Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What should I do about this money?

112 replies

cararri · 05/08/2021 12:59

I'll try and be brief, I'll have to fudge a couple of details too so forgive me if I get my wires crossed doing that.

I have had a very troubled relationship with both my parents. They have a troubled relationship with each other. They have no friends and have fallen out with every other relative. They both have narcissistic traits and my Dm is very codependent. I am late 30s, only child.

The emotional and psychological abuse, plus the sabotage and lying from my Ps have been truly awful. The levels of control they achieved over me were unbelievable. I look back now and I can't understand how I got so worn down as to accept it all. Financial control has been a huge thing.

The thing is, a few years ago, my DF really calmed down. He was still not great and his attitude towards me was still one of disinterest and demands but it was as good as it was ever going to be. Sadly at this point my DM escalated her behavior enormously. She became very manipulative, verbally abusive and cruel to me.

Very sadly she also confirmed a few enormous lies that have had huge consequences for me. These were not small lies either, they were prolonged campaigns of pretending to be interested and involved in good things I was trying to do and making sure they didn't happen. Very deliberate. A couple of these things were related to finances and education.

Anyway. My DPs are well off. Not like the Windsors or anything but comfortably off. They set up a few savings accounts for me and gifted me the money. We are talking in the 10s of 1000s. I was not allowed to touch these. Fair enough.

I do realise that this was very generous of them and that there are people out there who would love to be able to do this or receive this kind of help and can't. I also know that my Ps came from very poor backgrounds and to them this is like… why would I not just accept whatever their demands are in return for such a huge advantage.

At the start of 2019 I went through a few problems and was struggling. I did not tell my Ps this, I tell them as little as possible. They found out through opening post that I was in my overdraft and offered me some money. Let's say 1K. I stupidly accepted. I didn't live with them at the time but my Dm insisted my bank statements got sent to their house. I did say not to open them but she would say she did it by mistake..pause…and then say I would never know if it was a mistake or on purpose anyway.

After this my DM said she wanted to have access to all my bank statements and that in return for her putting money in my account which she would regularly do she would go through all the spending with me and discuss it and tell me what I was allowed to use the money for. I thanked her and said that was very generous but I felt it was not a good idea. So I basically said no thanks to a gift of money every month. This went down like a sack of the proverbial.

She also said that because I would inherit money and a house she wanted me to do nothing with my life except what she said. This would have meant becoming single, moving back in and asking permission to go anywhere or see anyone. I was very much Shock her response was "you'll have it all when I'm dead, can you not wait until then, you just want me dead now so you can have more money!" I left, very, very upset.

I have trouble clearly remembering this as it was so confusing but she was also insisting I stop working. She was saying I could go on benefits and give the money to her and she would pay for whatever I wanted that she approved of. Seriously though, I can't even really remember that part. When people behave this way it makes you feel crazy yourself and you shut down.

In 2019 I became very ill. I used one savings account to enable me to survive really. Me and my Ps were NC at the time. There is another account I have not touched.

I felt awful using the money, like I was stealing. However, I was very ill and the money was in an account in my name and I thought well, would my Ps really want me to languish and suffer when there is an account there with funds in it? It all feels very odd.

There are 3 other accounts with significant funds in them. These are online accounts and the login details and the old phone I used to verify etc are at my parents house.

As I am aware this is getting long let me just say there is NO WAY I can just go round and talk to them. It just does not work like that. My DM has all these rituals she needs me to do before she even let's me cross the threshold. She is incredibly mean and abusive from the first second of opening the door. She will literally corner me and then square off to me (she is tiny, I am not) kind of making it feel like I would have to physically mover her to get away. She lies in the extreme. She tells my DF one thing and me another. My DF is a self pitying bully who has no patience for anyone or anything and goes into meltdowns. She says disgusting things about people's appearance and I am not looking my best after being ill for so long. I don't really feel up to someone I actually care about taking the piss out of my thin hair, weight gain or things like that. She did that to a horrible extreme before I was ill, when I was quite well actually.

The thing is, they really need to take this money back, don't they?

There is no reason they can't login to these accounts themselves and technically they could take the money out again. That's fine with me, it's theirs. I suppose that's not technically legal though?

Also, say I did login..how do I send that much money back to them? I am guessing there is a limit on how much money I can gift to them in one year etc? This was all set up over the years with the cash as gifts to me basically.

I have come to understand that my DM will manipulate any chance she gets. She sees money as the golden chalice of manipulation. I can't see how this will ever be resolved because she won't ever want to drop that advantage. As I already said, she'll spin it one way to my DF and then spin it to me a different way. When she gets us together she gets very aggressive because she doesn't want to get caught out lying, which happens.

I can't really carry on having accounts in my name that I can't access, don't know what is in them and try and make my own financial plans on that basis. I can't resolve this is person.

The three accounts have approximately 3 Xs the amount in the account I have access to. I don't want to return the one I have access to. I don't know if that's a reasonable position to take or not.

I literally don't know what to do.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 05/08/2021 14:51

I wouldn't feel a moment's hesitation nor one iota of guilt about keeping that money. I'd contact the banks, get access, and get it transferred to a different account, preferably at a completely different bank. But are you sure the money is even still there? If you have no access it's possible they could have drained those accounts (illegally) out of anger at you for not being 'an obedient child'.

I'd consider it repayment for the abuse I suffered and I'd use it to further my mental health in any way I needed to, be it therapy, a rainy day fund, or a home far far away.

Don't contact your parents. It's not going to go well for your mental health. Take charge and do what YOU want.

Lovelydovey · 05/08/2021 14:51

Oh and think about setting up a mail redirection for your post (to a PO Box if you are worried about them getting your address). As I understand it a letter will be sent to your previous address confirming the redirection (which will no doubt cause the shit to hit the fan) but means that they cannot keep your post from you. This would include bank account statements (and if needed correspondence with the banks while changing address formally on the accounts).

LakieLady · 05/08/2021 14:51

Get control of those accounts, and go NC or VLC with them. Grey rock any attempts to discuss the money, inheritance or anything else. Your mother has behaved appallingly and abusively. I don't think I've ever heard of a worse example of manipulative behaviour.

That money wasn't a gift, it was a weapon. And, not for the first time, I'm reminded that "gift" in German means poison. Your mother and her "gifts" are utterly toxic.

fantastaballs · 05/08/2021 14:53

You are making this SO MUCH HARDER than it needs to be.

Call the bank and tell them you have moved house and give them YOUR address. Tell them you want online banking info resent. Then the statement's don't go to your parents any more 🤷🏼‍♀️. Keep the money. It's yours. It was given to you .

Stay away from the parents.

wonkylegs · 05/08/2021 14:55

If the bank accounts are in your name and they have gifted you the money - it's now your money
I know you have a complicated relationship but that's what it boils down to.
They can tell you there are strings attached but once they transferred it to you, as an adult it's yours full stop.
Contact the banks - change your address and contact details. You can go into a branch with ID to do this.
You can then decide if you give it back to them, leave it alone or use it.
If it sits in an account in your name it could have implications to your credit rating, taxes and if you ever need to claim benefits so you can't just ignore it really.

toocold54 · 05/08/2021 14:56

Honestly just stop speaking to them completely.
Change your number, move if possible but literally cut contact with them.
You say they are well off so there’s no need to pay the money back. It sounds like you’ve earns it anyway.

Anordinarymum · 05/08/2021 14:56

Have they gifted the money to you for tax purposes OP? Is this why they have this hold over you - that the money is not really yours to spend but theirs to hide from HMRC?

toocold54 · 05/08/2021 14:56

You are making this SO MUCH HARDER than it needs to be.

Call the bank and tell them you have moved house and give them YOUR address. Tell them you want online banking info resent. Then the statement's don't go to your parents any more 🤷🏼‍♀️. Keep the money. It's yours. It was given to you

Stay away from the parents.

I agree.

Twoforthree · 05/08/2021 15:03

I don’t think I’ve ever read about such a toxic relationship with parents - even on mumsnet.
It’s so dysfunctional, it made very hard reading. Please get more counselling then sort out the financials once and for all. Get everything to your address/email account then, either accept it’s yours or return it all in one go, via a bank cheque or bank transfer if you’ve got their details. You can’t keep being in limbo.

I think you should keep it all, then completely cut ties with them, but you can thrash that out with a counsellor. Remember that the counsellor you’ve got may not be the perfect one and you can change if you feel you might get better insight from someone else. I’m concerned that you aren’t even aware of how dysfunctional things are.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 05/08/2021 15:09

One more thing about getting away from them & healing yourself...

I didn't go NC at once. I avoided them as much as possible before the split actually happened, but I got guilted into seeing them now & then. I found that each time I saw my parents, their abnormality was more & more obvious, & I was less & less willing to put up with it, even face to face. It's a good sign of healing & getting used to the normal outside world!

Now sometimes I look back & shake my head at it all. How anybody can live that way is beyond me. And they did it their whole lives. Not my problem - except for the misfortune of growing up in that mess.

whatcangowrong · 05/08/2021 15:09

Transfer all the money to an account in your name that they do not have the details of. Maybe they’ll be less wacko when they don’t have the ability to hold that over you.

RadandMad · 05/08/2021 15:12

Child of deeply narcissistic parents here. Sending you massive hugs because I know what a horrible mess this makes of your psyche, and how hard it is to unravel it and find a solid sense of self.

I echo what others have said about going no contact, or very limited contact, until you're in a better place mentally. I think I would keep the money, though I completely understand why you might not want to - it does feel like bloody money. But if I were you I would spend it on finding a really good therapist and getting the help you need.

The most significant thing you need to work on is completely giving up the hope that they will change and become the parents you want/need this to be. This is very hard, and can take a very long time, but I promise you it's possible, and it's the only way you will ever be truly free. I can also promise you they will never change - narcissists see no reason to, as nothing is ever their fault. They project all their worst qualities on others, especially you. They almost never commit to therapy, because in their eyes they're already perfect.

Be as gentle and kind on yourself as you possibly can be. Do your best not to internalise the messages they've given you about your worth as a person. Read up on everything you can about parental narcissism and its impact - knowledge is power. Wishing you all the best. x

Hankunamatata · 05/08/2021 15:15

Go into the bank with photo ID and proof of address. Get the accounts accessed and sorted. Transfer all money into one account and invest it.

kerryleigh · 05/08/2021 15:22

No, they don't need to take the money back, it's not their money anymore it's yours. Take control of the accounts, keep the money and enjoy your life. You deserve it. I've never heard anything like you story! Wow! Wouldn't have thought that something like this might happen in real life.

cararri · 05/08/2021 15:25

@memberofthewedding

You sound very capable! I wish I had pushed back a lot sooner. Sometimes though I think about how many people are still in situations like the ones we experienced and they're not in therapy or on MN, they're still there.

I really relate to what you said about having to scheme to do normal things. Of course in retaliation my dm would rage about how deceitful I was. Nothing deceitful about banking your own wage! Don't get me started on having a boyfriend.

OP posts:
DishingOutDone · 05/08/2021 15:37

Please dont hand over even more sticks for your parents to beat you with. If you feel its too difficult to act now, get counselling first. It might help to find out why you still crave interaction with your abusers.

TalkingOutYerArse · 05/08/2021 15:37

Link the accounts, empty them and set yourself a new one up asap. Also, stop all paper statements today. Then stay NC.

cararri · 05/08/2021 15:44

Thank you to everyone who has replied. I'm sorry if my posts are frustrating to read, the reason I posted on AIBU is that there are so many no nonsense people who are not easily confused and that viewpoint is what I am trying to get to myself.

I have to go do a few things now but I'll come back and respond later, specifically about the narcissistic aspect.

OP posts:
LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee · 05/08/2021 15:46

OP, think about this, you could open the new accounts and empty the old ones all before the weekend.
Just do it, don’t tell your parents anything and you will feel liberated by the weekend!

HyacynthBucket · 05/08/2021 15:48

OP It sounds as though you are conflating the money with the relationship. Do you feel that taking ownership of the money ( which is yours and in your name), would somehow end the relationship with your parents? Which you seem reluctant to do. If you can separate these two issues in your mind, addressing the relationship issues first, why do you want to continue with such narcisstic and destructive people in your life, even if they are your parents? They will not change, if that is what is making you cling on in hope that they will. It is very tough without wider family (I know!) but you would be immeasurably better off without these two in your life. Best to sever it now when they are relatively young, otherwise the rest of your life will be looking after and indulging them, however vile they are. And you deserve so much better, not least your own life not dictated to by them.
With the money, open another account, go online with it, and as others have said, all your accounts can be linked online. Just keep the password and details strictly to yourself. Give the bank your address (not your parents' address) and make sure they have logged that statements must come to you or be online only, No need for your parents' involvement with any of it. They gave you the money. It is yours, not theirs, and they are only trying to control you with it. Don't let them. Be independent from them, emotionally and practically. Good luck OP. Thinking of you. Star

Hekatestorch · 05/08/2021 15:54

If its gifted to you and in your name, it's legally and morally your money.

Theres so many ways you can access this money and it has nothing to do with your parents. You don't owe them anything.

Get access to the accounts and do what you can to accept you can't have a relationship.

WiddlinDiddlin · 05/08/2021 15:59

Surely if you do NOT get control of those accounts and the money in them..

You are at risk of being unable to get benefits should you need them, because you'll be over the savings limit - they will not care that you have no access to it..

I'm also pretty sure that pretending your money is someone elses, and moving money around using someone elses name is likely to be tax fraud or money laundering or similar... and though its them doing that, not you... again its YOUR name involved...

So resolve that issue first. Do what you want with the money, legally its yours and id say since it was given to you either to avoid tax or to guilt and control you, morally it's also yours.

But whatever you do. Take back control of you, your name, your stuff...

MyShoelaceIsUndone · 05/08/2021 16:12

You’re an adult, of you have debt it’s your problem not your parents, you need to break the cycle of their inappropriate controlling behaviour

dreamkitchenhelp · 05/08/2021 16:14

Stop apologising to us all and get a grip of your life. Take control
Your money FULL STOP.
Take the money change the accounts. Go NC
Go and do something amazing with the money.

Confusedandshaken · 05/08/2021 16:16

You might not view it as your money but if it's in a bank account in your sole name it's legally yours.

Swipe left for the next trending thread