BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids When to cut the umbilical cord...

Good for you! I agree, success is sweet. I would also feel like [censored] if I was taking money from my parents. What makes you feel good is knowing you did it YOURSELF. In my 20s, I worked 2 and 3 jobs at different points so I could have my own apartment. I'm really proud of that, and I would rather live in a shack than live with my parents, or take handouts from them.

Now that I'm in my mid 30s, the struggling paid off in the form of having a stable career and real skills that translate to decent income. Just another reason to not want kids - my lean years are in the past. Why would I want to go back to that? I'm thrilled that my work and DH's work has paid off! Yes!

Skeeter - congratulations! My mom gave us lots of money for our downpayment. She actually covered the whole thing. Of course, we were BUYING the house from HER, so she got it all back - plus quite a lot!

Therefore, I don't feel bad about taking that money, though I hate it when she gives me money. She won't let me give it back, either. She's getting sneaky, too, giving me a bag of stuff (they're moving soon so she's giving me some of her old stuff) and then sneaking a couple 20's into it.

Oh well. With the interest I'm paying on the house (that I could NOT be paying if we didn't have a mortgage and simply paid her off directly) I don't feel that bad. :-)

Congratulations on the house again. What an exciting new adventure!

I have a friend who lives at home with her mother, but it doesn't really bother me. Her mother has been divorced for a long time and her daughter is really all that she has. They help each other with the bills and such. The daughter could use some growing-up, but I think she'll do it if she has to. Meanwhile, the mother is in financial trouble and the daughter is helping her. In some ways the daughter is more mature than the mom.

Of course, I should follow that comment up with the story that my friend's cousin is in the same situation but she's a good-for-nothing lump who needs a good slap in the face. Her mommy thinks she can do no wrong. I guess it just depends on the situation.

Congratulations! I know it is a parent's job to do anything to hep their child succeed in life, but even if they say "there are no strings attached" to a gift, etc like what you were offered, to you, there still are. I was lucky and did not require such gifts for closing. 13 years after moving away, I still have not needed any large gifts of money or resources. It really is a good feeling that I guess others just don't want to know.

Congratulations Skeeter!
It's an exciting time of life - your first home.
Our first home was an unrenovated Edwardian terrace - it took us 5 years to renovate - almost every weekend - we lived in one room over winter with 2 cats and a strip heater and when I think back, they were very happy years.
The excitement when we removed a piece of particle board and found a fireplace complete with tiles...carrying on with dinner parties in our shell of a house - losing one of our guests when her antique bentwood chair collapsed under her (she was fine but laughed for about 30 minutes), leaning against the railing on the verandah when it gave way and ending up in the shrubs 5 feet below (I was stunned but fine)...we often laugh about those days so do our family and friends.
We're now on our third home - which is currently undergoing a major restoration - we have moved into a serviced apartment while the builders are at work - we're leaving it to others this time.
I really think renovating and struggling to get ahead forged a bond between us - it also, makes us fully appreciate what we have today.
And, like you - we did it ourselves - we didn't ask anyone for money. It took much longer and was much harder but now, when we look back, it was definitely worth it.
Enjoy your new home Skeeter.