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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

That DS should now work & help to pay his way?

129 replies

Anwen24 · 04/07/2018 14:40

DS, just finished uni, is at home and anxious about his future. I'm doing all I can to help. He's telling us that he's bored at home, doesn't like living in the town, wants to go back to uni town asap - where, in fact, he's committed to another houseshare for next year. OK - up to a point I get it but he's insensitive in the way he says it.

I've let him let the dust settle but now I'm asking him to please get a job while he's here.

He gets annoyed when I ask. Has barely worked in the past but now it's very serious. I'm guarantor again for the new place - paid a deposit - and now have to pay summer rent. That and everything else. As soon as his loan has run out in the past, we've had to step in. Even funded a holiday on the promise of being paid back. No very obvious sign of that.

We've no doubt been far too ready to help our financially and no doubt we still are. But I'd meet him half-way if only he'd get a job. He's prevaricating like mad and it hurts like hell.

I have a f-t and a p-t job just to make ends meet. DH work hard and another DS is working (and feels rather resentful towards his brother). I'm seriously having to think about an additional weekend job for myself.

He gets annoyed when I broach the subject and I feel like I'm walking on egg shells. He also has a big bank o/d and that needs servicing. He doesn't grasp just how important it is to be financially responsible or how tight things are for us.

What can I do? He's a loving boy but on this subject he's very, very difficult to get through to.

OP posts:
H0lidayzs3arch · 06/07/2018 11:37

If there is a house in uni town why is your DS not living there and working there. Who is liable for council tax, electric, water, rent ? You either need to cancel this house and he lives and works at home or he lives and works at uni, he CANNOT have BOTH ! You need to get tough and he needs to be financially independent asap. Why should you be working 2 jobs, when is younger and fitter. You need to look after yourself !

flowery · 06/07/2018 11:56

”I lived in their house and ate their food

But the remainder of my student overdraft covered my expenses.”

I think that’s very different. OP’s son seems to be expecting them to feed and house him at home, plus fund accommodation elsewhere, plus fund a level of lifestyle which extends to gym membership and holidays, with no end in sight. Bonkers!

H0lidayzs3arch · 06/07/2018 11:57

I would suggest that you have the chat and make changes asap, because the longer you leave it the harder it will be. He needs to get ANY job now and he can apply for graduate jobs in the meantime. Gym membership is a luxury, not a necessity so cancel it. Sort out the house in the uni town, quickly, because that potentially could be a money pit !

sashh · 06/07/2018 12:13

Chuck him out.

You are paying rent on one place and he is living with you in another.

Tell him to go to uni town and find a job and if not start billing him for board, electric, gas, food etc. Also summer rent and any other bills.

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