Sooo, my MIL will be moving in with us in a couple months. This is to help her catch up on her bills and debt. She's thinking this will be for a few months. So here's the situation. We don't have cable, we are a Hulu Plus, Netflix and HD antenna family. She's upset that she won't be able to watch The Housewives so she wants to pay for cable. I'm saying no, she need to save her money. My wife is saying that I'm being a bully to her. 

Ohhhh ... let her have cable if she wants. Us old folks have so little to look forward to and if it makes her happy, the less miserable you will be. It might even make her feel like she is not completely imposing on you and the family. JMHO 

Let her have her cable. You will be glad she has something to entertain her and keep her occupied so you can have a little more privacy.

Good for you for taking her in and giving her a fresh start. You sound like a great husband. But I think a small luxury like that should not be forbidden, she will already be giving up a lot. 

You're not being unreasonable to think she should save her money, considering the whole reason she's moving on is to catch up on her bills. Why create another bill? But if that's all she's asking for, it's no big deal. Let her have her Housewives. If that's the only issue with mixing families then I'd say count your blessings! :) 

See if Apple TV, Amazon prime etc has the seasons, it might be cheaper since you're going to be stuck with a cable contract for one horrid show.

I wouldn't want anyone watching the housewives in my house lol 

Can you even get cable for such a short period? 

you're going to be stuck with a cable contract

That's a valid point. Is she going to continue to pay the bill after she moves out and until your contract is up? 

Is she going to be able to pay for the cable? Considering the reason she's moving into your house is because of bills/debt, what's the point of adding another bill? 

The object of the move in is to "catch up on bills and debt". Doesn't make sense to not pursue that goal. Maybe part of the past problem is unrestricted spending.

Guests use what is available from the host, not what they want to be available. 

Guests use what is available from the host, not what they want to be available.?

LOL
When my kids go to my dad's house and complain about the lack of WiFi, he tells them to go back to their own house and use it. 

Beggars can't be choosers. 

he tells them to go back to their own house and use it

Wow, his kids aren't exactly "guests." They're his kids, and that's their home too. :-/ 

I don't know how long she is staying, but some of those cable companies make you stay for a certain amount of time. I was wanting to switch my mothers cable to another company and when I found out about a contact I stopped. I know she will eventually move in with us and I don't want to have to continue to pay for it. 

How much will the cable cost? 

Suddenlink doesn't have a contract, my DD will only be in her apartment for 6 months. And we can just cancel when she moves. 

Wow, his kids aren't exactly "guests." They're his kids, and that's their home too. :-/?

You should actually read what I wrote. 

You have more than one thing at play here. Logic and emotion. They aren't happy cohorts lots of time.

I'm assuming she's a senior who isn't good handling money. Or is there another reason for lots of debts? Like medical bills or something other than shoes and purses? Lol

I know small pleasures are a big part of life. If this is her only fun thing, I'd hate to say no. But if she isn't making a concerted effort to truly change her spending habits, I would say no. It has to hurt to make an imprint on behavior. Also, it depends on how much cable is and if there is a contract.

Iow, what's her attitude like about the whole issue of her spending? 

If she can get the cable AND save $...Let her have it. 

You're in luck. She can buy every season of that show from iTunes for less than two months of cable.

Then you never ever have to pay again. 

can't you get housewives on Netflix? I feel the same way about Investigation discovery 

I'd let her have her cable- I'd prolly pay for it- 

Cable is about $100-$120 a month and yes they do require a 2 year contract. I told my MIL that we have a cable password from a friend to watch Walking Dead online. She would be able to broadcast Housewives to the TV using our ChromeCast. She seemed hesitant. My theory is that it's not just the show, I think she wants to continue her habit of brainlessly flipping through channels until she falls asleep which she can't do with online, Netflix or Hulu. 

It's h are enough for her, I'm sure, to to lose her freedom- 

to to lose her freedom-?

It's only for 6 months...I hope. 

I just don't understand her own conflict of interest in that the point of her moving in is for her to save money. Perhaps she just wants you to not only get cable but to pay for it.

So does Suddenlink require a 2 year contract or not? Someone posted that they did and someone said they didn't.

ATD...you are an enabler. ;-) It might be a good time for her to read some books.

On another note, I can't believe how many people there are out there who need TV on to pacify them into slumber every night. 

I am, I know! I feel like it's going to be hard enough to live in their bedroom, after being independent- I'd want to make her feel comfortable- 

You need to do what is going to make YOU and your family the happiest. Do you want her roaming around the house in the middle of the night, cleaning, eating, or whatever will make the most noise? Or do you want her to go to bed early and stay in bed until morning? 

Cable is about $100-$120 a month and yes they do require a 2 year contract

Then I'd think no. That's $2400 towards her debt. Not insubstantial. And you offered a free alternative. Does she want to get out of debt or not? 

read some books.

Great idea. I always read myself to sleep. 

Wait a second......is the the mother of the young lady that you took into your home and raised? Your young sister in law? I'm assuming here....

You're nicer than me.....I would have already told her to go pound sand. She needs to grow the f up and be a responsible adult. 

Nightshade, I didn't have to sign a contract with sudden link. That was the first thing I asked them, I went in with my DD and said ok what are your contracts, she looked at me funny and said we don't have contracts.Dish has a 2 year contract. Not sure about the others. But with suddenlink if you don't pay your bill every month you get disconnected fast. It is a month to month thing. 

If she is moving into your home in an effort to reduce her debt, she needs to focus on that. Skip cable. If she needs access to that show there are less expensive ways to get it. If it is available on iTunes, she can subscribe to the current season and watch the episodes tge day after they air on TV. It will give her the opportunity to stay current on that favorite show of her while minimizing her out of pocket expenses. A win-win for everyone. If she can wait until the season is over and watch it when the DVD comes out, the library is free.
Don't put yourself in a position where you dictate what she spends her money on, that's her business after all. Do put yourself in the position to offer win-win solutions that help her realize her goal of reducing debt while not obliterating quality of life. Your wife will thank you for it. 

Yes it's the same MIL who moved to Cali after her divorce and left us with my SIL to finish high school. That was 4 years ago. My SIL has since moved to Dallas for her job.

Watchamacallit's comment has really stuck with me. Do I want her walking around moping, bored, and bitter? Or do you want her happy and in her room (my daughter's room) watching TV. I choose the latter.

Satellite companies want a 2 year contract but according to you guys, Suddenlink might be month to month. We already use them for Internet. I looked it up and they can do 1 TV for $32/mo which sound reasonable. 

Sorry to digress.

The spelling of the word probably spelled prolly is a pet peeve. Especially when spelled by those that are sticklers for grammar. Its not that hard to finish spelling a word properly....Again. Sorry to digress. 

Oops- sorry in advance- I did it on another thread! Lol! 

Are you serious? Mark reprimanding someone for spelling errors? 

;=D 

Are you serious? Mark reprimanding someone for spelling errors?

No. Read it again...Slowly. Each word. One by one. What. Do you need a picture?....Don't be such a simpleton. Or are you just grasping at a pot to stir?... 

Your house your rules! 

If she wants to get cable and pay for it let her. Your wife is right. You are bein an ahole.