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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell my sister she shouldn’t buy a game console while desperate to move out?

42 replies

Pretendbookworm · 23/12/2019 19:19

She finished university and moved back in with our parents. I am no contact with our mother and low contact with our father because they are hoarders with other mental health problems (anxiety, depression, odd behaviours) but both refuse to see a doctor. Not only that but our mother has repeatedly criticised my parenting skills been emotionally abusive and manipulative for years, and our father just lets it happen. My sister hated living there before going to university, and was always upset and low in mood because of the living environment and our parents issues.

The year before my sister finished university I asked her if she had a job to save up money or started applying for graduate jobs/programmes. When she lived at home she was constantly ringing me upset so I was concerned about her going back. Eventually she told me to stop asking because I was making her upset. I told her she could move in with me. Again I was told to stop mentioning it. She does have her own MH problems which she has been seeing a doctor and therapist for.

So she finished university - sent 0 job requests, saved 0 money, so went back to our parents. Eventually she’s got a Christmas job but it’s temp and minimum wage. Still regularly upset about having to live there. Then she tells me she’s spent £350 on a games console for herself with the money she’s managed to save (parents are charging her rent).

So I told her “that’s a lot of money that could have been used towards moving out instead”. She said she needs it to feel happy, to which I said “that isn’t going to cure your problems. Moving out will.” This is what she told me her therapist had said to her. I’d like to add that she already owns a major gaming console, she’s just bought a different one.

She’s now upset with me, told me she doesn’t have to justify her purchase. To which I said yes that’s true, and I will make sure just to always agree with you all the time in the future. I’m finding it hard to be patient now.

OP posts:
itgetshardereveryday · 23/12/2019 19:21

I can see why it's frustrating but I think you need to take a step back. It's not up to you to tell your adult sister how to live her life or spend her money.
You can only give advice if asked for it really otherwise it never goes down well.

thedevilinablackdress · 23/12/2019 19:23

Yanbu but I'd leave it there. You've had your say.

PristineCondition · 23/12/2019 19:24

Stop going on.
She's not your child.

AnneLovesGilbert · 23/12/2019 19:25

£350 probably feels like a drop in the ocean of what she’d need to move out, she’s splashing out because she’s earning now, and it’ll give her a fun distraction from how shit it is living there. You’re right but you’re not helping her and if you’re finding her frustrating - totally fair enough - it’s best to pull back a bit rather than dishing out judgement on her choices. Tough for you and kind of you to put her up instead but she’s got to make her own decisions.

GiveHerHellFromUs · 23/12/2019 19:27

You're NC with your parents, she isn't.

She may as well be happy while she's there. She's not going to be moving out any time soon whilst in a MW temp job anyway.

I can see why it's frustrating for you but you seem a lot more 'together' than her. Unfortunately I think this'll be the start of a cycle and there's not going to be much you can do. You'll either need to be a sounding post and not offer any advice, or go NC with her too.

Pretendbookworm · 23/12/2019 19:29

@itgetshardereveryday I agree as I’ve got a lot on my plate at the moment, I’d love to step back, but it’s hard to be sympathetic when every week I get a tearful call/text and she’s not only refusing to help herself but actually making things harder. I’ll still be here for her, but this time I really had to say something.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 23/12/2019 19:32

You’re not obligated to listen to her say the same things on repeat if she’s not going to do anything to help herself. You don’t have to answer every call and if she sends messages you can send a standard “sounds tough for you” and take a bit longer to reply.

MissCharleyP · 23/12/2019 19:41

Same as AnneLovesGilbert said. £350 is nothing compared to the cost of deposit and rent or deposit and mortgage. If she’s only in a temp min-wage job she’s very unlikely to qualify for either rental or a mortgage, let alone be able to save up the deposit/fees/moving costs. I was in a similar position to your DSis (low wage, p/t job and living at my DPs after a break up) and my DM used to go on about me having my nails done. I probably spent £40 a month on average, so less than £500 per year and yet my DM thought it appropriate to say that if I stopped one of the things that gave me a bit of pleasure and that I could afford, then I’d be able to buy a house. Even though I’d have had to save that amount for 20 years to be able to get just a deposit. It’s easy to say these things IME when being able to afford more isn’t an issue (my DPs were given a 50% deposit for their first house by my DGM).

MidnightCircus · 23/12/2019 19:42

I can understand how frustrating it is for you, but she is an adult (though mental health issues will be a factor), so she can make her own bed to lie in. I actually agree with you but sometimes people are their own worst enemy, and change can be scary. Home might be a comfort for her, in a wierd way. By that I mean she's an external reason to be unhappy, rather than an internal one (the MH problems) which can be much easier to deal with. It's familiar to her, so less stress as she knows what to expect. It's a horrible situation but the only advice I can give is to take a step back. Let her do what she wants. If she calls/texts, say you're sorry to hear but hope she can move out soon. Little else you can do

MidnightCircus · 23/12/2019 19:44

She has rather than she's*

DeeCeeCherry · 23/12/2019 19:46

she told me to stop asking because I was making her upset

& That's just for starters.

Leave her alone - from what you've written you are not good for her emotional wellbeing. She'll likely go no or low contact with you eventually anyway if you keep on.

You're not her mum. You can step back from her calls, and stop judging and lecturing her. She's in therapy, maybe gaming makes her feel better for all you know.

1Morewineplease · 23/12/2019 20:54

Just back away.
If she then asks you for help then you’ll know what to say.

StrawberryDreamX · 23/12/2019 20:59

You can't tell her what to do with her own money. She's an adult, let her get on with it.

StrawberryDreamX · 23/12/2019 20:59

You can't tell her what to do with her own money. She's an adult, let her get on with it.

fromnowhere · 24/12/2019 08:36

I agree that your current approach isn't working, but unlike pp, I don't think you should give up and let her get on with it. I think you can see where this ends up, with your sister living at home years from now, chronically depressed, permanently unemployed, no life and no prospects. The longer it goes on the more likely this will be her future and she won't find the mojo to leave.
No advice sorry, but didn't want to read and run, it must be hard to see your sister in this situation and feel powerless to help.

fromnowhere · 24/12/2019 08:37

Sorry that message was a bit bleak!

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 24/12/2019 08:38

It sounds like you're contributing to her low mental health if she's had to ask you to stop going on at her.

IceCreamFace · 24/12/2019 08:41

She has mh problems and sounds depressed. She obviously knows that saving all her money will help her move out more quickly she doesn't need you to tell her. I think you need to just support her not lecture her.

Jeansforme · 24/12/2019 08:42

Like a lot of millenials, she’s probably expecting a house to be handed to her without having to put any effort in whatsoever. No doubt she’ll be moaning about boomers having had it easy soon as well

WaterSheep · 24/12/2019 08:42

I agree with the other posters who say £350 is nothing when considering the costs of moving out.

I'm sure moving out will make her happy. However, it's going to take years, possibly even decades to be achievable given her current circumstances. Where as the games console is attainable now, and will provide years of enjoyment.

As frustrating as the situation is I think you need to apologize to your sister.

WeGoHigh · 24/12/2019 08:50

I agree that the games console is much more attainable for her now than moving out is. She’s clearly in a horrible situation. But I think I would stop answering the tearful calls, as harsh as that sounds. She needs to appreciate that if she’s going to rebuff your offers of help, it’s not fair to put so much on you with weekly upset calls. Why did she turn down living with you?

WaterSheep · 24/12/2019 09:21

Jeansforme There's no need for the ageist stereotyping.

Pretendbookworm · 24/12/2019 10:25

@Jeansforme I’m a millennial who worked hard for their house. I also had to pay 5x what the previous occupants paid for it only 20 years before. It’s not ageist to say it’s harder for my generation to get on the housing ladder than it used to be. However it is to say she expects just to get a house like that. Nothing in my post suggests that so you’re just projecting with that massive chip on your shoulder.

OP posts:
Pretendbookworm · 24/12/2019 10:31

@WeGoHigh I think she didn’t want to live with me as I do live a few hours away from our parents. She had previously said most jobs in her graduate sector are located near where I live, so I offered as it made sense for her to be living near where more opportunities were. However she didn’t send off any applications during the graduate season.

OP posts:
Vulpine · 24/12/2019 10:34

I'd step away from the lot of them. Spending 350 on a console when you haven't got much money is madness.