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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Daughter only in contact when needs something (usually money)

79 replies

Stratophoric · 03/01/2024 14:43

We have been there for my 23 year old daughter through thick and thin. She lives alone in a lovely house but can’t afford the rent and has had six lodgers, all of who she has fallen out with and got rid of, leaving her short of money meaning me and her dad have to step in. There's always a drama of some sort out which is presented for me to sort out.

We’ve supported her through her career change training in the last couple of years which to be fair she has done well in, though it’s not well paid and her expenses are high. We haven’t minded but have helped with sourcing and buying a car, fuel; repairs, insurance etc, a new phone when the old one broke, bills etc.

There’s always a crisis but then we see her updates on Insta with parties, cocktails, nights out etc but if we point this out she claims never to have to pay for herself which surely can’t be true.

She will party hard for days, arriving home at 8am, then later that day appear at our house hungry and claiming to be depressed. When we point out that the depression was highly like due to her lifestyle, she claims she has to have that lifestyle because she is depressed. Are we being taken for a ride here?

She never pops round to see how me and her father and younger sister are, or spends time with us other than with an ulterior motive. She promises to come over then doesn’t turn up and we call her only to find out she’s out for lunch in town with friends. It’s absolutely so rude and disrespectful.

We won’t hear from her for days, all messages ignored, calls go unreturned etc and I start to really worry, only to suddenly get a message asking for money.

Have calculated she’s had over £16k in family in the form of loans (never paid back), gifts, fuel, bills paid etc in the last year alone, on top of her earnings.

She can be considerate, charming and so sweet sometimes but this is getting less and less. It doesn't help that she's so beautiful that people are charmed by her looks.

She could downsize to a more affordable shared house but doesn’t want to do this. Also doesn’t want to rent out spare room because she doesn’t want to live with strangers.

I do love her dearly but this is now affecting me negatively and causing arguments between me and my husband.

Am I being unreasonable to completely stop all help, despite her protestations that she is ‘depressed and suicidal’. I’m tired of being used and treated like this.

OP posts:
Scarletttulips · 03/01/2024 23:47

Wow.

I have a 22 year old DD and I have just lent her £20 for food.

She was apologetic and will give it back next week when she’s paid.

She didn’t like asking.

I can afford to give her more but she wouldn’t accept it.

She’s financially responsible and has taken 3 sick days and won’t get paid

Can you see the difference?

redalex261 · 04/01/2024 00:04

Need to stop this dead. Party lifestyle, regular 8am returns after night out is only managed by coke. Depression is nothing more than a comedown, probably Tuesday and Wednesday each week? Behaves like an unpredictable, offended drama queen? Think about it, there is no other credible explanation.

She can only continue to sponge off you if you let her. You will be doing her a favour long term if you make her deal with her own crap decisions. Keep bailing her out and she will likely end up in a bigger hole. Nothing to stop you being supportive in every way except financially. If she had chosen to live somewhere outwith her means then she has to move.

fixies · 04/01/2024 01:21

I have a bit more sympathy for her though. I partied a lot when I was young due to depression. It looked fun. It wasn't. Also she's not coping with her finances. I think you need to bottom out why.

She could be 'at it' or she could genuinely be struggling. 23 is quite young. Some 23 year olds are simply not mature enough to run a flat and a car by themselves. She's also retrained career wisr. That's a lot. I lived alone at that age and I hated it. I was isolated and depressed. I wasn't mature enough and had many crisis'.

I'd throw it back to her and say you are concerned about her mental health and don't think she should be living alone. MmSay you aren't willing to subsidise it and that you are concerned about her partying. I'd suggest you tell her your willing to support her to get well mentally but that she should move home. If she's at it she'll pull the finger out. Or she might want another type of help. Sometimes asking for money is a cover for deeper issues. X

Newestname002 · 04/01/2024 01:23

@Stratophoric

Yes deleting her bank details from your accounts (including your husband's) is a first step but I agree with @BreadInCaptivity's post that you need to take this further.

If your husband is even softer than you, you will need to encourage and support him and act as a team to cut off your daughter's financial supply from you both and you both need to be one team against her blandishments and, when it comes to it, her tears and her anger. If you don't, nothing will change for the better. It will be hard but this is what she needs to help her start functioning properly as a responsible adult. 🌹

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