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AIBU

Not sure what to say re loan repayment....

(67 Posts)
Helski Tue 10-May-16 13:02:35

So about three years ago, my husband and I leant our daughter and her new husband £40,000 so that they could put a deposit down on a house. They have paid us back without fail each month and this month the final payment was made. I am very proud of the fact that they have managed to do this, but they haven't had to go without, still having two holidays abroad each year, eating in fancy restaurants and generally having a wonderful time. Added to that, their house has gone up in value by £100,000, so they are very lucky. My question is this, the email telling me that this month was the final payment simply stated this as a fact and hooray that it was paid off, but there was no thank you, no appreciation, no nothing. AIBU to think that they should have acknowledged what a huge deal this was for us? We are not wealthy.

Neversaydie Fri 13-May-16 09:28:02

We have just given both our DDs very substantial sums of money towards house purchase (it had to be outright gift as Building Socs wouldnt allow it as loan or joint purchase )They have both thanked us profusely both verbally and in emails ,the latter especially reflecting they know how fortunate they are .Similarly we gave been doing a lot of helping out the elder with an older property which has been left in a bit of a mess by the vendor
But as far as we are concerned that is the end of it. We do not expect or want constant recognition of our 'generosity' (we can do it only because of hefty inheritances and would rather they had the money now as previous posters have said)
DD1 will also shortly be borrowing several thousand to furnish her new flat.It will be paid back monthly as soon as she gets a lodger .It will not be mentioned and I would not expect an acknowledgement when the last payment is made .Except that she will not pay interest (current rates being a pittance anyway )it's a business transaction .
My DDs constantly show their love and appreciation of everything we do for them (meals out ,family holidays etc).I have every confidence they will do the same for us when they have achieved a bit more disposal income.It's the way the world turns .

Izabella Fri 13-May-16 09:18:45

At least our lot know there is no point in asking! Nothing in the coffers here. ?

harrysgran Fri 13-May-16 08:53:14

I think if you make a big deal out of this you may live to regret it they have paid you the money back sometimes you do a good turn for others especially family without expecting anything in return she may have other more practical ways of showing her appreciation to you.

harrigran Fri 13-May-16 01:00:56

I take back all I said about DD not mentioning mortgage being paid off. Today I got effusive thanks for enabling her to maintain two houses. Sometimes it just takes time smile I told her she would have got it anyway, I just preferred to give it with a warm heart and not a cold hand.

annodomini Wed 11-May-16 10:19:28

I made loans to mine - one for a car and the other for a deposit on a house. Every penny was paid back by standing order. I can't now remember whether or not they said thanks when the final payments were made, but I do know that their behaviour to me consistently expresses their love and gratitude and what more can I ask?

harrigran Wed 11-May-16 09:41:13

I can see it from the DC's point of view too, their money was not a gift it was a loan. You probably would not go into a building society and thank them profusely for repaying all of the loan, they probably thought that was the end of it.
My DD was given the money as a gift but I do get free holidays in a foreign country, staying in her home.
I agree with absent I only give money I know I can afford to live without.

Maggiemaybe Wed 11-May-16 08:50:58

I don't think the OP has said they were thanked at the start of the loan though, unless I've missed something as I often do. And if that's the case it's understandable that they feel narked at being taken for granted - I certainly would. It's not about the money. A hug and a thank you never goes amiss. My lot do that much if we help out with a bit of decorating or suchlike, so I would blooming hope they would if I was doling out a five figure cheque. Has there been some sort of seismic shift that means that it's acceptable now not to say a quick thank you for a present or a helping hand?

mumofmadboys Wed 11-May-16 07:57:44

I am sure they are grateful but perhaps didn't see the necessity to say thanks, assuming they said it at the beginning. Just let it go. Maybe they are slightly embarrassed they needed help in the first place. Money isn't really important.

gillybob Wed 11-May-16 07:41:43

I have never heard of the phrase pegged the bucket Absent and Iam64

Pegged out or kicked the bucket confused

whitewave Wed 11-May-16 07:37:04

Kids Huh!

Iam64 Wed 11-May-16 07:27:25

My parents managed to buy their own home in their late 50's, only because one of their own parents left a small legacy. When my parents died, their home was left to their own children. We don't live in an area where house prices rise by £100,000 in 3 years so amounts were nothing like the one's mentioned in the OP. However, the relatively small amounts involved enabled me to help my own children with cash towards deposits on their homes. Like absent, I'd rather they had the money now, when they're young and need it, than later in their lives when we've popped our clogs/pegged the bucket. I also don't lend money to the children unless I'm prepared to give it. They never ask - well youngest was a fine one when still living at home for "can you lend me £10/£20 till I can get to the bank" - can't recall many of those loans coming back but what has come back is so much love and enjoyment in each others lives.
Money isn't everything and I'm sure I'm not the only one who looks back and wishes I'd actually told my parents very clearly just how much I owed them, not in a financial sense, rather than assuming they knew.

Bellanonna Wed 11-May-16 07:20:34

Property has gone up in value, Helski, probably your own included. I'm sure they were very grateful and said so initially. They were probably very relieved to have got rid of the debt and they know that without you they wouldn't have got on the property ladder to begin with. They should have thanked you again but even if they " forgot" to say so they will always be aware of, and grateful for, the help you gave them. If you get on well as a family just be glad of that and glad, too, that you were able to help them out. Don't begrudge them their holidays or " fancy" restaurants. It's good they are able to enjoy life. Just be glad you were in a position to give them a head start.

TwiceAsNice Wed 11-May-16 07:14:51

I loaned my daughter money for a deposit which she is still consistently paying back. She has said many times how grateful she is that I could do it . Could only do it because of savings kept after divorce settlement. I was SO HAPPY to help her I that I am not worried about being thanked ( although as I have said she has thanked me) Why are you niggling about this? My daughter has helped me in the past and when I retire and have less money she has said don't worry I'll always make sure you're ok. Isn't that what close families do? Why risk falling out I'm puzzled it's such a big deal to you.

absent Wed 11-May-16 07:13:14

I have helped absentdaughter a few times and I know she really wants to repay the lot but with a family of six children, she works on a very tight budget. She keeps and worries over a spreadsheet of what she thinks of as loans, bless her. I never lend money unless I am prepared to give it anyway. I am repaid a thousand times more with the love and trust – and she does say thank you when I help her out. If she has it now when she needs it, she won't get it years ahead (I hope) when I peg the bucket and she doesn't need it.

gillybob Wed 11-May-16 06:54:58

Unfortunately I have never been in the position where I have been "helped" financially. My parents were (genuine) working class where every penny earned was accounted for. Other than a few (very small) amounts I have never been in the position to help either of my children with money either. I think you were very fortunate to be able to help your daughter with £40,000 . I had to smile at your last line we are not wealthy Really? I'm afraid your idea of wealthy and mine are very different and I consider anyone with a spare £40,000 knocking around to be quite wealthy.

As for the thanking. I assume you were thanked when you made the loan? How many times would you expect to be thanked in circumstances such as this? If it bothers you so much (you are hinting that they are ungrateful) why don't you tell her that you are disappointed ? Personally I would be very grateful that she paid every penny back and extremely happy at your good fortune to be able to help your own child in this way.

Tegan Tue 10-May-16 23:28:52

When we bought our first house we borrowed @ £1,000 from my in laws which we paid back as quickly as possible. Although they never said or did anything to make me think it, I didn't feel the house was 'ours' till that loan was repaid [even though we still owed the Building Society]. I don't think we thanked them properly for it [although throughout the following years we borrowed far less from them than the rest of the family; in fact, I don't think we ever borrowed from them again]. People only really seem to understand these things when they have children of their own.

Lillie Tue 10-May-16 23:13:37

I guess the answer is, we shouldn't give or lend our children money if we're going to be in any way upset if they don't say thank you.
My mum gave us a four bedroomed house when we got married and although I remember thinking how very fortunate we were, I can't remember ever thanking her and that makes me feel very sad now.
I'm sure your daughter will be eternally grateful to you even though she hasn't said thank you.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 10-May-16 22:57:41

What?!!!! shock. She hasn't said thank you?!

harrigran Tue 10-May-16 22:44:04

My dad loaned me the deposit for a cottage and paid him back plus the going rate of interest.
We gave daughter a five figure sum to pay off her mortgage, we even drove to her house and put the cheque through the door, rather than post it. I think it was about 6 years ago and she still hasn't mentioned that she received it. I think some younger people just take it for granted that Mum and Dad will always be around to help out.

Grannyknot Tue 10-May-16 22:36:30

By the (I presume, again) - now with comma missing above - I mean I presume you have had a thank you somewhere along the line.

smile

Grannyknot Tue 10-May-16 22:34:22

helski maybe the "hooray" was intended as a shared (by all of you) expression that includes gratitude (and relief) for having got to this point.

At worst, it's a bit thoughtless not to have thanked you (I presume again) but that's not too bad. People make mistakes sometimes.

Synonymous Tue 10-May-16 19:22:44

Why don't you book a table and all go out for a meal, all toast each other with a nice bottle of bubbly and congratulate all of yourselves for a really good job well done. And enjoy your mutual triumphs! They have a good investment and you have your money back! That is a wonderful result! flowers wine

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 10-May-16 17:45:58

Ana I think it's how the bank of mum and dad usually works. If at all possible, of course.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 10-May-16 17:44:53

Exactly NandG.

Ana Tue 10-May-16 17:43:20

And why not to the last penny? confused