Stressful is not the word.
Me old man is 78, disabled, partially-sighted lives on his own 25 miles from me. Considering all things he gets on ok and happy.
Financially, hes well secure. Decent pension, and decent wad of savings. Certainly more than he'll ever spend.
But there's the problem. His flat is decent enough apart from the contents. The bugger just won't spend any money. He's got 2nd hand/free furniture that's falling apart. Until recently his carpet was threadbare, the walls dirty and well overdue for re-painting.
Took me ages to talk him into a new carpet and to get the place painted. Now his furniture is literally falling apart - he's got a wardrobe in his bedroom that I think is pre-1st world war!!!!!! Its getting to point where its starting to look like a squat.
His savings are like monopoly money to him. Its just there not to be spent. I try to argue that, at his age, he should be spending it to make himself comfortable. His argument is:-
1. What's the point at his age.
2. He didn't have money when he was young so he doesn't want to waste it now.
3. He's keeping it 'just in case'. (for what I dont know)
He really has no touch on reality especially how much things cost. He's got no idea how much I earn - he still thinks £100 a week is a decent weekly wage (I do try to tell him the people in McDs get much more than this on minimum wage). Spending is even worse - took him away one weekend (that was a nightmare) to watch cricket - he went on for ages how he thought the little food hut at the venue should be prosecuted for ripping people off because the ham sandwiches cost £2. Obviously, never been to the O2 in London!
On the other side, MIL has blown £20K that was saved since he husband died 5 years or so ago on crap (really expensive new carpets because she was 'bored' with the old ones, new bathroom again because she was bored, way over the top xmas and birthday presents). Just taken redundancy and she's already got plans for the £4K - all of it on some expensive house purchase that she doesn't need again. Her attitude is when its gone its gone, the kids can look after me. This attitude pisses me off for the opposite reason....
Me old man is 78, disabled, partially-sighted lives on his own 25 miles from me. Considering all things he gets on ok and happy.
Financially, hes well secure. Decent pension, and decent wad of savings. Certainly more than he'll ever spend.
But there's the problem. His flat is decent enough apart from the contents. The bugger just won't spend any money. He's got 2nd hand/free furniture that's falling apart. Until recently his carpet was threadbare, the walls dirty and well overdue for re-painting.
Took me ages to talk him into a new carpet and to get the place painted. Now his furniture is literally falling apart - he's got a wardrobe in his bedroom that I think is pre-1st world war!!!!!! Its getting to point where its starting to look like a squat.
His savings are like monopoly money to him. Its just there not to be spent. I try to argue that, at his age, he should be spending it to make himself comfortable. His argument is:-
1. What's the point at his age.
2. He didn't have money when he was young so he doesn't want to waste it now.
3. He's keeping it 'just in case'. (for what I dont know)
He really has no touch on reality especially how much things cost. He's got no idea how much I earn - he still thinks £100 a week is a decent weekly wage (I do try to tell him the people in McDs get much more than this on minimum wage). Spending is even worse - took him away one weekend (that was a nightmare) to watch cricket - he went on for ages how he thought the little food hut at the venue should be prosecuted for ripping people off because the ham sandwiches cost £2. Obviously, never been to the O2 in London!
On the other side, MIL has blown £20K that was saved since he husband died 5 years or so ago on crap (really expensive new carpets because she was 'bored' with the old ones, new bathroom again because she was bored, way over the top xmas and birthday presents). Just taken redundancy and she's already got plans for the £4K - all of it on some expensive house purchase that she doesn't need again. Her attitude is when its gone its gone, the kids can look after me. This attitude pisses me off for the opposite reason....
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