Lisa stands up for herself and prioritizes her own financial well-being when her parents ask her to contribute to the taxes on their family home, despite her brother’s continued dependence on their parents.
She Felt Frustrated
As she sat across from her parents at the kitchen table, Lisa couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration wash over her. “Both my parents are old enough to retire and collect social security and their pensions,” Lisa thought to herself. The conversation had turned to the topic of the family home, which Lisa’s brother, Mark, still lived in despite being 43 years old and having a full-time job. “My brother is 43 yrs old, has a full time job, uses 3 of the 4 bedrooms at my parents home. 1 room for himself, 2 other rooms for his kids,” Lisa explained.
She Pointed Out
While Lisa’s brother did pay $1200 a month in rent, Lisa couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t enough given the high cost of living in the area. “The normal rent for a 3 bedroom home in that area is a $2300 and up,” Lisa pointed out. To make matters worse, Lisa’s parents had just paid off the house and were now asking Lisa and her sister to help out with paying the taxes. “My parents just paid the house of 2 months ago. They are now asking my sister and I to help out with paying the taxes,” Lisa said, feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
She Revealed
As the conversation continued, Lisa’s parents revealed their plan for the future ownership of the house. “My parents have told me I will receive 25% ownership of the house, my brother living with them 50%, and sister the remaining 25% after they pass (No favoritism there),” Lisa explained. Feeling frustrated by her brother’s continued dependence on their parents, Lisa asked him how much he needed to pay his share of the taxes. “I told my brother, ‘How much do you need?’ (So I can pay 25% of the taxes). He said, ‘I don’t know’,” Lisa recounted.
Her Mother Interjects
It was then that Lisa’s mother interjected, asking Lisa, her sister, and Mark to all contribute to paying the taxes. “Your father and I want to retire, we would like you, brother and sister to pay the taxes,” Lisa’s mother said. Feeling frustrated by the request, Lisa pointed out that her brother was already paying rent and asked if that wasn’t enough. “I asked if the rent my brother pays isn’t enough. (My brother NEVER MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE, and has been leeching off my parents his whole life),” Lisa said.
The Mother Defends
Despite Lisa’s valid concerns, her mother defended Mark’s lack of financial contribution by pointing out that he took care of running errands for their parents. “My mother defended him because he takes care of running errands,” Lisa said, feeling even more frustrated. To make matters worse, Lisa’s mother suggested that she lower the child support payments she was making to her ex-wife, who she had two children with. “Then proceeded to tell me to lower the child support I pay to my ex-wife whom I have 2 boys with,” Lisa said, feeling angry and hurt by her mother’s suggestion.
She Felt Trapped
Feeling backed into a corner, Lisa made a decision to stand up for herself and her own financial well-being. “I said, ‘Let me get this straight- you want to mess my kids over just so my brother and his kids can live a better life? Or did you prefer I take money out of my retirement account, penalties and all, to keep coddling my brother? I’m sorry, but I will not continue to enable him like you have all these years. I have my own family and bills to take care of,'” Lisa said, feeling empowered by her decision to speak up.
She Prioritized
While the conversation was difficult and emotional, Lisa knew that it was important for her to set boundaries and prioritize her own financial well-being. Over time, she was able to work with her parents and brother to come up with a more equitable solution that worked for everyone involved.
Straight to the Internet
Looking back on the situation, Lisa realized that standing up for herself and her own financial well-being was one of the most important decisions she had ever made, but had this overwhelming thought of doing the right thing in this situation. With this in mind, Lisa decided to head online and ask for an opinion from a popular forum page.
The Internet Responds
One person comments, “I wouldn’t either. I’d be prepared to lose that inheritance, but it’s not yours to pay. Isn’t that rolled into the mortgage they’re paying anyway, or is the house paid off?”
Another Response
Another person writes, “If you’re not on the deed, you’re not the owner. The parents ‘going to’ give it to you doesn’t mean any part of it is yours now.”
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