My SO and I have been really happy lately because we were able to get away from his mom for a while. My cousin went home so we got the chance to stay at her house for the time being until she gets back again for school.
Anyway, it’s her birthday on Valentine’s Day so we had to go back to her place. Initially, she just said that she wants money on her birthday but my SO’s sister insisted that we visit their mom since she lives alone and is probably lonely. So off we went.
She seemed really excited because we bought her a cake and some sushi/sashimi platters (which cost a lot btw). While we were preparing, she asked us how much all the food cost and we refused to answer her. Well, she joked that we should’ve just given her money instead of the food. It just rubbed us the wrong way because we had to set aside money and time to visit her but it seems like she just wanted money. As we were eating, she mentioned that every gift that we’re gonna give her starting today will always be money because she said she likes money better. We ignored it because it’s her birthday and we didn’t wanna cause tension.
After we finished eating, my bf’s sister called and they were happily talking with each other. My bf casually mentioned that sister gave him money for a new phone (my bf’s phone has been busted for 3 months already). Naturally, bf’s mom got jealous so she asked bf’s sister for an ipad and a lot more money for her house’s renovation (she wants to do landscaping for her garden, have the walls repainted, etc.,). Sister said that she still has a lot of bills to pay. Then bf’s mom started acting defensive. She said she always gives her children money for everything they need when they were young so they should do the same for her. While also saying that she never asks for money from her two children (she literally just said so). She always says that she has no money but she keeps on buying expensive things. In a span of 6 months, she bought a huge ass TV, a huge washing machine (mind you, she just lives alone), a refrigerator, a generator, etc., i just don’t understand how she always complains that she has no money and is always asking us for some while also buying all these expensive things.
I feel so bad for her children. Her lifestyle isn’t for someone who only gets a little money from her pension. She doesn’t have income so she has been spending money that isn’t hers. Her brother also likes to send her money so I think that also fuels her hoarding tendencies. I understand that there are people in her life who willingly give her money. That is great. But she can’t possibly demand other people (like us who are struggling to save money and live frugally) to give her money too.
We are going out for lunch today and we plan to give her the little money we’ve saved up for her birthday. It isn’t a lot but she’s gonna scoff at the amount for sure.