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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:
2021x · 29/06/2025 08:05

Your getting a bit of a pasting @Anon2468. Its unfair, and you will be told that "they don't have to worry about you as much" and "your sister, doesnt have your brains/strength/resourcfullness/partner etc.... "

The fact that everyone forgets is that everyones parents fuck up. Its the only thing guaranteed about parenting, your kids will blame you for their pain when they are older as well.

Have a pity party, I fully support it!!

Summerlovin24 · 29/06/2025 08:05

YANBU
Unfortunately you have to accept the situation. Nothing you can do to change it but you can change with how you mentally deal with it. It's shit and hurtful. Don't make an effort with them. See them on your terms when it suits you, especially while it's still raw and painful. Invest in relationships with friends that lift you and make you feel good. Self-preservation

Idontmindmondays · 29/06/2025 08:08

BIossomtoes · 28/06/2025 21:43

They will have to complete a deprivation of assets form to confirm that if either of your parents need care in the future this gift won't impact their ability to pay for it,

No they won’t. Deprivation of assets kicks in only when the need for residential care arises and only if assets were given away when there was a clear potential that it was likely. Two people in good health can give away anything they choose. In any event they’ve already bought OP’s sister a house that will be sold to fund the deposit.

The parents didn't buy her sister a house previously, they bought a house and let her live there, now they want to hand the cash over for her to buy a house herself.
We bought a house from my Mil last year at a reduced price, she's older but in good health and she had to sign a form with her solicitor confirming she had sufficient assets for this not to impact her future financial position, it was also questioned by the mortgage provider.
Also IF anything happens to them in the next 7 years there would be inheritance tax to be paid on the gift.

Rainbow1901 · 29/06/2025 08:18

Unless I've missed something here and I have RTFT - why can't they give you £160K when they sell the two bedroomed property? If in the unfortunate event they need care in the future and the deprivation of funds becomes an issue at least you and your sister will be equally in the loop for for this.
But the whole situation is very unfair - I'd be asking your parents why they thinks it's okay to treat their daughters so unequally and more to the point to the detriment of your children (their grandchildren!)? Otherwise I'd be going low contact and if they ask why - ask them to tally up everything they have done for your sister and then look at what they have done for you. They are enabling your sister to take the mick out of them on the grounds that she has less than you and that you are more capable or whatever excuses they churn out.
You deserve better treatment than a future promise (which could fail) of a share of the proceeds of a will - unless they leave your sister out of the will and give the whole lot to you as she's already had more than her share!!

OfficerChurlish · 29/06/2025 08:27

I wouldn't put too much stock in their criticism of you now as their logic doesn't seem to be very good. They're NOT obligated to help you OR your sister financially so it's up to them to allocate financial help as they like. But it's brutal for them to keep telling you you don't need their emotional help or support when you've been crying out for it, and it's cruel (and illogical) of them to berate you and personally attack you for giving your opinion after they've nagged you for it. It's hard, because there are lifelong patterns of seeing parents as authority figures (and their seeing their daughters as dependent), but if you can rely on support from elsewhere, such as friends or even in the short term some kind of counseling or therapy to work through the situation and make sense of your feelings, that's probably best as it seems unlikely that your parents will change.

If you're no longer together with your partner, I don't see how your situation is different from your sister's if it's having a stable, supportive partner that's the difference in their minds in terms of needing help. Has your sister tried persistently to obtain child maintenance from her childrens' father(s)? Unless they have left the country or are destitute, they are almost certainly still liable for it even if they are not on the birth certificates.

But even if you were still together and your partner was great, it wouldn't explain why these two have no apparent interest at all in some of their grandchildren.

Ibelievetheworldisburningtotheground · 29/06/2025 08:31

YANBU

Personally, I would go low or no contact with the lot of them going forward. Your parents for sheer favouritism and treated you like a second class child, and your sister for acting like it's not 'her fault' when she is happily benefiting from their time, money and love knowing you are getting none of that and struggling.

She knows she's the favoured child and hasn't said a single word to stop it.
She also knows her children are the favoured grandchildren and doesn't care that yours are being hurt by this behaviour.

I'd be out of there.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 08:55

Jennps · 29/06/2025 07:40

Me, what?

That with the very bleak and dark view you have about “people” and this country” ..,. You must have had a bad day / week / month / life!!

bigvig · 29/06/2025 09:03

Distance yourself OP. See them if you like but expect nothing and don't put yourself out for them. This is a horrible situation and it's impossible to feel anything other than resentment and sadness when you're on the receiving end of such unfair treatment.

If they ask directly tell them you think it's unfair. Other than that leave them to it.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 09:10

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 07:39

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

Best to prioritise tea over mumsnet

Sharptonguedwoman · 29/06/2025 09:21

Crayfishforyou · 28/06/2025 11:05

I get it OP. We got our deposit money with an inheritance to buy a cheap house from DH’s side of the family.
My DPs sold a shared property as it wasn’t fair to my DSis that she didn’t have somewhere. She bought a flat in one of UK’s most expensive towns. It was fair because she was single and I had a DH.
Fast forward. Dsis is not single any more, but her partner is not willing to co buy a bigger property that they need. DPs are leaning on me to relinquish another shared asset as Dsis only had a flat, and i have a house. I am refusing. It is her decision to buy in an expensive part of the UK, and choose a partner who won’t commit.
i am being made out to be the unreasonable one.

OMG!

Inertia · 29/06/2025 09:59

Of course you are not being greedy. Your parents are lashing out at you because they asked for your opinion and the truth hurts. They clearly favour your sister and were expecting to hear that you were happy that your sister was being looked after. You were honest about the total unfairness , and they don’t want to face the fact that they have been shitty parents when they clearly see themselves as Lord and Lady Bountiful.

If they had 160K available to support their children’s housing needs, any reasonable person would split it equally. You both need the help now.

slapmyarseandcallmemary · 29/06/2025 10:09

Yanbu. My dw "parents" paid sister through uni. Promised to pay deposit on property for DW as she had no intention of studying. They took a small mortgage out on a property we had privately rented for years, as the flat was being put up for sale. We had our first child. They wanted to come and see DC every single day, go everywhere with us. When we said no, they slapped us with an eviction order on Christmas eve and sold the property. We haven't spoke to them since.

The sister has been funded yet another university course. As far as I'm concerned, they can keep their money. Assholes.

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 13:33

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 09:10

Best to prioritise tea over mumsnet

100%

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 13:35

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 13:33

100%

And now you’ve had the tea

you do think your kids will inevitably hate their parents no matter what? What is your relationship like with your parents @alexalisten ?

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 13:37

The fact the father has enforced a legal rental agreement between him and his daughter to ensure that he can enforce payment of rent, as she has failed to pay in the past…. Indicates he’s no pushover with her

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 14:59

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 13:35

And now you’ve had the tea

you do think your kids will inevitably hate their parents no matter what? What is your relationship like with your parents @alexalisten ?

No my relationship is fine with my parents but their are certainly things iv done differently with my kids and im sure they will think iv made mistakes and do different with their kids. I never said hate i said resent because someone said my kids will grow to resent me as I dont treat them the same as I think its important to treat them as individuals as they have and will have different needs. I would never see my kids struggle so if I had one settled and doing well and one who struggles I would offer the one that struggles more help financially and time wise. I would still love them equally.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 15:00

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 14:59

No my relationship is fine with my parents but their are certainly things iv done differently with my kids and im sure they will think iv made mistakes and do different with their kids. I never said hate i said resent because someone said my kids will grow to resent me as I dont treat them the same as I think its important to treat them as individuals as they have and will have different needs. I would never see my kids struggle so if I had one settled and doing well and one who struggles I would offer the one that struggles more help financially and time wise. I would still love them equally.

So to be clear

you have not grown up and now resent your parents
and you don’t think your own children will do either

got it

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 15:03

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 15:00

So to be clear

you have not grown up and now resent your parents
and you don’t think your own children will do either

got it

No that comment was purely based on someone saying my kids will grow up to resent me as I treat them differently. Im hoping my children dont grow up selfish and jealous so it wouldn't be a problem if I helped one more then the other

Energywise · 29/06/2025 15:05

They actually sound like horrible parents. Very horrible. They let you down so much. And if they have favoured the Gc then you won’t lose out by taking a step back. Leave them to it. What they have done is wrong, they have treated you very unfairly and same to your kids.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 15:06

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 15:03

No that comment was purely based on someone saying my kids will grow up to resent me as I treat them differently. Im hoping my children dont grow up selfish and jealous so it wouldn't be a problem if I helped one more then the other

But you were basically saying that irrespective of whether or not you treat the same or differently - kids will resent their parents no matter what!

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 15:08

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 15:06

But you were basically saying that irrespective of whether or not you treat the same or differently - kids will resent their parents no matter what!

Edited

Yes because someone said to me your kids will grow up and resent you. Which is an extremely nasty thing to say to a parent who is trying her best so I reacted.

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 15:11

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 15:08

Yes because someone said to me your kids will grow up and resent you. Which is an extremely nasty thing to say to a parent who is trying her best so I reacted.

Ok so I simply clarifying

because it did clearly imply that no matter what a parent does - their kids will hate them when they grow up

Profpudding · 29/06/2025 15:13

I could never do this to my children.
i have 4 everything gets split 4 ways whatever the need, I don’t care if 3 out of 4 wipe their arse with it and the other one spends it on Housing themselves

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 15:13

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 15:11

Ok so I simply clarifying

because it did clearly imply that no matter what a parent does - their kids will hate them when they grow up

I dont know how many times I can say the same thing. Is there something specific your struggling to understand

Havetheweekendoffreports · 29/06/2025 15:15

alexalisten · 29/06/2025 15:13

I dont know how many times I can say the same thing. Is there something specific your struggling to understand

Good grief

i was not alone in interpreting your statement as I did

you have only just clarified that you said it because you “reacted” to someone criticising it but don’t actually mean it

sorted