obviously manipulating); however, someone always says they’ll pay.

I am getting really annoyed by this...we all have something we would like to save for. Why should other people pay for her? AIBU?

I don't think saving her money is a bad thing, but it doesn't sound like she's being completely open about things either.

There's a difference between "I can't afford it" and "I could afford it but it's not my priority" and she's likely to get more handouts for the first statement than she will for the second.

Yanbu OP. I think your sister sounds like a dishonest, self serving freeloader. I had a friend like that. Always skint, could never afford to get her round in. Next thing she is off on a round the world trip! I hate spongers! Have a word with her. X

Saving your own money and allowing others to spend theirs, and not disabusing them of their belief that you are skint is cheeky. Why treat her with love and respect when her actions aren't?

I don't think you sound jealous, for heaven's sake!

If she doesn't want to go that's fine, but for her to imply that she has NO money and then hint for other people to pay for her is taking the piss.

If she said "I wish I could but I'm putting every spare penny toward my visa" and then people still pay, fair enough.

I don’t think YABU.
To me the term skint wouldn’t mean thousands in the bank. I agree it’s her money to spend how she chooses, but telling people she can’t go out because she is skint i think gives people the wrong impression & is more likely to result in people offering to pay for her.
I guess an answer such as “ thanks for the offer but I don’t have any money at the moment & don’t want to dip into my savings for my visa just for a night out” might not result in as many offerings to pay (I also realise this probably isn’t a likely answer to give lol). But I think if people were given the whole story then they may think differently. It’s like she has money available, but doesn’t deem the social gathering/meal etc important enough to spend her money on- which is fine. But ok to spend other people’s money on.
Slightly different scenario, but a friend/work colleague was telling us in the office how skint she was & hasn’t got money for food til pay day (about 4 days away). I didn't Have much cash on me at that point but was able to give her £5- atleast for a loaf, beans etc.
I later found out that she had about £7,000 in the bank- she was saving to buy a house at the time & she was prioritising that & not wanting to dip into it. Whilst it was my choice to give her the money (only £5 I know) but if I knew she had that much in Savings I don’t think I would have given it her. She didn’t think it was important enough to spend her money on, then why should it be important enough to spend my money on!

Has nobody that knows her thought it odd that she's not working? I assume if she's fit enough to travel, she's fit enough to work. How is she managing to run a car, to buy food, to pay bills?

I think it’s disengenuous of your friend. She isn’t being, from what I can see, honest about her circumstances. If I were in her shoes I’d say look, I’m saving up for X so I’ll give the meal outing etc a miss, thank you. I’d feel guilty as I’d be sponging off my friends. I’d not expect them to subsidise me!