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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
Hermittrismegistus · 15/02/2024 23:25

I didn't make it up. I thought working couples weren't entitled to benefits

I'm sorry but how can you and your partner be in professional jobs but not have actually bothered to read or even just absorb from information in the media, that benefits can apply to working people?! Or that DLA isn't only for those in special schools?!

The information is freely and easily available. This thread is strange.

Viviennemary · 15/02/2024 23:25

The point is folk are free to leave their money as they wish. Not surprised you are annoyed at your Dads new wife inheriting. But he could have made a will and made provision for you. You say you are both professionals but are barely surviving. Sorry don't understand this.

Doesthishurt · 15/02/2024 23:26

WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 15/02/2024 23:17

Because it's easier to do that than ever admit her life choices are why she's in this position of unaffordability.

I suspect as PP, over borrowed and stretched beyond means for a middle class lifestyle that wasn't really ever affordable, if anything changed. Now there's col, rates jumping, and those who stretched too much have no wiggle room.

So it's option a) be accountable for my own actions

B) blame it on my dad/my nan/DH's dad/the NHS

Whilst money from her dad might have balanced out the overspending, she wouldn't even need it if she hadn't overspent.

Agree with most of this, except that OP & her DH bought what sounds like a small home, but "wah. wah wah . ." I'm sure some homeless people would swap places to be in their own home, and she's bitter with anyone who challenges her on this thread.

Nicole1111 · 15/02/2024 23:26

Like most people you’ve experienced hardships, unfair treatment etc, and while that must be difficult, at some point you have to decide if you’re going to let that define the person you become and how you spend your energy. The more time and energy you invest in feeling angry the harder it will be to appreciate what you do have.

PaminaMozart · 15/02/2024 23:27

A very sad situation, but I hope you'll be able to get past all this and focus on what you have instead of letting this eat you up inside.

You have a husband and two children. Treasure them.

But if there is a lesson in this - make a will, folks!

Someonescatmum · 15/02/2024 23:28

The chipped laminate on the kitchen cupboards would send me over the edge...

ruhroh · 15/02/2024 23:29

Hermittrismegistus · 15/02/2024 23:25

I didn't make it up. I thought working couples weren't entitled to benefits

I'm sorry but how can you and your partner be in professional jobs but not have actually bothered to read or even just absorb from information in the media, that benefits can apply to working people?! Or that DLA isn't only for those in special schools?!

The information is freely and easily available. This thread is strange.

Benefits aren't really a thing in middle class circles. Again I just think this whole thing is about OP taking out a big mortgage before the COL crisis hit. And the house being quite shabby and small like many other houses.

Blueglazzier · 15/02/2024 23:29

Just wanted to say I feel for you . You have been badly let down by people you trusted and life is hard and a daily struggle when you both work so very hard . Do you know what , I don't blame you for feeling so deeply . I think I would be feeling the same . I feel your anger and I feel for you . I understand you see . I wish you so much luck and happiness for your future and a good loving home life . Best wishes

TwelveKeys · 15/02/2024 23:31

I thought working couples weren't entitled to benefits. Don't tell me I've made that up.

How did you know they weren't entitled? Where has anyone said that? You're wrong.

Surely you should be pleased to know this rather than pretending you didn't just not check it.

sunshinestar1986 · 15/02/2024 23:31

You're right OP its shit and unfair
But nothing you can do about it so move on, don't make yourself ill over this.
There are somethings you can fix
Yes, with both of you working you should have it better but that's not the case.
So, coat? Go to a charity shop and get another, simple. Anything better than a damaged coat right? The other day I saw a good coat, £10 in a charity shop, there were others cheaper but not my taste.
The house. You can go to B&Q and do a little decoration!
Go to food pantries, you can get £25 worth of food for £5 and start saving money you save by doing things like this to do small home decorations
Doesn't have to be perfect
Just small improvements
So when you walk in to a room you don't feel horrible

momonpurpose · 15/02/2024 23:32

telestrations · 15/02/2024 19:19

Sorry this is shit OP.

The inheritance thing is a bit of a red herring, you shouldn't need one to live comfortably with two adults working let alone professional uni educated ones.

But also understand being rather f*** off about it.

I have to agree with this. Sometimes by banking on inheritance you get in a bind waiting on promised money. I had an aunt my whole life who said she was willing all the contents of her house to me. She didn't. My mother was to share with her sister my grandmother's house only she later decided to give it to my aunt instead. Best thing is to not be bitter and instead do for yourself

Rattatoille · 15/02/2024 23:33

Someonescatmum · 15/02/2024 23:28

The chipped laminate on the kitchen cupboards would send me over the edge...

A me tambien !!

TwelveKeys · 15/02/2024 23:34

Anyway, I do feel for you but people are right to say that being bitter about your family's poor or unfair financial decisions will only hurt you rather than help. You've raged about it, we can all see how you could've had a bit of help ... now can you try and put it behind you starting tomorrow?

buidhe · 15/02/2024 23:36

You need to try and get yourself out of this fug OP. Things aren't great, but you likely are entitled to DLA, it’s not means tested and it covers a wide range of disabilities. See if you can get help with completing the application there are some unwritten rules, like you should be describing bad days, not an average day. Think about your situation as a problem you might be able to solve, it’s a wrench, but could you move to a cheaper area?

uncomfortablydumb53 · 15/02/2024 23:36

Don't let bitterness and anger eat you up it's a waste of energy
Use that energy to effect positive changes
I had the same happen to my kitchen cabinets
Peel off the melamine, assuming the carcasses are solid
Buy new hinges and longer countersunk screws and fix
Paint kitchen cabinets
If you want to apply for DLA make an appointment with CAB
Sit down with DH and go through incomings and outgoings to see if there's anything going out which shouldn't be
Renegotiate mobile/ broadband etc
It sounds twee, but focus on what you have and not what you haven't

TwelveKeys · 15/02/2024 23:37

Speaking of benefits, do you claim child benefit OP? Even if you are above the earnings threshold you should still apply for it but not actually claim the money (if you are in the income bracket where you'd have to pay it back) - you can still build up NI contributions with it even if you haven't been working/working FT since having the kids

Tinkerbyebye · 15/02/2024 23:38

Just stop being so angry, it’s a wasted emotion. Put that feeling into sorting out what you can control

you may well be entitled to DLS instead of assuming you are not apply and see
are you entitled to UC if your salaries are low?

get a bath from a reclamation yard, ok yo7 will have to pay for it to be plumbed in you can probably get tiles from eBay or FB marketplace, tile yourself,it’s not difficult

Buy some stuff to laminate the kitchen doors, or take the doors off and put up curtains, look online at what people do

There is lots you can do. Focus on that and stop being angry at the world

AnitaLoos · 15/02/2024 23:39

I live in London, have a severely disabled adult child who lives with us and may never be independent (we are trying). I have recently had cancer, have never inherited anything ( my late dad lived in a council house) and my self-employed earnings are less than a full time minimum wage so I almost certainly earn much less than you. You seem consumed with anger to the extent it is making you unpleasant. You did dream up the idea that children in mainstream school can’t get dla as a quick google would show that’s not true. We replaced our bath with one from eBay that cost £50. It’s great. My coat is also from EBay. It’s nice. Yes, we should all feel less precarious and having disabled children is very hard - I had to give up a pretty enviable career, but I try to count my blessings, cheesy as it may sound. My advice is to apply for DLA & Universal Credit & go to bed, as I do, feeling thankful that you and your children aren’t being bombed in Palestine.

Anele22 · 15/02/2024 23:39

StillAtDusk · 15/02/2024 21:20

The bath had a hole in it when we bought the house but we didn't notice upon viewing as it was concealed when we were viewing the house. We have never been able to afford a new bath. I have had 4 quotes, and each quote is hundreds of pounds, one was £1,000, to remove current bath, buy new bath and have it fitted then replace tiles around bath.
Kitchen cupboards are broken because all the laminate covering on the doors is peeling off, it looks revolting, it's a plastic glossy laminate which is all cracked and peeling off of every door, and on top of this the doors are hanging off the hinges which DH has tried to repair but they keep falling out again.

Edited

This happened to my kitchen cupboard doors. I’m only not replacing them and you can get them very cheap in B&Q. Maybe look around for an odd job person if you can’t do them yourselves.

Anele22 · 15/02/2024 23:41

I found your post absolutely shocking. What utterly shit parents. And whilst I know that not everyone gets an inheritance, to be cheated out of family money like this is awful. I’m so sorry this has happened to you. 💐

ComingHome24 · 15/02/2024 23:41

Two professional wages and you are at the top of the pay spine and completely broke? It doesn’t sound right op. Definitely look into what benefits you might be entitled to.

Someonescatmum · 15/02/2024 23:41

AnitaLoos · 15/02/2024 23:39

I live in London, have a severely disabled adult child who lives with us and may never be independent (we are trying). I have recently had cancer, have never inherited anything ( my late dad lived in a council house) and my self-employed earnings are less than a full time minimum wage so I almost certainly earn much less than you. You seem consumed with anger to the extent it is making you unpleasant. You did dream up the idea that children in mainstream school can’t get dla as a quick google would show that’s not true. We replaced our bath with one from eBay that cost £50. It’s great. My coat is also from EBay. It’s nice. Yes, we should all feel less precarious and having disabled children is very hard - I had to give up a pretty enviable career, but I try to count my blessings, cheesy as it may sound. My advice is to apply for DLA & Universal Credit & go to bed, as I do, feeling thankful that you and your children aren’t being bombed in Palestine.

👏

ILoveHugeAckman · 15/02/2024 23:43

entitledto.com may help to see if you can claim any help

Katy4321 · 15/02/2024 23:43

I'm so sorry life is so tough for you at the moment - and I can really see why you are so frustrated and upset by what happened. With the COL and pay freezes that is horribly tough.

I know you haven't asked this but have you looked at other ways to save a bit of money eg buying stuff on vinted second hand, olio app ( people collect excess food that supermarkets would have to throw away and then put it up on app for free - so a great way to stop waste) and food larders (they aren't food banks, but again a way of stopping food wasted). I'm sure you do some things like this, but maybe there are more near you, - and even a little saving a week may help make things better. And all the things I've mentioned have nice stuff.

Garlickit · 15/02/2024 23:46

YANBU to be very pissed off at your respective parents.

However ... you know this already. Letting resentment eat you up will only make your lives seem harder. If it's become a habit, you'll become unable to see ways round problems because you'll jump instantly to feeling like everything's unavailable to poor, cheated you.

Like I said, YANBU about the inheritances but that's gone now. They may as well be the lottery tickets our syndicate stopped buying a couple of weeks before one of our lines won the jackpot (true story!) Bloody shame, now let's look at where we are.

You assumed your kids wouldn't be eligible for DLA because you assumed all benefits are income-dependent. Then you assumed they wouldn't because they're in mainstream. Wrong on both counts, that's something that may be available. Their SEN person should be able to help you claim, or maybe their doctor, or is there a welfare team at your workplace who knows about child DLA?

I'm betting you haven't checked whether you're missing out on any other in-work benefits? Fill out the entitled to calculator.

Cupboard doors. Use new screws, and put NoMoreNails in the holes before screwing. Won't hold forever, but it will make them solid. If it were me, I'd be inclined to glue the bloody hinges on.

You can remove the loose laminate, sand the broken bits down to merge with the base, and cover them with sticky-back plastic. Again, it's a bit of a bodge (and this one's time consuming/annoying) but worth doing at some point so your kitchen looks nicer.

Baths only cost a couple of hundred quid new. Watch YouTube videos to learn how to get the old one off, plumb in the new one and make good. I have actually done this - before YouTube, so I followed the Reader's Digest handyman book. YouTube's better because you can see how it's done!

Pay the council £50 to recycle the old one. Or, if it's metal and you have a local scrap merchant, they'll take it away for free.

Basically - like the rest of us these days (well, maybe not on Mumsnet, but in ordinary life), find out where you can get a bit of money and how to get what you need for the least possible cost. You'll manage ... and you'll feel incredibly proud of yourselves. Promise!

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 …

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/organisations/benefits-calculator