House-sitting locust style

gibson123

How would you handle this? We go away every summer for a month and last year my sister offered to house-sit, which was great because we didn't have to make arrangements for my daughters pets. My sister lives alone in a flat, and said she would enjoy the garden. Anyway I really appreciated her offer and said yes straight away. The problem was that when we returned you would honestly have thought a plague of locusts had been through the house. i had "stocked up", so had bulk bought loo rolls, toiletries etc and my freezer and cupboards are always well stocked. i also bought fresh food, milk, bread, fruit, cheese etc, and a few treats, 4 bottles of wine, chocolate, her favourite biscuits and a box of chocs. She also got an especially nice gifts of hand-made pottery, a leather handbag and duty free bottle of good brandy brought back. Anyway when we got back there was literally nothing in the fridge, not even a tiny drop of milk, or a half tomato,not a tin in the cupboard (not even the tin of pilchards in tomato sauce that were going into the next harvest hamper). Same in the bathroom, no loo rolls, shampoo, soap, even the lily of the valley bubble bath won in a raffle and not used because it smelled horrid.
Anyway I did not make a fuss last year, it didn't seem worth it, but she has offered to do so again. Now it is very tempting, as she does look after the animals saving me a bit of money, but probably not as much as it costs for all the food, drink etc. she used when added to the treats and gifts I bought. I could of course just run down the groceries and not do the treats, what would you do?

PS my sister has always been mean, (not skint) she has plenty of money she just hates to spend it.

mummyroysof3

i personally would leave her just the basics tbh..she would have to sort herself out if she was at home

Tygermoth

I would let her look after the pets but leave one loo roll, one soap, one pint of milk and one bottle of wine.

If she has her own flat but is saying at yours she would have to feed herself regardless.

If she kicks off, look all innocent

bryanb

Leave a couple of loorolls and a couple of days food in the house. Still bring back present/s

averagemummy

She is doing you a big favour regarding the pets.... Maybe leave a weeks worth of food but not go overboard. I would still get her a few treats though.

podperson

Tbh if I was away for a month I would quite like the peace of mind from knowing someone was looking after the house and pets, so I would agree but not bother 'stocking up' on things or buying treats in and if she runs out of the basics in the house she'll need to buy things in herself or eat at her own house!

TeaCake

If you have a shed that she wouldn't need access to while away then lock away (and cover so they can't be seen through a window) things that she won't need like your stockpile of loo paper and non perishables or put them in the loft. and I would only leave her with the basic groceries (loaf of bread, two pints of milk, four loo rolls). If shes an adult then she should be able to sort these things out for herself.

VfM4meplse

Lol, I expect you were surprised to come home and find the place burgled.

gibson123 wrote: »

PS my sister has always been mean, (not skint) she has plenty of money she just hates to spend it.

You know exactly where it has all disappeared to, this really is the height of meanness and shows that she sees your home as a hotel more than anything else. Fair use is one thing, but stealing off your own w/o any consideration is not on - the toilet roll would be the last straw for me. Didn't your OH have anything to say about it?

As she is your sister I would probably not be able to resist mentioning it to her - but find a contingency for your DD's pets first.

balletshoes

I agree with everyone else, leave the basics in the house, enough for a couple of days, and bring her back a thanks pressie or 2.

gibson123

Tygermoth wrote: »

I would let her look after the pets but leave one loo roll, one soap, one pint of milk and one bottle of wine.

If she has her own flat but is saying at yours she would have to feed herself regardless.

If she kicks off, look all innocent

She wont kick off.. she wouldn't make a fuss, butter really doesn't melt, she is deceptively sweet and as she is quite a bit older than me she can act quite fragile, i do love her to bits but get quite frustrated when she takes advantage, she is also last to take out her purse when the bill comes and people often buy her things or do stuff for her.

peachyprice

I would take her up on the offer but not bother stocking up. Just leave her a loaf of bread and pint of milk, perhaps a pack of bacon, a couple of days worth of coffee and tea and one loo roll. Just make sure there's enough pet food for the duration.

I don't see the need to leave her a week's worth of food for her, she's have to buy her own food is she was at home.