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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Family finances - am I BU or is DH?

216 replies

Hooli · 30/06/2018 07:29

Without outing myself too much, my stepdad has recently passed away. My mum was a full time carer for him and has been for over 10 years (dementia and Alzheimer's). She's now past the age of really being able to get another job (67).

She's lived in a council house all her life but will now need to move as she can't afford the bedroom tax. She was exempt from this before as it was deemed she needed an extra room for his equipment and his PA when he (occasionally) stayed over.

There are no one bed flats available for her to move in to.

My older sister and I had agreed between us, years ago, that when this happened, we would rent her a flat privately and pay for this ourselves at a cost of around £200 each a month (Mum lives in a very cheap part of the UK)

DH has always known this was our intention. His family are very well off so he'd never have to financially support them in old age, but my Mum sacrificed a huge amount and had to survive on minimum wage jobs so me and my sister see it as our absolute duty and responsibility to repay that sacrifice now and we're more than happy to.

Family finances go like this - me and DH both put all our salaries in the joint account but keep £200 a month back each for personal spends. We also put £1k a month into the savings. I've proposed to drop my personal spends to £100 and take £100 from the savings, putting £900 a month in instead.

DH is now disagreeing and thinks I should fund the private rent from my own spends and therefore have no money for myself. For the record, this goes on coffees, magazines, haircuts, meals with friends and toward gifts for him and the kids.

Who is being U here?

OP posts:
GertrudeCB · 30/06/2018 07:31

Your dh is being U.

Pengggwn · 30/06/2018 07:32

Good god. He is being utterly unreasonable.

Peterrabbitscarrots · 30/06/2018 07:32

If I were your DH, I’d feel the same. I wouldn’t want to be indirectly paying towards rent for my MIL for another potential 20 or 30 years. Sorry

Whatshallidonowpeople · 30/06/2018 07:35

Woudnt she get housing benefit?

Steviea88 · 30/06/2018 07:35

Sorry to hear about your stepdad.

Your DH is definitely being unreasonable.

Would it not be cheaper for you and your sister to pay the bedroom tax between you both and then your mum wouldn't have to move?

henpeckedinchief · 30/06/2018 07:35

You know that it's him OP!

Your poor mother - who is, by marriage, part of his family too - has been through a terrible upheaval and needs support that you and your sister are very generously and kindly providing for her. And your DH thinks you should somehow be punished for that by having no spending money of any kind, even though his own spending money won't be affected?

He is being unreasonable and selfish and isn't understanding that adults do the decent thing and look after each other, even if that means they sometimes have to make other sacrifices.

I would be sharply telling him that you didn't anticipate this mean, selfish, tight side of him existed and that if he wants things to carry on working he will get over it asap.

NoWordForFluffy · 30/06/2018 07:35

Wouldn't it be cheaper for you to just pay the bedroom tax for her? Then she can stay there and not have the upheaval of moving?

Fattymcfaterson · 30/06/2018 07:35

Why don't you just pay her "bedroom tax" instead

cansu · 30/06/2018 07:36

Given that you have enough to put 1k in savings he is being ridiculously mean. I would reduce your 1k to 800 to meet this new obligation.

NoWordForFluffy · 30/06/2018 07:36

Cross post with @Steviea88!

OwlinaTree · 30/06/2018 07:36

If you guys can afford £1k a month into savings I think your DH is being unreasonable.I would continue to try to get her re housed by the council though, and make sure she claims everything she is entitled to.

letsallhaveanap · 30/06/2018 07:37

your DH is being unreasonable

Hanuman · 30/06/2018 07:37

How much is the bedroom tax? I would have thought it would be a lot cheaper than private rent

donajimena · 30/06/2018 07:37

Wouldn't it be cheaper for you and your sister to pay the shortfall in bedroom tax? Also she would be entitled to HB. Private renting is terribly insecure. Can your mum cope with multiple moves and the associated costs? I don't think you are being unreasonable but private renting sucks.

52FestiveRoad · 30/06/2018 07:37

I think your DH is being really mean. You are doing a lovely thing for your mum, and he wants you to live with no money to fund it? He is acting like a parent, withdrawing your pocket money. What would he do if you just reduced the savings amount by £200? I would do that and then just keep repeating- you have known of my plans for years, I do not need to keep explaining- etc etc .

cordeliavorkosigan · 30/06/2018 07:39

He is unreasonable. And anyway it woul be impossible to live with zero spends, or if not technically impossible, would cause enough resentment and logistical difficulty that it’s a silly plan. Sometimes in a family with two decision makers, money is spent without equal agreement or enthusiasm from each. That’s what having two decision makers means! Help your mother.

isitfridayyet1 · 30/06/2018 07:39

Why not find out how much the bedroom tax is and help your mum pay the extra?

Butterymuffin · 30/06/2018 07:40

Well, he's a kind and generous soul, isn't he? Has he shown signs of this before?

Nightfall1 · 30/06/2018 07:40

Hi there, sorry to hear about your mum;s circumstances.
I know this isn't what you asked but does your mum really want to give up a secure council tenancy?

If not - if she receives Housing Benefit, she could apply for discretionary housing payment which can be used to pay the shortfall created by the bedroom tax.

If not would it be cheaper for you and your sister to pay the shortfall rather than £200 each for a less secure private rent?

In answer to your question I think your DH is being unreasonable.

timeisnotaline · 30/06/2018 07:41

Your dh is being not just unreasonable but nasty! Does he realise nobody would actually want to live with a man who was happy for his dp to have zero spending money? Unable to buy a coffee?

Thebluedog · 30/06/2018 07:42

Your dh is bu.

I hope he never gets ill and can’t work, if that’s his attitude!

Sorry for your loss Flowers

MrsSchadenfreude · 30/06/2018 07:43

Pay the bedroom tax so that she can stay where she is. Private renting is so insecure. When we did it, we moved three times in just over a year.

gobbynorthernbird · 30/06/2018 07:43

Why don't you just top up whatever she gets in housing benefit to pay the rent? The difference between the LHA amount for a one bed place and her current rent can't be anywhere near £400 per month.

OldJoseph · 30/06/2018 07:43

I'd be very reluctant to leave a council house in these circumstances. Presumably your mum would need a deposit for the new flat as well. I'd help her pay the bedroom tax and hope a one bed becomes available in the near future.

Hooli · 30/06/2018 07:44

We did discuss paying the bedroom tax but my Mum was quite keen on moving somewhere smaller and more manageable. The council have also made a lot of adjustments to the house (ramps, grab rails) and she feels a family with a disabled child or family member should benefit from this.

OP posts: