Honestly mate, Im so used to this situation that nothing really surprises me anymore. Let me explain how it happened that weve got five flats in our family, yet we still have to rent.
My husbands parents own their place, and then theyve got two more flats dotted around town that theyre letting out. They always smile and tell us they worked hard for everything themselves, so they expect us to do exactly the same. They dont seem to realise how, back in their day, you could get a council flat or even one through work especially if you worked in a factory or something like that. Now its next to impossible to save up for your own home when all your cash is going on rent.
To be honest, my parents arent much different from my in-laws. When my nan died, she left her flat to me, but I was still a kid back then. So until I turned 18, mum and dad decided theyd let nans flat out. Now Im an adult, but my parents have got a taste for that monthly rent coming in, so they wont let me live there.
For a few years now, my husband and I have been renting this tiny one-bed studio that eats up almost all our money. There were times we could barely afford food. Right now, Im on maternity leave. My pays never been great, but before the baby, we somehow managed to scrape by. My husband tries his best, working two jobs. But these days, to earn decent money, you need good qualifications, and he didnt get the chance. He went straight into the army after school, and then we met, so uni never really fit into the picture.
What really gets to me is how my mum almost every week asks me to help her pick out a new dress or top, and meanwhile Im stressing because I cant afford vitamins and fresh fruit. Shes always telling us we need to be financially independent, even saying we should be helping her and dad out since they want to travel the world and all.
Honestly, I cant stand the attitude from both sets of parents. Theyve got everything and then some, yet they wont lift a finger to help their own kids. I get that they shouldnt go without for our sake, but when theyve got more than enough, why not help? I just cant wrap my head around treating your children like that, which is why, in the future, Ill make sure to give my own kids everything I possibly can.
Friends and family keep telling us to calm down that one day, well inherit all this property. But honestly, Im so hurt by it all now, I dont even care. They can take those flats with them when they go I want nothing from them.
