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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being greedy?

324 replies

Anon2468 · 28/06/2025 06:55

Trying to cut a long story short. My sister has always been a single parent, the 2 different fathers to her children have never been involved and never assisted financially. My parents have taken a parental role with my sisters children but I can understand slightly why to support her with working etc. they bought a 2nd property to rent to her cheaper than the current market value.

i had 2 children with my partner, and he was my support network with life. We never had childcare or family support due to my parents putting all their time into my sister and her children. My children have lost out on a lot of family things due to this and don’t have a close relationship with my family. They’ve never been on days out with grandparents, yet watch their cousins do this all the time.

due to life stresses, myself and my children’s father separated last year. It was amicable break up to begin with but has become extremely toxic over the year when it came down to managing selling the family home etc. we were not married so I was not entitled to anything financially. I don’t think I slept for 4 months wondering how I would afford to put a roof over my children’s heads etc. but, in the end after a lot of work and stress I’ve managed to purchase a shared ownership property.

my parents went to see the property I am purchasing with me this week, being a new build I wanted other eyes! The entire time we were there, my dad was talking to the woman who I have been dealing with the purchase of the property, wondering how he would go about buying one for my sister. this went on for over an hour and I could barely get a word in to discuss my house - I exchanged back in November 2024 so this isn’t a potential purchase… this is my home.

to clarify, my parents have sat down and discussed with me this week they are wanting to give my sister £160,000 to buy the share of the property for her, so she won’t have a mortgage. And then her universal credit payments will cover her rent side. they have made it clear they cannot afford to do the same for me at this time, but my share will be left in the will.

they asked my opinion on this, and I expressed in 30 years time £160K won’t be worth as much. My sister has gained a mortgage free share of a house with rent paid by universal credit, while il be just getting by month by month. However, I also expressed it’s their money and they can do as they wish but as they’ve asked my opinion they can have it.

Deep down it’s not actually about the money. Last year when I was at rock bottom mentally, not one family member offered to help. I have managed everything completely alone financially and mentally. I’ve tried to express its hurt me when I was struggling, no one helped. Yet now “I’ve got my own place, my sister should have one”. I’ve worked all my life and saved and been good with money. My child’s father pays child maintenance - the bare minimum possible - and so he should! And my parents justify I don’t need help because I have my children’s father. My child’s father has run me down completely, reporting me to police, social services etc for no reason - I wouldn’t say he was my support!, but obviously my parents seem to think I’m lucky compared to my sister so I don’t need any help!

its such an awkward thing inheritance and money. I’ve given them my opinion and left it. But they have concluded I’m greedy and disgusting.

I guess while writing this, I now feel I sound awful! But there has always been favouritism in the family which I have grown up with. I’ve never benefited or expected anything, but when it’s constantly justified to me “you don’t need help” when actually last year I was the lowest possible and did need my family … it hurts!

if I was still in a relationship, and financially stable with a partner I completely understand why my parents would feel the need to help my sister more. I am in the same boat as her, but I’ve actually done something to sort my life and not relied on others to hand it to me on a plate so I don’t understand how they feel it’s fair?

am I being a completely spoilt brat in the matter? Or are my feelings of being hurt justified? I feel this is the icing on the cake for me and I need to take a massive step back from my family.

OP posts:
CarlaLemarchant · 29/06/2025 06:15

alexalisten · 28/06/2025 13:20

Kids will grow up and resent their parents no matter what they do

That’s crap. Most people appreciate and love their parents, the ones that don’t will likely have good reason.

Purpleturtle43 · 29/06/2025 06:17

I feel for you, that's extremely unfair. I understand helping out one sibling more than the other as their circumstances require it but not to that extent.

My Mum has always helped out brother with childcare after making clear it's not an option for my sister and I and it's really hurt over the years. It's not the help as much as the relationship she now has with my brother's kids as opposed to the pretty much non-existent one she has with mine. I always tried to justify it that they need more support but then I went through an awful time and she wasn't there for me.

I am now very low contact as I can't bear to be around her and all her stories of my brother's kids.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:21

Jennps · 29/06/2025 00:34

OP’s life seems fine, from what she’s said. Apart from her parents being completely unfair to her.

I meant you @Jennps !!

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:22

alexalisten · 28/06/2025 13:57

Why because I treat my children as individuals who have different needs rather then exactly the same.

And you expect you kids to grow up and “resent you” @alexalisten ?!

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:24

Yogabearmous · 29/06/2025 02:55

If they wanted my opinion I would tell them straight that if they do this , ignoring your struggle in the process, I would never see them again.

what awful people. My heart breaks for u op.

quite clearly though, these parents wouldn’t really care if the OP threw that threat at them.

Caligirl80 · 29/06/2025 06:31

daisychain01 · 29/06/2025 05:55

when it came down to managing selling the family home etc. we were not married so I was not entitled to anything financially. I don’t think I slept for 4 months wondering how I would afford to put a roof over my children’s heads etc.

whilst you have been poorly treated by your parents, you shouldn't let the father of your children get away scot-free by not contributing towards his children, and leaving you with that burden,

Exactly this.
The father still owes money for child support if the children were/are his.

Even if it is it the case that she was living in a house that he owned outright before she got together with him, it could well have been the case that she was contributing to the mortgage etc. Sadly this kind of thing happens all the time - and people get screwed over.

Anon2468 · 29/06/2025 06:33

Fraudornot · 29/06/2025 04:47

I thought you weren’t allowed to rent to a family member and claim housing benefit for the rent. So the set up for the first house was benefit fraud. Also the gifted £160k would be seen as getting rid of assets if care home needed in future so a LA may make a claim against the second house

My dad is her official landlord, there are official contracts in place and he claims rent direct as my sister has opted out of paying him a number of times.

no fraud has happened. he is also an MD of a large corporation, I don’t think he would risk any fraudulent activity with his position.

OP posts:
alexalisten · 29/06/2025 06:42

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:22

And you expect you kids to grow up and “resent you” @alexalisten ?!

No I was just replying to someone who said my kids will resent me. Im sure their will be things when their older and have their own kids that they would change just like everyone. Your never going to agree with everything your parents do

Anon2468 · 29/06/2025 06:42

AliCatWalk · 29/06/2025 04:11

@Anon2468 Is there a significant difference in age between you and your sister? Also, is she able to attempt to seek CMS, or does she choose not to?

Sorry you're going through this, your parents seem wayyyyyyy off with their blatant preferential treatment of your sister! It does sound like distancing yourself, at least emotionally, would be doing a kindness to yourself

my sister is 1.5 years older than me so very similar in age, but very different life styles I guess.

Unfortunately like her other life choices, she doesn’t chose her men very well. Both work “cash in hand” and are very much off radar. She went though CMS and they gave her £6 a month for 2 children.

OP posts:
alexalisten · 29/06/2025 06:44

CarlaLemarchant · 29/06/2025 06:15

That’s crap. Most people appreciate and love their parents, the ones that don’t will likely have good reason.

I was replying to someone who said my kids will resent me as I treat them as individuals

BlackCatGreyWhiskers · 29/06/2025 06:47

That’s really unfair OP I totally understand why you’re upset.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:54

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 06:44

I was replying to someone who said my kids will resent me as I treat them as individuals

So you don’t think “kids will grow up and resent their parents no matter what they do”?

SunnySideDeepDown · 29/06/2025 06:55

YANBU. My SIL has always been the favoured child. My PIL will drop everything for her and her kids, and don’t even send my (and their sons) kids so much as a birthday card.

We gave up with them a long time ago, they just don’t care. So we don’t see them now and let them crack on with things. I guess the difference is they don’t have money, so we don’t feel like we’ve lost anything in that regard. My husband I’m sure feels left out at times but we’ve accepted the situation and know it won’t change.

Personally, if I were in your shoes, I’d send a letter to your parents outlining your position in plain black and white. That you’ve received zero real support from them and you’re tired of being ignored whilst your sister is regularly considered. That they keep saying you’re sorted when actually you aren’t, they just have never bothered to actually ask if you’re ok and if you need any help. If their response is lacking, I would just cut them off. No good will come from trying to change people who won’t change.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:55

Anon2468 · 29/06/2025 06:33

My dad is her official landlord, there are official contracts in place and he claims rent direct as my sister has opted out of paying him a number of times.

no fraud has happened. he is also an MD of a large corporation, I don’t think he would risk any fraudulent activity with his position.

Ok this puts a different slant on it
quite clearly he’s determined that his daughter will pay with him and is even willing to go down legal routes if she doesn’t

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:57

Anon2468 · 29/06/2025 06:33

My dad is her official landlord, there are official contracts in place and he claims rent direct as my sister has opted out of paying him a number of times.

no fraud has happened. he is also an MD of a large corporation, I don’t think he would risk any fraudulent activity with his position.

This also explains why he didn’t agree to being your guarantor and he’d have done the same if your sister had asked him

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:59

You were meant to have moved in Jan having exchanged in November and yet you still are not in?

AnotherGreyMorning · 29/06/2025 07:00

Unbelievable favouritism from your parents.

I would be very hurt too. Especially for my dcs.

I would fade from their view and just not be part of their lives.

You sound amazing. Resilient and strong.

Tallyrand · 29/06/2025 07:17

Haven't RTFT but we're in a similar position with PILs.

We got £6k (we didnt ask for it, they offered then started making demands about what friends they could invite) for our wedding 7 years ago and £400 when we bought our house, and a second hand couch.

My SIL got £9k when she bought her house. Got £3k worth of work done to the house. PIL paid for an all inclusive holiday for them at about £3k (yet insisted we paid our share, it was a group booking). Paid their nursery fees for the youngest for a year before the funded hours kicked in. "Loaned" them £5k to buy a car. Offered them to take just the kids away on a holiday next year that would have cost nearly £2k. The list is endless.

I don't grudge my SIL/BIL and DNs any of this but it is hard watching on as they are given everything on a plate while we're expected to just manage.

PIL live in a 4 bed house worth about £250k and have a 2 bed flat worth about £80k they rent out. They've said SIL can get the 4 bed and my wife gets the rental if anything happens to them. It's their money and they can do what they want with it but doesn't make it fair.

Zanatdy · 29/06/2025 07:17

I’d go low or no contact. It’s ridiculous that they are giving your sister so much money and haven’t stepped up to help you in your hour of need. Unbelievable they are going to buy her a house so she isn’t jealous. Meanwhile you’ll be paying your mortgage. I’d be sending a message to your parents explaining my reasoning for stepping away from this relationship, not least the impact of the unfairness on your own DC. Then walk away, let them dwell on their actions and if they realise they’ve been unfair then they can put it right, or not. But I wouldn’t be saying nothing as this is incredibly unfair.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 07:19

Tallyrand · 29/06/2025 07:17

Haven't RTFT but we're in a similar position with PILs.

We got £6k (we didnt ask for it, they offered then started making demands about what friends they could invite) for our wedding 7 years ago and £400 when we bought our house, and a second hand couch.

My SIL got £9k when she bought her house. Got £3k worth of work done to the house. PIL paid for an all inclusive holiday for them at about £3k (yet insisted we paid our share, it was a group booking). Paid their nursery fees for the youngest for a year before the funded hours kicked in. "Loaned" them £5k to buy a car. Offered them to take just the kids away on a holiday next year that would have cost nearly £2k. The list is endless.

I don't grudge my SIL/BIL and DNs any of this but it is hard watching on as they are given everything on a plate while we're expected to just manage.

PIL live in a 4 bed house worth about £250k and have a 2 bed flat worth about £80k they rent out. They've said SIL can get the 4 bed and my wife gets the rental if anything happens to them. It's their money and they can do what they want with it but doesn't make it fair.

Maybe they’re having chats with your wife on the side about how she will receive their money but it will be ring fenced from her husband. You.

Genevieva · 29/06/2025 07:32

Perhaps I’ve misunderstood, but I don’t see how your parents can give her a mortgage free house or £160K snd her still be eligible for universal credit. I was under the impression they had a limit on the total value of your assets.

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 07:39

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:54

So you don’t think “kids will grow up and resent their parents no matter what they do”?

I dont know, I dont really care its 7.30 on a Sunday morning. Iv not even had my first cup of tea yet

Jennps · 29/06/2025 07:40

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 06:21

I meant you @Jennps !!

Me, what?

Chester23 · 29/06/2025 07:41

Givenupshopping · 28/06/2025 22:44

Don't tell me 'Chester23', they found out the person couldn't do the garden and expected you to do it?

Yep. I got a text the day before they went

Tallyrand · 29/06/2025 07:43

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 07:19

Maybe they’re having chats with your wife on the side about how she will receive their money but it will be ring fenced from her husband. You.

My PIL love me and I love them.

They've told me their plans to my face. It's their money to do what they want with.

Would be a bit weird them giving my wife money to keep away from me when we are married, have kids and a mortgage together 🤣

Like I wouldn't suddenly notice our mortgage being paid off 🤣🤣🤣