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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To Turf My Cousin Out

100 replies

BooFuckingHoo2 · 22/11/2019 17:49

Backstory my cousin (24) has been staying with me for two months after a spectacular fall out with my aunt whilst she “gets on her feet”. I agreed to let her stay here rent free whilst she saves up for a deposit on a flat (rented) which should be achievable as she has an above minimum wage jobs and no other expenses aside from phone contract. Cousin has quite a bit of credit card debt (although I don’t know the full extent) which may impact affordability but before she moved in she assured me she would be saving £200 a week which would more than cover a small place (in the north). For full disclosure a few years ago I leant her £3k to buy a car to get to work, she paid me £1.5k back over 12 months and then stop as she “can’t afford it”.

Problem 1: I have quite a stressful job and I like to have a G&T 3/4 evenings a week (too much I know Grin) however whenever I have one cousin will ask if she can have one too. At first I said yes of course (as it seems incredibly mean to say no) but it’s now got to the point she’s gone through several bottles of my rather expensive gin (along with me, not by herself I might add), she occasionally says when I point out we’re running low “I’ll buy a bottle” but this has never happened. She has also eaten/drunk all my Diet Coke, coffee, cheese etc when our explicit agreement was that she’d buy her own food/snacks. Whenever I get a takeaway she will add on her order, promising the money which then never materialises. I have brought this up but ultimately I’m not going to sit there munching my Chinese while she looks on in envy.

Problem 2: I am extremely suspicious she is not saving any money and is planning on staying here long term (she has a pretty cushy deal). She’s a terrible spender so I offered to keep some money back for her if she gave it to me - she duly gave me £200 which I ended up giving back after 4 days. I have asked her if she’s saving as she often comes home drunk (clearly having been to the pub) and she assures me she is, but the flat she had secured for two weeks time has now “fallen through” and she’s asked to stay until after new year. I pointed out she owed me £1.5 still and she got very stroppy saying she’d sort it in the new year.

AIBU to tell her she needs to move out in two weeks as we agreed? On the one hand I feel mean as it’s so close to Christmas and perhaps she can’t afford a place of her own. On the other hand she clearly sees me as a soft touch and she’ll never learn unless she stands on her own two feet Confused

OP posts:
AwdBovril · 23/11/2019 08:14

Give her 2 weeks to move out. A month if she starts paying for all her own expenses, food, additional council tax if necessary, as well as paying you something by way of rent starting from today. Including any gin etc she drinks!

Your own gin consumption is your own business, 3 or 4 gins a week - unless it's brim full - is perfectly ok, BTW. You don't owe her anything just because you have gin, takeaway etc. It seems pretty obvious why she moved out of her aunt's house.

trulyconfuseddotcom · 23/11/2019 09:00

I think you know the answer to this one. Stick to your deadline and make sure it's clear that you're expecting her to move out in 2 weeks as planned. If she tells you she can't because she hasn't saved the money, that's her issue and not yours. She's 24, she's been an adult for a number of years now and she needs to act like one. And you need your home to yourself again! You've been really kind and helpful to her so it's ok to have boundaries and stick to them. Good luck.

TriangularRatbag · 23/11/2019 09:18

It seems pretty obvious why she moved out of her aunt's house.

Free rent, free takeaways, free bar - it seems pretty obvious why she moved into yours!

BooFuckingHoo2 · 23/11/2019 10:33

I’ve had the conversation this morning saying she needs to move out in two weeks as originally agreed and as some of you predicted she is not happy.

She’s gone on an enormous character assassination about me saying I’m moody, unfair, and I had a decent upbringing so no wonder I’m sorted and she’s not. Apparently I’m always horrible and “putting her down” because I told her she needs to grow up and stand on her own two feet. I’m actually quite hurt by some of her comments!

She has now packed a back and flounced off and is sending me angry texts about how she doesn’t need me and wanted to move out anyway.

OP posts:
trulyconfuseddotcom · 23/11/2019 10:48

Good for you. You've done nothing wrong so don't let her guilt trip you. Hopefully in a few months (or possibly years!) she'll realise that you've been really practically and financially supportive to her and she'll appreciate it a bit more. She needs to grow up a bit for sure! If her texts are upsetting you then you could block them - you're not obliged to take her abuse. Hope you are doing ok - this sounds pretty stressful.

Frownette · 23/11/2019 10:52

She's a nightmare - stay calm OP and think of the magical time in the near future when your home is your own again.

onalongsabbatical · 23/11/2019 10:53

Good, well done. Ignore her. Eventually she may or may not grow up; not your problem. You've been very kind and generous. Let her get on with flouncing and HOLD YOUR GROUND.

gamerchick · 23/11/2019 10:54

Let her have her tantrum. Totally ignore her messages or shell suck you in to drama.

LazyDaisey · 23/11/2019 10:57

Remember her words and keep her texts. She’ll be hitting you up for money in the future and you can quote her back

Elieza · 23/11/2019 10:57

Predictable backlash as the reality sinks in that you are no longer to put up with her crap. Don’t buy her anything the next couple of weeks. Bread, cereal, milk, tea and coffee and cheese or cold meat in the house only. Anything else the stingy little sponger can buy herself. Hide your stuff. Hide your booze. Don’t leave your purse lying about. Lock up your valuables. I’m not kidding, she will be desperate now she realises you’re not taking any shit and she’ll be panicking. Trying to get money together any way she can. Selling phones or pawning gold jewellery could get a deposit.

In a few days you’ll find she’s crying and apologising and “if I could just stay a bit longer as I’ve got no money”ing. If you stand firm it will turn into another tantrum along the lines of it’s not fair. Sigh. She’s a brat.

You might want to appraise your aunt if the situation so she knows the sponger has made no effort to save and has not changed. Just so she can be ready for her bullshit.

You’ve given her every opportunity and this is how she repays you. Sad. You’ve been a gear cousin to her.

I’d be telling her any more of your anger or nastiness towards me and your stuff will be on the doorstep and the locks changed when you get back. None if your lip missy. Not one word.

Stay firm OP. Smile

Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 23/11/2019 11:01

See OP what ever you try to do she will not be in the least bit grateful.Slagging you off for your hospitality,putting a roof over her head,feeding her.keeping her warm and safe and the bloody car...let her go.She is a very ungrateful person.You do not deserve this crap.Do not justify her messages or anything else by answering them.Ignore her and it may just focus her on how much of a child she is with her tantrums and over inflated sense of self importance.Entitled madam she is...

PurpleWithRed · 23/11/2019 11:05

Have you changed the locks?

You deserve a lovely bottle of your favourite posh gin in celebration Flowers

messolini9 · 23/11/2019 11:07

You know everything you said in your OP, @BooFuckingHoo2?

You need to say it to your cousin.

She has renegaed on every verbal deal shes offered you, from £1500 arbitrarily unpaid, to not replacing the diet coke. She is financially profligate - living rent-free, presumably all utilities paid for her too? - & that is an issue in itself. The bigger issue for you though is the impact on you, & you are not helping yourself by being a 'soft touch' i.e. caving to her every demand & swallowing every half-truth & outright lie she is pushing in your face.

If yoru cousin were male, there would be cries of cocklodger. And quite rightly. If she were a male b/f, I would be questioning whether he were financially abusing you. So you need to ask yourself why you are accepting the level of disrespect & selfishness from a chit of a girl?

DId she fall out with aunt over finances & not giving a toss about aunt's expenses, food & drink by any chance?

How on earth can she "not afford to" pay you back your £1500 when she doesn't have to pay rent & has a decent job?

These are all questions you could put to her OP. (Preferably while scoffing a chinese for one.) She is massively taking the piss out of you, & needs to grow the fuck up.

messolini9 · 23/11/2019 11:07

rats - "renegaed " = RENEGED

Havaina · 23/11/2019 11:10

Ding dong the bitch is gone! 🎉

MinnieMountain · 23/11/2019 11:11

I thought a cocklodger is someone you're in a romantic relationship with who moves in and takes the piss?

Well done OP. Stay strong.

messolini9 · 23/11/2019 11:11

I pointed out she owed me £1.5 still and she got very stroppy saying she’d sort it in the new year.

The cheek of the lying baggage.
How is she going to suddenly be able "to afford" to do this, given that she cannot seem to manage it even living rent free & sponging off you for bills & luxuries?
WHat's going to have changed in the new year, that she is then going to accept responsibility for repayment?

My money is on you having to write your cash off OP. Very sorry you have been mugged like this.

wineisnecessary · 23/11/2019 11:12

Don't be hurt she's reacting angrily, she's immature and needs to sort herself out . Well done anyway .

messolini9 · 23/11/2019 11:13

She needs to pay rent.

On her own place, yes.

Not much point in OP charging rent. Cousin will agree to pay it, but not bother.

fedup21 · 23/11/2019 11:19

Christ, I had a professional job, a husband, a house and two kids by 24!

Well done for telling her to go-of course she’s cross, she’s realised the party has come to an end. Expect her to get even more horrible as her meal ticket is withdrawn.

Don’t cave though and don’t reply to her angry texts.

messolini9 · 23/11/2019 11:25

well done Boo

She’s gone on an enormous character assassination about me saying I’m moody, unfair, and I had a decent upbringing so no wonder I’m sorted and she’s not.

Yes, I wondered when she might play the "I had a fucked-up childhood, so the world owes me a living" card.
She's gonna have a fucked-up adulthood if she doesn't stop using people & being a financial fuckwit.

I'm glad she's finally gone (altho be prepared for some crawling back when she's sick of sofa-surfing or her mates get sick of her.) Can also understand how galling it is to have her stick the verbal knife in - no good deed goes unpunished, huh?

If you are still feeling frustrated later, you could respond to her outrageous text along the lines of - no need to thank me for the free accommodation & hospitality, you graceless little snit. After all the world clearly owes you a living, & I'm sure with that attitude you'll find out exactly what the world thinks of you in return ...

Encyclo · 23/11/2019 11:25

Well done OP.

I bet you're glad to see the back of her! What a user.

I can't quite get over her level of CFery. I bet she goes back to her Mum now.

Penners99 · 23/11/2019 11:28

Well done OP. Do NOT let her back in when she comes crawling back

fedup21 · 23/11/2019 11:32

Did she pack up all of her stuff or just one bag? Will she be back today?

I would be changing the locks tbh.

And buying an expensive bottle of gin and some chocolate for you tonight :)

Josette77 · 23/11/2019 11:44

You did the right thing! Sorry she has behaved horribly.