Giving your hard-earned cash to someone out of your own pocket is a hard ask, especially when it’s the cash you’ve been saving for something you’ve been dreaming of for your entire life. At that point, you’re not just giving them money, you’re giving them your dream, or at least a part of it. It’s not just about generosity, but it’s about the culmination of your competing values and expectations. While generosity is important, and we should be there to support our family members when they need it, it’s essential to carefully consider whether you’re actually able to part with whatever you’re offering. Even if you’re lending money to someone, you need to be prepared to never see it again.
Whereas this couple saved for their wedding for a full five years of carefully managing their spending, this bride shares how her fiancé’s sister spontaneously decided to get married. Despite having no money saved of her own, this was no obstacle for her; she had a simple solution to the problem: Get her family to “pitch in” and “loan” her money to make her dream a reality with no sweat off her back. This, of course, was convenient for her but did nothing but sow discord within the family and those who were being forced to bear the cost of her decisions.
