Before marrying my wife, Claire, I spent three years working abroad. During that period, I managed to save enough money to buy a flat. So, right after tying the knot, we started searching for a place of our own. We spent ages looking for something suitable before finally finding a three-bedroom flat right in the heart of Manchester, close to a supermarket and a primary school. The only setback was that it needed quite a bit of work, and the price was rather steep. I had enough savings for the flat itself, but not nearly enough to cover the renovations. Still, neither of us let that stop us. We decided it was the right choice.
Spacious rooms, plenty of sunlight. Once all the paperwork was sorted, we moved straight in without hesitation. Renovating the place would likely take quite a while. So, I asked my mother-in-law for a loan, thinking Id carry on working abroad and pay her back without any trouble. But she declined, saying the money was reserved for her youngest daughter, who was still at university.
Four years went by like that. With our own hands, we turned the flat into a cosy home. We bought furniture and fixed it up bit by bit, working hard every step of the way. Eventually, we decided we needed a car. So, we saved up and got ourselves a decent motor. A few months later, Claire told me she was pregnant, and we were absolutely over the moon.
Recently, my mother-in-law started dropping by every day. Each time, she seemed to be whispering something to Claire. I couldnt make out what they were saying. Turns out, the younger daughter had kicked her out of her own house. The girl had brought her boyfriend home and planned to marry him. He isnt keen on having the mother-in-law around, so he set an ultimatum: him or her mum. And, unsurprisingly, the daughter chose her boyfriend.
Now my mother-in-law has nowhere to go. Shed given all her savings to her younger daughter. The girl refuses to move out unless her mum buys her a flat, claiming she and her fiancé wont live with her. So, my mother-in-law decided she wants to live with us. After all, our flat is roomy enough for everyone.
When I learned about this, I flatly refused.
When I needed money, she said no. Now she expects to live in our flat. Im absolutely against it. Theres just no way Id allow it. Im at a loss as to how to persuade Claire to say no. My mother-in-law has her own flat, so she should stick up for it. Let her daughter and her fiancé figure out their own accommodation.
