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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Let Brother Become Homeless

16 replies

MaxiPaddy · 28/05/2019 04:19

Recently NC, but have been on mumsnet for a little while. I'm mostly looking for confirmation of whether or not I was being unreasonable.

To keep it brief and from going into way too much history, I have an older (middle aged) brother, who's fumbled his way through life (I can't judge, I'm disabled and live with my mother). He's borrowed and not repaid about $30,000 in the last 10 years from my mother and I ($3000 this year alone) and we simply can't afford to do it anymore. He never pays us back, and what he does, he re-borrows a week later.

He moved about an hour and a half away for a (he thought) better paying job, but it worked out that he's even broker than he was before, and moved in with a girl he barely knows. Unsurprisingly, she threw him out after a fight and left him nowhere to go.

He called us looking for money for a hotel, but we finally said no. We offered for him to come and stay with us, but he refused, and demanded money for a hotel, we said no, that if he wanted to remain where he was, he would have to pay for it himself (no money) or sleep in his car (safe area, 24 hour stores with safe parking lots). He finally chose to sleep in his car after much begging and pleading, and we sent him a small amount of money for food to tide him over.

I'm just wondering if we were being unreasonable, or if we should have given him the money? Technically we could have afforded it, but the money was earmarked for a medical procedure we need to pay for, and as a middle aged man (who earns double what we do combined), isn't it time to stop relying on the bank of mom and little sister (both of whom are on disability as their only income?).

Sorry for the long post!

OP posts:
MaxiPaddy · 28/05/2019 04:20

Oh, and sorry if I don't reply much for now, it's midnight for me.

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 28/05/2019 04:27

He's not homeless, you offered him a home and he turned it down. The apron strings have to be cut at some point, him constantly relying on others to bail him out is doing him no favours at all. He needs to fix this situation for himself.

Thatsnotmyotter · 28/05/2019 04:28

YANBU at all. He’s been taking advantage for far too long.

bloodywhitecat · 28/05/2019 04:29

Oh, and sorry if I don't reply much for now, it's midnight for me.

It's 4am here so you might not get many replies for a while anyway.

Newmumma83 · 28/05/2019 04:33

You gave him an option it was his choice he can always come to you if he changes his mind don’t feel to bad x

MaxiPaddy · 28/05/2019 04:33

Oh, thank you! I was so afraid I was going to be called a heartless bitch! I told my mom it was time to let the baby bird fly, but she's been wavering and it will be good to show her this thread.

Luckily he's got a place to live now, so it was only for about a week, but the begging was terrible to listen to.

OP posts:
malificent7 · 28/05/2019 06:15

I can see another side here
...you live with your mum but hes on the streets. Is he the black sheep?
However the borrowed money is annoying.

AloneLonelyLoner · 28/05/2019 06:20

YANBU, you offered to let him stay with you, that means he wouldn't have been on the street/car. As the saying goes 'beggars can't be choosers' and in the end he needs to learn some sort of responsibility for himself. Nobody is doing him any favours by giving into his demands. Be strong. Save your money and save him at the same time by cutting him off. He has a job!

NicoAndTheNiners · 28/05/2019 06:22

What does he do with the money?

Why can't he afford rent long term or a b&b shortbterm if he's working?

NotStayingIn · 28/05/2019 06:31

You did the right thing. By constantly bailing him out you are enabling him to keep living beyond his means and he will continue to make poor financial choices. As you can’t afford it it’s completely fair for you to stop.

I’m also glad for the girlfriend that she chucked him out, she probably had a lucky escape. Sounds like he will just keep trying to sponge of anyone who will let him.

But you and your mom need to remain consistent. Keep repeating you have medical bills so will not be able to help him going forward. The lending is over. Happy to support him in other ways but never again financially. If you sometimes back down this will be a never ending cycle and he will never learn. Good luck OP. Flowers

NauseousMum · 28/05/2019 07:42

Close the bank permenantly. You offered him a home (and if he does take it up i would put up big ground rules about rent money and chore splitting), he chose to move and he earns well!

He won't ever learn while you both bankroll him. What has he done with the money he owes you? What does he do with his?

HaveNoSocks · 28/05/2019 08:10

YADNBU. You need to stop enabling him. Most people save and plan for emergencies. With the best intentions in the world occasionally you might still need a little help from family but if it's happening constantly it's probably because you're not plannibg but relying on handouts.

dangerrabbit · 28/05/2019 08:33

Why can’t he afford to pay his rent out of his own earnings?!

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 28/05/2019 08:48

I can see another side here
...you live with your mum but hes on the streets

OP and her Mum were happy for him to come and stay with them but he refused. So if he's "on the streets" then it's through his own choice.

TheSerenDipitY · 28/05/2019 09:18

he wont grow up until you both close the bank
why should he be responsible when hes got two handy enablers sitting waiting to fund his lifestyle? say no or he will take every last penny you have and still ask for more, start by saying NO, and keep saying NO, or maybe years down the line it will be both of you being made homeless... and i really doubt he will help you both out

MaxiPaddy · 28/05/2019 11:29

Me and my mother live 'together' if that makes sense. One pot of all money, one set of bills, an allowance each, like an old married couple, except I'm not on the mortgage, so I don't really consider myself 'living with my mom', iyswim. We both contribute the same monetarily, and I also take care of her physically because no one else will (including brother).

And thank you for saying what I was hoping you (mostly) would all say. I thought I was right, but my mom wasn't so sure, so it will be nice to be able to show her this thread and let her know that she did the right thing.

OP posts:
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