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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dd1 thinks I’m being ‘tight’ - am I?

467 replies

Strawberrydaiquiris · 18/09/2020 12:27

Just got a bit of background info -

Dd1 is now 25. I had her when I was very young. However both sets of grandparents where brilliant and I trained and worked so she wanted for nothing. Her dad was useless so she got spoiled tbh of myself and her DGP.

She’s actually very driven and likes nice things so she has always worked and moved abroad for her dream job. She lost her job due to COVID and has moved back. She’s actually lived on her own since she was 19

I also was made redundant during lockdown so we are relying on dh wage. It’s a good wage and can cover all bills and two of our dc school fees. We have savings and emergency money. We also live in a nice area.

Dd1 thinks we’re loaded because of this but in reality where not. We’re just coping untill I find work.

She’s got herself a job just to see her through whilst she looks for a position in her line of work. I’ve told her she doesn’t have to pay keep.

And here is my gripe, I don’t know if I’m being petty or not..

She is literally eating everything especially the stuff I get in for the small dc eg, she will eat a whole jar of Nutella in three days. Cakes, biscuits, packs of meat. If I cook a meat based casserole she will Have her portion then continually pick at it till there is hardly any thing left for us. She’s gotten in to the habit of eating half of something before anyone else then waiting to see if anyone else take a slice/piece and if they are too slow - working her way through that.

I’ve tried buying double. It doesn’t work.

She slim but she is at the gym every morning burning it all off.

She’s using my best products that are expensive. I’m going to need to buy more in half the time I normally would.

She said she wanted to do her driving lessons whilst back home and dh said he’d pay for them. Fuck knows what out of as I’m already budgeting for xmas. She said she would have them for her Xmas present but now.

I’ve shown dh how expensive they are and he has said he will pay for the first ten but I know for a fact come xmas she will be expecting presents too. And I will not go in to our savings for presents.

She’s working now and has no outgoings except for phone and gym membership.

I never got £250 for Xmas when I was 25. She had £400 for her birthday and tbh I’m sick of shelling that much out for a working adult.

She could tell by my face at breakfast I wasn’t best pleased about the driving lessons and told me to stop being ‘tight’, dh replied ‘we will paying paying for the dc so it’s only fair’... I wanted to say back yes but they will be 17 and not in full time employment but I kept my mouth shut.

If you got this far have a mid day Gin

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Strawberrydaiquiris · 18/09/2020 21:13

@OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer

Low carb is expensive to eat if it means loads of meat. Is she any good with pulses, beans?
No she gets really bad cramps
OP posts:
OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 18/09/2020 21:19

Eggs?

Strawberrydaiquiris · 18/09/2020 21:21

@OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer

Eggs?
She’s actually said she was going to do this today Grin
OP posts:
OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 18/09/2020 21:26

Good. I think it's reasonable to expect that if she wants a low carb diet and isn't paying for it, she needs to look at cheaper ways to do it.

AskingforaBaskin · 18/09/2020 22:52

FFS it's not up to the Op to cater to her 25 YEAR OLD daughters particular diet.

At TWENTY FIVE she can decide what she wants. Go to the shops. Buy it. And eat it.

Irisheyesrsmiling · 19/09/2020 03:09

She either contributes towards the bill for the weekly shop (maybe forty pounds a week?) or you provide dinner and she has to buy her own food for breakfast/lunch/snacks if you'd trust her to do this and not mooch yours! Otherwise she should pay token rent like 200 to 250/month.

As for the lessons - 10 as a Christmas present with a stocking is a very expensive gift and enough. She's 25 not 15!

Stick to your beliefs or this will never end. There will be no incentive to move out, pay her way etc.

Bluntness100 · 19/09/2020 06:28

@Irisheyesrsmiling

She either contributes towards the bill for the weekly shop (maybe forty pounds a week?) or you provide dinner and she has to buy her own food for breakfast/lunch/snacks if you'd trust her to do this and not mooch yours! Otherwise she should pay token rent like 200 to 250/month.

As for the lessons - 10 as a Christmas present with a stocking is a very expensive gift and enough. She's 25 not 15!

Stick to your beliefs or this will never end. There will be no incentive to move out, pay her way etc.

You do get the op told her not to pay board and you do get the husband offered the driving lessons?

Because your post indicates you don’t get that at all

TheGinGenie · 19/09/2020 06:40

Speak to her about the eating. I binge eat when I am stressed or depressed even if I don't want the food. There might be a deeper issue

I would pay for driving lessons but if money is tight explain that she might have to wait until you have a new job or have some now and some later or something

JudyGemstone · 19/09/2020 12:17

God some of the whining about fairness on here. Whoever said life was supposed to be fair?!

My younger siblings went to private school and I didn't, my dad got a promotion so could afford it. Big whoop. I don't feel remotely hard done by, why would I? Things change, circumstances change.

OP I do think you've played yourself here by not asking for any keep. A nominal amount would have set a good precedent, it's more about the intention than the money. She can still save for a deposit while contributing to what she uses.

Seasuns · 19/09/2020 12:35

FFS it's not up to the Op to cater to her 25 YEAR OLD daughters particular diet.

At TWENTY FIVE she can decide what she wants. Go to the shops. Buy it. And eat it.

Does that only apply to adult children that live with you, or would you also say the same if they came to stay for a week visit or something?

Seasuns · 19/09/2020 12:43

Or do you somehow place monetary resource as the most important resource. Above time, love, experience etc. Just money. Just do EXACTLY THE SAME when it comes to money. If one dc had special needs, you would clearly have to spend EXACTLY THE SAME on all the non SN dc so as not to create resentment in your weird world. GAWD this was a stupid comment.

Well, I have a savings account for my DD. I wouldn't have another child because I can't afford to start another one for the 2nd child and top it up so that it matches DDs.

If in 20 years time I have another child, and I can save more for them than I did with DD, I would give my adult DD the money she didn't get.

I want all my children to get the same monetary resources from me, so if I save 10k for DD1, then my second child has to have 10k too (unless it course there is something extra like special needs that need to be accounted for). If DD has 5k, then 20 years later I have 10k in an account for 2nd child, adult DD would be getting 5k worth of something from me...

year5teacher · 19/09/2020 12:50

YANBU she is 25! I paid rent at 18 after I left school and went to college whilst working, and then I also paid rent in the uni holidays. Not much, but enough to cover my food and utility use!!! My parents have lent me money when I’ve needed their help, but I pay it back immediately. They wouldn’t be happy to do this if I just expected stuff to be provided for me. She’s 25 I can’t believe this, that’s my age! Shock she needs a serious wake up call.

MomToTwoBabas · 19/09/2020 12:57

Sounds like she's regressing. YANBU ask her for keep to cover her food costs and let her pay for her own lessons shes a full grown adult woman.

FelicisNox · 19/09/2020 17:47

YANBU for being pissed off but YABU for not treating her as the adult she is.

Sit her down, explain your back story including that she has been spoilt to overcompensate for her useless DF and remind her that currently you are surviving on 1 wage then tell her you really couldn't give a fig for her opinion on how you spend YOUR hard earned savings and if she doesn't stop with her entitled attitude and eating you out of house and home you will start charging her board.

Then have a serious chat about her eating habits because at this point it's just pure greed (and selfishness) on her part.

I suspect she has been spending her income on good times prior to covid rather than savings and feeding herself properly and she is now going all out at your expense.

As for taking your stuff: that stops now. It's absolutely not on. She has an income and if she wants nice things she needs to pay for it.

TBH I shouldn't even be having to tell you this, it's basic common sense.

RandomMess · 19/09/2020 18:08

May sound ridiculous but what about a snack box each - one for you & DH, one for each of the DC? Her share goes in her box and beyond that she needs to eat proper food...

Is she actually saving to live out though?

Zyzxyz · 19/09/2020 18:11

Guilt can always be a factor in parenting. Give her a set amount of money for her luxury food items. Keep the little one's Nutella in a safe place and write their name on the top.. Let her know that everyone is struggling and whatever she can do to help with food would be appreciated. Once you've established a certain indulgent pattern, kids get used to it so its your fault too. Establish some new boundaries. If that doesn't work give her 3 months advanced rent and ask her to move out.

Zyzxyz · 19/09/2020 18:30

Also, she's probably voraciously eating out of frustration. When we were young we didn't have to contend with these issues. Having one's life change overnight is traumatic. You can be firm but find a mutually beneficial solution for both of you. I'm certain my daughter would commit suicide before ever having to move back with God forbid, her mother.

LoverOfAllThingsPurple · 19/09/2020 18:31

I think she’s being a CF. Tell her to stop being greedy and if need be... HIDE the things she keeps picking at or helping herself to.
I agree with the other comments, tell her to contribute to the food she is eating all of.
Also, if she says you’re tight again, then show her what right actually means and don’t give her squat or allowances.

Geppili · 19/09/2020 19:13

Have you ever sat down and talked about all this with her?

SpilltheTea · 19/09/2020 19:38

If you're not going to tell her to pay her way, I don't understand why you're complaining. Most 25 year olds buy their own food.

VinylDetective · 19/09/2020 19:55

I’m not going to charge her keep

Then, quite frankly, you’re an idiot and you’re going to be subsidising her for the rest of your life.

Shizzlestix · 19/09/2020 19:57

Seeing her eating Nutella out of the jar with a spoon would make me hurl. That’s a horrible habit and would make me want to bin the jar. Yuk. Extremely inconsiderate given there are 4 others who might want some without her saliva in it.

I think it’s silly not to charge her even a nominal rent. She’s 25, not 18 straight out of school, She should be buying her own food given her dietary requirements mean she’s eating all the protein available.

Celestine70 · 19/09/2020 20:04

Ask for keep. Plate food up so it's already portioned. Leftovers she can then eat. Buy treat baskets for everyone that are name labelled, if it's not in her basket she can't eat it. If she wants more she can buy it herself.

Shell4429 · 19/09/2020 20:52

She should be paying for her own food AND paying rent to you! My adult kids paid me £100 a week and bought their own food. I don’t understand why you’re being so soft. Running a home is expensive and she should know that. Your financial situation is irrelevant really, she should be paying her way. The driving lessons are a separate issue and I can’t see anything wrong with paying for them especially if you’re going to with your other children.

Bluntness100 · 19/09/2020 21:39

@Shell4429

She should be paying for her own food AND paying rent to you! My adult kids paid me £100 a week and bought their own food. I don’t understand why you’re being so soft. Running a home is expensive and she should know that. Your financial situation is irrelevant really, she should be paying her way. The driving lessons are a separate issue and I can’t see anything wrong with paying for them especially if you’re going to with your other children.
Wow, a hundred a week and food. You’re proper cashing in aren’t you

Ching ching.