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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel angry, bitter and resentful

566 replies

StillAtDusk · 15/02/2024 19:08

I admit I'm feeling really sorry for myself.
But I can't help it.
DH and I are really struggling financially. We live in a tiny semi-detached house with our 2 DC. Our house has no hallway, front door goes straight into lounge, kitchen 7ft x 10ft, 3rd bedroom (DD room) 6 ft x 9ft. Bought an old 2nd hand car last year after my other 2nd hand car died. Now this one has failed it's MOT miserably and we haven't got the money to pay for the amount of work it needs. Probably can't afford to go on holiday this year. Our kitchen unit doors are broken, our oven is broken, our bath is broken with a hole in it, we need new radiators, we need new carpets because they're all old and threadbare, but we can't afford to replace any of these things and our house is an embarrassing state. We both work, DH 50 hours a week, me 30hrs a week, we are both in professional occupations that we spent years training for after both going to Uni.
Every week I worry about money. And our fixed term mortgage expires later this year and I actually feel physically sick at the thought of how much it's going to go up by as we have no money left at the end of each month as it is, and our mortgage term is up to the age of 70 so we won't be able to extend it as a way of keeping repayments manageable.
I'm angry and bitter and resentful because our life didn't need to be like this.
When I was a teenager, my grandmother repeatedly stated to me, to my DF and DM, and to her sisters, that when she died, I was to be given a quarter of the sale of her house. I so clearly remember her telling me I would inherit a quarter, and I remember family meetings round the table with her stipulating this to my DF (her son) and telling him he must ensure I received a quarter of the sale upon her death. My grandmother adored me all my life. But she never left a will. And after she died, her house was sold and my DF ploughed all of the inheritance into buying a new kitchen, new bathroom and a loft conversion in his girlfriend's house and spent the rest on holidays with her. They're not married and her house is in her name as she bought it before they met. So DF effectively ploughed hundreds of thousands of pounds into her house, he lives there with her, has done for 30 years, but he'll never have any financial claim on it and I never, ever saw a penny of the quarter my grandmother asked him to give me.
I'm angry with my beloved grandmother for trusting that her wishes would be carried out and not leaving an actual will.
I'm beyond angry with my DF and I no longer speak to him as a result. And as a result of me not speaking to him, my DC have never even met him, which I'm also angry and bitter about.
When I was 6, after my parents divorced because my DF had a affair, my DM got engaged and we moved to a new home with my stepfather. They had a baby. Within a year, my stepfather was dead. My DM was unable to financially maintain the mortgage, so we lost our new home and went into rented accommodation. My DM has remained single and in a rented home ever since, as she's never been able to afford to buy a home by herself.
My DH's mother died and DH's father inherited the house. His DM owned her house outright in her own name before she met and married DH's father. Within months of her death, DH's father sold the house, their beautiful family home, banked the money (no mortgage so got all of the sale) moved in with a new woman into her home, married her, then a year later he died and his new wife inherited all of his money from the sale of the family home. The naivity in me thought, surely she'll give DH some money, in recognition of the fact this money she's inherited has come from the sale of his family home which his mother owned outright. But no. She used the whole lot to buy a lovely new home for her and her children. DH never saw a penny of any inheritance. If he had, we wouldn't be living in the tremendously hard up circumstances we are now.
So DH and I are where we are. Struggling to death financially and finding life really hard.
And I'm so angry, it's eating me up.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
ruhroh · 16/02/2024 10:56

@WillYouPutYourCoatOn yes though I actually didn't mean "nice brand new coat", I meant "nice brand coat" as in coat from a nice brand! After all, you can get a totally brand new coat at Primark for literally £10-30, but perhaps OP is looking at John Lewis or something.

Which is totally fair, as quality matters, but obviously misleading in this context for someone who goes on yearly holidays and has outgoings of at the very least £4/5k per month.

Cazziebo · 16/02/2024 10:57

I admit I'm feeling really sorry for myself.
But I can't help it.

Yes, you can. Take responsibility for your own life. No one owes you a living. Good suggestion to head to moneysavingexpert . You need help to manage your money. Not paying into an NHS pension is ridiculous. Sooner you start taking control of your own finances, the sooner you will get out of this hole.

chaos76 · 16/02/2024 10:57

Do your children have a statement of educational needs it might be called someting different in England ? if not push for one it opens up many other doors and support

also look on these links to make sure you are getting everything you are entitled to

Sending hugs from one sen mum to another, it took me along time to actually acceptd that even though we both work full time that there was help as things do become more costly with children with additional needs no shame in it so please get support from where ever you can and hold your head high. Reach out to groups that specilise in your DC disabilities you will see we are all in the same storms just different boats

https://www.familyfund.org.uk/

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/consumer-rights-and-moneysaving-for-disabled-people/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/child-disability-payment-s/child-disability-payment-s/other-benefits-and-help-if-you-get-child-disability-payment-s/

Family Fund

Family Fund deliver grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young people on a low income across the UK

https://www.familyfund.org.uk

TheMoment · 16/02/2024 10:58

StillAtDusk · 15/02/2024 22:16

I have never looked in to DLA.
I assume we are not entitled to any assistance because we both work.

Please apply for DLA OP. It is granted regardless of household income - you can earn a 1 million a year and still apply and receive DLA. You also do not need an official diagnosis for DLA either.

Please make it a priority to apply - you will receive it based on what you have said.

Concentrate on applying for DLA - put your energy into that.

ps: I totally understand why you feel bitter and resentful - most people would and that’s fine but as others have said feel anger and move on. It will do you no good to constantly dwell. It’s done.

good luck and I hope you get the DLA and feel better very soon ☮️

Clarich007 · 16/02/2024 11:01

I really feel for you.
It is a rubbish situation, and I can fully understand you feeling like this.
People on here feign shock that we even mention inheritance, but to me it's the natural order of things to leave your children an inheritance, if it's possible
Your family sound very selfish to me
I hope things improve for you 💐

Sususudio · 16/02/2024 11:05

I am a first generation immigrant. I have never received any financial help from my family and I never will. Worked all hours to make it in the UK, no assistance from the state.

I feel your distress at the CoL and sympathise with having SEN DC, but relying on unreliable inheritance is always a bad idea, I think. You need to explore the other options suggested and move past your anger.

herewegoroundthebastardbush · 16/02/2024 11:06

32degrees · 16/02/2024 09:16

I find it strange when people on here sneeringly tell NHS staff that if they don't like it they should go private, emigrate, or retrain to something that pays better.

As though the next time they have to take their child to the ER, they'd be happy to find all the most capable people had left for greener pastures and it's now staffed entirely by duds who couldn't get employment anywhere else.

It's not sneering! It's addressing the OP's problem. I appreciate the nobility of staff continuing to try and keep the NHS afloat, but as long as the Tories are in it's a doomed sinking ship. Yes I would be unhappy if I got crap or no care for me and my kids; but I don't expect others to live a miserable life for our benefit. Who would?

PrinceYakimov · 16/02/2024 11:06

I am guessing you are working in AHP professions that need specialised training but don't have the same pay progression as nursing or medicine.

In the nicest possible way, it sounds like you are so overwhelmed at the moment that you are not looking at all the options rationally. It should be possible for two people with professional quals and jobs to be able to live on a modest professional income without ending up in a hand to mouth situation. The fact you haven't looked into DLA suggests to me that if you take outside advice, there will be options you haven't thought of. Go to Citizens Advice and make sure you understand what support you are eligible for.

Take a good hard look at your professional options. Does one of you have the potential to progress to another payband? if so throw everything behind supporting that person to get onto a higher salary, including moving if you have to. Could either of you work in private practice? the salary will be higher.

It's not clear if you are in debt but if you are go to one of the debt advisory charities like Stepchange. They've have seen it all before and won't judge you.

32degrees · 16/02/2024 11:07

The coat thing is a bit ridiculous.

You could just mend the poppers on your coat rather than walking around shivering like the little match girl all winter.

DiamondGazette · 16/02/2024 11:08

You should never count on inheriting money to make your life easier, and feeling so angry, bitter and resentful is just wasted emotional energy. There is nothing you can do to change the way things have turned out, I know it's not helpful right now, but you really need to change the way you think, and start seeing the positives in life rather than all the negatives.

Wildehorses · 16/02/2024 11:09

Like others have said, inheritance is a red herring, your life sounds miserable and that needs changing, you sound very stressed and no wonder. Is there any way you could sell the house and move to a cheaper location, if you work for NHS you will have no trouble getting a job anywhere, don’t look back, look forward, your family might enjoy a much better quality of life elsewhere (just to say, neither DH or I inherited a cent as our parents had no money, we have just slogged hard to live an ok life)

HesterRoon · 16/02/2024 11:10

I hear you-I think you’ve been let down by people who didn’t bother to sort things out before they died-as was your husband. I’d be angry about that too. It shows the importance of making sure your wishes are legally watertight as it can leave a lot of resentment behind. And the way people-understandably trust others to do the right thing but fail to foresee the down side of human nature. I’m sorry OP- but you can’t let this affect the rest of your life. Is there anything that can be done to make things easier? Move areas, change careers-anything? And discuss with your dh how to ensure this doesn’t happen to your own children as you e had a bitter lesson.

WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 16/02/2024 11:12

There's so many solutions.

Half term? Parks are free, many museums are free, I take DTwins to a local aquatics place and look at the puffer fish and "nemos"...free.

Oven? Ours is Neff, £1800 new, ours for £450 ex display from FB. You can get a refurbished one for £200.

Broken car? No cash? Sell something. I stick all the kids old clothes on eBay and because I've bought most of them in charity shops I often make a profit!

No coat? Fucking hell, how many excuses do you have to try and wrangle out of the woodwork to pretend you had no option than to shiver in a broken coat for 3 months. Fix it. Charity shop. Vinted. FB.

OP doesn't want a solution, they aren't for people like her. The issue is, OP won't accept that she is exactly the person who needs these solutions, she is not the person she financially wishes she was.

My DH is at work, then possibly looking at a new car. Second hand absolutely. Can we buy a new one? Yes. Are we smart enough not to because of the house we're looking at buying? Also yes.

Is my DH on the much trotted out MN 6 figs? Yes. Am I going to the charity shop after the supermarket today because boy twin has torn the backside out of two joggers this week? Also yes. Is my savvy use of charity shops saving us thousands? Yes.

Have we had a holiday in the last 5yrs, outside the UK? No. Can we afford it and the lovely house we've been saving up for? No. Do we shout because we should be entitled to one on DH's salary? No. You can't have everything.

It's all so bizarre, this unaccountability for income and expenditure, but the simultaneous outrage at not being able to afford a coat, and making it all a (decade ago? more?) lost inheritance's fault.

Thindog · 16/02/2024 11:14

If you want to be happy you must choose to count your blessings rather than ruminate on past perceived wrongs.
You have a lot more than many people. Stop being so entitled and enjoy your children and partner whilst you can.

MattDamon · 16/02/2024 11:20

Difficult to offer advice without knowing more about your finances. Have you heard of the gov't backed mortgage charter? You can currently switch your mortgage to interest only for 6 months without any penalty (most major banks are offering, not just barclays): https://www.barclays.co.uk/mortgages/mortgage-charter/

It might help you get back on track financially.

Mortgage Charter information | Barclays

The new Mortgage Charter offers support for UK mortgage holders to reduce their monthly payments. See what this means for you and how we could help.

https://www.barclays.co.uk/mortgages/mortgage-charter

OolongTeaDrinker · 16/02/2024 11:21

OP your responses to posters is very hostile, even those asking for more details to try and help.

You need to take some responsibility for your life’s choices and get over the inheritance thing. Your grandmother did not leave a will for whatever reason which is a real shame but that was her choice. Your choices were to choose a profession that doesn’t pay well, to choose to have two children in cramped living conditions (unless they are twins) and to live in an area that you can’t afford. If you have two wages coming in you must have more options.

I don’t mean to sound unsympathetic but we only get one life and what’s the point wasting it with what ifs?

nighttimeforgenerals88 · 16/02/2024 11:22

What's the point of a 'meaningful' job if it leads you live the life that you do? Can you retrain?

Newchapterbeckons · 16/02/2024 11:28

This boils down to mindset and expectation. Rightly or wrongly. Op has made life plans around money thst was never hers -

She could pick up some daffodils, go to the most up market charity shop in her area and offer something for a coat she likes. A repair instead of a replacement is almost certainly possible of both bath and oven. Baths last forever by default.

Her mindset is one set on misplaced expectations of where she is now in life, lashing out at others rather than being thankful for all of the wonderful things she does have. Her own home, children, a secure job, loved of her husband and I imagine many more things. It’s easy to complain about what’s wrong - and blame others than step in and change things herself. Take a few days off with dh and hire a talented handyman or ask a friend, and see what can be done to improve your life enough to improve your positivity and mindset.

blackcherryconserve · 16/02/2024 11:29

I haven't RTFT but did notice this So for the past 3 months I haven't been able to do my coat up, and I've been really cold at times. You could buy a coat on Vinted for £10.00.

As for not getting the inheritance promised to you by you grandmother, life sometimes is shit. I should have inherited £500,000 after my parents deaths but for various reasons I didn't and it all went to already wealthy cousins of mine. I didn't let it eat me up like you are doing.

Perhaps your focus now needs to be on moving to an area where you can afford to live when your mortgage rate ends and becomes too high for you?

nighttimeforgenerals88 · 16/02/2024 11:31

Do you claim Child Benefit, or have you assumed that doesn't apply to you as you both work as well?

I know I sound harsh, but I get frustrated when people don't take life by the horns and look things up that might improve their own lives.

I haven't RTFT but did notice this So for the past 3 months I haven't been able to do my coat up, and I've been really cold at times. You could buy a coat on Vinted for £10.00.
Exactly, or borrow a friend's old coat until you can fix yours/get a new one. I've got loads of coats I'd happily lend a friend for winter. You're making yourself out to be a martyr.

You have to start working through this anger and bitterness before it sends you to an early grave.

blackcherryconserve · 16/02/2024 11:37

They are both really struggling in mainstream school. Have you heard of children with SEN struggling at mainstream school, or has your head been under a rock?

Wow OP! Rude. If you want people to empathise and offer suggestions then just don't respond like this. None of us know your full circumstances nor should you expect us to.

longtompot · 16/02/2024 11:37

@StillAtDusk I understand why you feel so bitter and angry, but sadly of your grandma was so desperate for you to inherit a certain amount she should have had a will to say this.

Your father should have done the decent thing, but he didn't.

These are things you cannot change and being forever angry your situation is as it is because of them is not going to help.

Now you have had a rant and got things off your chest a bit, I would read back through the posts people have taken the time to write to try and help you, and see if there are things you can do to try and change things.

The kitchen cupboards might be fixed by using these things Kitchen hinge repair plates

The bath you should be able to get for very cheap from Facebook marketplace. You can search within a certain area. Could you get the bath replaced and then you retile the area? If the trades are careful and you are replacing like for like you shouldn't need to do a lot.

Coats can be bought very cheaply from charity shops, facebook marketplace and eBay. Join lots of groups on fb for free stuff and for sale in your area.

With your mortgage can you see a mortgage broker to see if they can find you a manageable rate? We are on fixed five years and only got this in the first place due to the broker.

I hope you manage to find a way through this. Despite how you feel, you are doing better than your parents as you own and don't rent and you have more control about what happens to your home. If you were renting you'd have little control over rent rises and landlords deciding you need to leave.

TakeTheBiscuits · 16/02/2024 11:38

@OP have you considered approaching a charity who could run through your income/outgoings with you? look if there is anything you could cut or get a better deal on etc. Sometimes it takes an outside pair of eyes to see something that is glaringly obvious but we overlook.

You sound very frazzled by your situation.

Equally if your kids have diagnosed SEN needs it is as simple as filling out the DLA forms to receive some additional money for them- I am sure if you posted on the SEN boards on here other posters would be happy to help you. Are you getting child benefit. Even though you are both working you are entitled to that too (unless either you or your DH's income is over 50k)

It might be worth having a look on www.entitledto.co.uk to see if there is anything further you could claim.

Failing that I think I would be looking for a second job as a temporary measure at times when your DH is home and can watch the kids. It might bring in a bit extra so that you could get a few of the jobs sorted around your house. There are also loads of brilliant youtube channels where you can learn DIY skills. My DP and I were hopeless a few months ago but have managed to lay flooring, tile our kitchen and bathroom and landscape our garden. All of which looks pretty good! We have other jobs lined up once we have saved enough money for materials.

Benefits Calculator - entitledto - independent | accurate | reliable | www.entitledto.co.uk

Check what benefit entitlement you are entitled to. The entitledto benefits calculator will check which means-tested benefits you may be entitled to e.g. tax credits, universal credit, housing benefit …

http://www.entitledto.co.uk

Newchapterbeckons · 16/02/2024 11:38

It’s amazing you don’t see how much privilege you already have!

Being very well educated is a privilege
As is a job for life that can be relocated anywhere in the world

The finances to buy a home

Security is a huge privilege op.

ItsallIeverwanted · 16/02/2024 11:39

I see this story very differently than the OP.

Wills are the instructions of the deceased on what to do with the money. Whatever grandma said round the table, she didn't action it in a will. Perhaps she meant to (you can write a will at home and get your neighbours to witness it) or perhaps she changed her mind and let her son take all the money, because he would have been, from the description, late twenties to late thirties at this age.

The dad did what the gran wanted in her will. The executors carried it out correctly. Would it have been nice to share? Yes, but I think leaving your inheritance to your son in his thirties and not to a grand-daughter (and what about other grand-daughters later on?) is a normal thing to do.

The dad, after a short marriage presumably to the OP's mum, has lived over 30 years with this second lady, although not married. He presumably moved into her house and instead of rent, has ploughed money into having a family kitchen, enhancing the house, which he has benefitted from and his family for over 30 years! In other words, he used the inheritance to make his own life ok and also to compensate her for not having a house. Now, if the OP is not in touch, how would they know if they were married, put him on the deeds, have another property somewhere else or anything to secure both their financial futures.

This is not a case of someone being cheated out of something when a parent is on their deathbed, why would a man of 30 odd be securing his daughter's future when he might live to 90! It's not remotely reasonable and I bet hardly anyone on here aged in their thirties is doing that rather than paying their own mortgage, living their own life etc. It's different once you have accrued assets later in life and that's not something we can ever be certain we will get from our parents, due to care costs or just they lived a life which didn't enable that (presumably like the OP's mum).

There are so many weird posts on inheritance recently on here, but there's nothing here which seems to me the father did anything wrong, he had another relationship after a first short marriage and has lived his life with the money his mother left him directly and legally in a will!