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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is it me, or are these friends exploiting us?

428 replies

JohnPrescottsPyjamas · 23/05/2025 14:24

Posted before about this couple who sold their house and wanted to stay in our place whilst we were away on holiday.

We’ve been friends for several years. Great company, charming people, but incredibly disorganised and unable to prioritise their life - not our problem, except they have a habit of offloading their crises onto those around them. Everything is always left to the last minute and I don’t know how they do it, but they manage to get a freebie off someone or get everyone running around after them, whether it’s a friend of a friend offering holiday accommodation, a cheap decorator or last minute dog sitter etc etc. For example, DH ended up doing an exceptionally long airport run for them recently because they didn’t want to take their car, the more convenient local airport didn’t fly on a day that suited them (it was to another freebie overseas apartment) and the lift was presented to him as, “are you still ok to take us to……” which he felt obliged to do as he said he honestly couldn’t remember agreeing to, but felt he couldn’t let them down! No offer of petrol etc, just bought DH a coffee and a cake.

They sold their house, have made a nice profit, now cash buyers and looking to downsize, but they have have not planned where they were going to live, refuse to pay for a short term rental and are essentially sofa surfing until they find somewhere to buy. They’ve dropped great big hints suggesting they could stay with us for around a month whilst they search as we “have the room” as clearly they have outstayed their welcome the other friends they have been staying with. We do have the space, and there is no reason why I should say no, but I’m beginning to feel a bit of a mug.

AIBU to say no as it’s only a month and we’ve been friends for a long time, or is not unreasonable to say no, they need to make their own arrangements?

OP posts:
KarmenPQZ · 27/05/2025 10:46

Hahah no way. 3 day max stay. No returns for 3 months

llizzie · 27/05/2025 12:43

BadSkiingMum · 26/05/2025 22:20

I mentioned it upthread, but I am just going to leave a link to this classic thread here:
... to think this couple are extracting the urine? | Mumsnet

It even has a happy festive ending, if you read to the final post!

I just had a quick look at that old thread. I didn't read it all or I would be sitting glue eyed for ages.

I do remember a few years ago that two policewomen were prosecuted for looking after each other's DC after school, because they were not registered child minders.

Lucythesquirrel · 27/05/2025 13:13

I could have written this, but about my sister! Absolute freeloaders and it drives you mad doesn’t it?

Say a big NO! And don’t feel bad about it x

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