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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hosting guests, did we expect to much?

399 replies

Wardrobemarker · 17/10/2025 13:13

Apologies for the long post.

We met a couple abroad a couple of years ago where we have a holiday home. Kept in touch via what's app and met up them when we were abroad at the same time. We got on well but did notice they were a bit mean. My DH is overly generous and they were happy to accept my DH paying for dinner, drinks etc and never reciprocated. I kept telling my DH to stop paying for things but that's who he is.

Anyway DH then invited them to our country to stay for the weekend. We have a rental that we had just finished refurbishing and he offered them the accommodation before we put it up for rent. They gladly accepted and booked flights.

The rental is high quality, top spec and in a very sought after part of our country/area. We made sure it was kitted out with toiletries, towels, fridge was stocked with drinks and treats etc.

We collected them from the airport after a 4 hour delay ( not their fault). First night we had drinks in the local and got a takeaway on the way home. Second day we had booked a tour ( their request). My DH had booked and paid for it and told them how much it was. They never mentioned paying for the tour so DH didn't say anything more about it as he was thinking they might offer to get food, drinks etc. DH paid for three taxid, again they didn't offer. We bought the alcohol for our home that they drink and cooked lovely food, desserts etc. In total my DH spent close to 800 quid the weekend they were here.

In return they contributed nothing bar buying a few drinks for themselves when we were out. Surely this is not normal. I know I'm going to be told that it's DH fault for being too generous and I agree and he agrees himself but surely you would expect them to at least buy you a drink at the bare minumum.

OP posts:
AnxiousD · 17/10/2025 13:15

Lesson learned.... forget them! Your generosity has been taken advantage of and you will have others around you who deserve your kindness and generosity more ❤️

DappledThings · 17/10/2025 13:15

You are right on both counts. They are tight and absolute freeloaders and your DH is a mug who should have stopped spending money he wasn't happy to spend.

yeesh · 17/10/2025 13:16

It’s not normal at all but then you knew what they were like before you invited them 🤷‍♀️

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 17/10/2025 13:17

Sadly, you absolutely set yourselves up for this by inviting people who were clearly happy to sit back and let someone daft enough to pay all the time to keep doing it.

Not nice, they should be better - but predictable.

Irenesortof · 17/10/2025 13:17

Hopefully you won’t invite them again and will talk to DH about avoiding this kind of situation in future?

MrsSkylerWhite · 17/10/2025 13:17

Why did you invite them in the first place?

fireandlightening · 17/10/2025 13:19

Not normal, but you know that. Send them a bill for the tour, at least? The entitlement is mind-boggling!

Gingercar · 17/10/2025 13:19

Sounds like you need to visit them and let them pay for everything! Then drop them.

Octavia64 · 17/10/2025 13:19

It’s not normal but it clearly was totally predictable.

anamo · 17/10/2025 13:21

I really don't know how people can do this and not be mortified. How do they do it with a straight face, someone please tell me!

Meanness and entitlement are two of the worst traits in a person IMV. Of course being a murderer and a psychopath are not nice either, but I suspect I've more chance to cross paths with entitled tightwads.

SpudsAndCarrots · 17/10/2025 13:21

If your husband is very flashy with money they may have either assumed he's very rich, or don't want to offend him by offering when he seems to enjoy paying for things.
Could be that they're cf's, but it depends how your husband has come across and whether they've ever heard you say "DH you shouldn't be paying for everyone" etc. They could've easily taken him mentioning the cost of the daytrip as an ego brag rather than a hint for them to pay.
My DB is well off and enjoys paying for things, at times I've pushed that ill pay (we can easily afford to as he knows, though not at his level of wealth) and he seems offended if the point is pushed.

Thaimonstera · 17/10/2025 13:23

Not normal at all on their part. Also, why on earth did your dh spend all that on them and not open his mouth and say “right that’ll be £….” Instead of just paying for everything like a mug?!

NomoneyNoprospects · 17/10/2025 13:23

You and your husband sound pretty well off. Some people do think that if they have friends who are obviously wealthier than them, then they should pay for more. I'm not saying this is ok but I have met people in the past who think this. My uncle & aunt are very well off and they've had some "friends" in the past who have just literally never offered to pay for anything.

You and DH should cut them loose they sound like freeloaders.

Thewhywhybird · 17/10/2025 13:24

Not normal,no, but I have voted YABU because this was totally predictable - you had already noticed they were mean, and they were happy to take advantage of your husbands generous nature before - you shouldn't have invited them.

MissSophiaGrace · 17/10/2025 13:25

You are being unreasonable because you knew what they were like and made no effort to ask them for money.

Pippa12 · 17/10/2025 13:27

Bloody free loaders!

Although your husband needs to rein it in with his generosity- they’ve took advantage of him! I’d be tempted to tell them then end the friendship!

Fionasapples · 17/10/2025 13:28

I suspect you've met my SIL and BIL!
Seriously, people like this are plain rude and don't deserve friends like you.
Drop them and if they try to get in touch, tell them you can no longer afford to see them.

Hoppinggreen · 17/10/2025 13:30

They are twats who took advantage but you let them

Oppsididitagain1 · 17/10/2025 13:31

With friends like that ......

Wardrobemarker · 17/10/2025 13:32

I do agree that it's our fault and we were naively hoping that they would buy something. I just dont understand how you can be so mean though. My DH is not flash with the cash at all, I was actually really saddened by the whole experience. Lesson learned though.

OP posts:
Oppsididitagain1 · 17/10/2025 13:33

Bill them for £400
They should pay their half

Myfairyhanny · 17/10/2025 13:34

Unfortunately, geography hasn't changed their personalities and mean tendencies. You'll need to be prepared for them to ask to visit again but next time, say a very firm no!

SunnyDolly · 17/10/2025 13:36

Wardrobemarker · 17/10/2025 13:32

I do agree that it's our fault and we were naively hoping that they would buy something. I just dont understand how you can be so mean though. My DH is not flash with the cash at all, I was actually really saddened by the whole experience. Lesson learned though.

It’s not mean it’s just them being tight and rude, but agree you guys have to shoulder the blame a bit here. All you have to say is ‘so shall we split the bill?’ when it comes, or ‘Bill paid for the taxi in so Anne are you good to pay for the one home?’

They sound like freeloaders who are already used to your DH paying for them on holiday and expected the same here. Give them a wide berth!!

Parker231 · 17/10/2025 13:39

Wardrobemarker · 17/10/2025 13:32

I do agree that it's our fault and we were naively hoping that they would buy something. I just dont understand how you can be so mean though. My DH is not flash with the cash at all, I was actually really saddened by the whole experience. Lesson learned though.

Did you not have the conversation when they arrived “how are we splitting the costs this weekend?”

BigDeepBreaths · 17/10/2025 13:40

This is mostly on the stingy freeloading couple.

However, I find it mad that you and your DH waited a whole weekend for them to OFFER, especially given you knew their form.

You sound like successful people. How, between you, could you not manage to say
”Do you want to get this round?”
”As we paid for the tickets, do you want to pick up dinner”?
“We got the taxi here, why don’t you get the taxi back?”

You need to learn from this.