Girlfriend learns the secret behind man’s cheap rent

Dear Abby:

I moved in with my boyfriend, “Greg,” three years ago into the tiny but very economical house he rents. It’s cheap and allows us to save for a home of our own. However, I have discovered to my dismay that our landlord is the mother of his ex-girlfriend. And the ex is acting manager of the property we live on! This means that Greg’s ex and her mom have been in frequent contact with him and are an inescapable part of our lives.

I’m very uncomfortable with the awkwardness of our living situation. Am I being too sensitive, or should my boyfriend never have lived there in the first place? —

Uncomfortable In Michigan

Let’s keep our eye on the

Dear Uncomfortable:

goal line. Your boyfriend’s objective (and yours) is to save enough money to eventually own a place of your own. His ex and her mother are a means to an end. Concentrate on that.

Dear Abby:

I recently hosted a large family for a week in our home. On our last day together, the mother asked if she could run “a quick load” of laundry. I said OK, figuring she might be running low on unmentionables.

She did five large loads of laundry and spent half of our last day together folding and packing their bags for home. I think she took advantage of

me. I was very disappointed that our last day together was wasted doing laundry. Your thoughts, please.

— Hung Out To Dry In Arizona

Dear Hung Out: You were trying to be helpful, and the woman did take advantage of your generosity by mischaracterizing her intentions. If, however, you had other plans for the last morning of the visit, when you saw her start her second load, you should have spoken up and drawn the line.

Dear Abby:

At a recent birthday party, my adult daughters were approached by a family acquaintance about getting bone marrow tested. He told them he is dying and desperate for a donor match. My daughters were sad to hear his story and submitted to the cheek swab, but I want to get your opinion. —

Put On The Spot

Dear Put On The Spot:

If you are hoping I will tell you that what that dying man did was wrong, I can’t do that. People with a terminal illness will grasp at any straw they can find to have more precious time on this side of the sod. That your daughters agreed to be tested was generous and kind. You have raised two terrific daughters, and I applaud them.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren,also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or visit