He Committed Them Both to a Family Vacation Without Telling Her, and Now He’s Angry That She Said No When His Brother Asked Her To Pay $340 Towards the Trip
A woman got a Venmo request for $340 from her husband’s brother with a note that said it was her share of the rental. She had no idea what he was talking about.
It turned out her husband had told his family three weeks earlier that the couple would join them at a vacation rental for Thanksgiving week. He never mentioned it to her, and now that she’s declined to pay, he says she embarrassed him in front of his family.
Venmo Request for $340
Last Tuesday, the payment request showed up on her phone. The note simply said it was her portion of the rental.
She was confused. She hadn’t agreed to any trip or rental.
For many households, $340 isn’t a small amount. It could cover groceries for a couple of weeks, a utility bill, or a big chunk of holiday spending.
Thanksgiving Week at a Coastal Rental
She texted her husband to ask about it. He called her a few minutes later.
He explained that his brother and parents were renting a place on the coast for Thanksgiving week. The cost was being split among everyone attending.
Vacation rentals during holidays can be expensive. Peak-season prices often mean each family pays hundreds of dollars just for lodging.
Signed Up Three Weeks Ago
Her husband admitted he’d told his family about three weeks earlier that they would be there. He said he’d kept meaning to tell her.
He just hadn’t gotten around to it. Meanwhile, his family had been planning as if they were definitely coming.
She was stunned that he’d committed both of them without asking. He’d made a decision that affected her plans and her money.
Thanksgiving Already Promised to Her Parents
The couple had already promised to spend Thanksgiving with her parents. Her mom had been planning the meal since September.
That meant groceries, menus, and preparations had already been arranged around their visit. Her parents were counting on them.
She didn’t want to cancel on her family at the last minute. Doing that would affect plans that were already well underway.
Splitting the Holiday Between Two Families
Her husband suggested they split the holiday. Since her parents don’t live far from the rental, they could stop by her family’s house on the way.
He’d already worked out the plan in his head. But he’d never shared any of it with her.
To her, the issue wasn’t just the trip itself. It was that he’d made the decision without talking to her first.
Declining the Payment
She declined the Venmo request. She didn’t think she should pay $340 for a trip she never agreed to take.
About an hour later, her brother-in-law’s wife texted her. She apologized and said she had no idea the woman didn’t know about the plans.
She also said she wasn’t upset with her at all. She understood the situation had been handled poorly.
Groceries Already Bought
Her sister-in-law explained she’d already started planning meals and buying groceries for everyone. She’d spent about $80 on food she wouldn’t have bought otherwise.
That money was spent based on the assumption that the couple was coming. It showed how far the plans had moved before the woman ever heard about them.
Meanwhile, her mother-in-law called to ask if they were still coming for Thanksgiving. Her brother-in-law also quietly canceled the Venmo request without saying anything to her.
Embarrassed in Front of His Brother
Her husband is angry. He says she embarrassed him in front of his brother and turned a family trip into a family problem.
She says she might have been open to going if he’d talked to her when the plans were first made. Instead, he agreed for both of them and assumed she’d go along once the money was requested.
When she asked why he didn’t just tell her, he said he was going to. She’s left wondering how a decision made without her ended up being blamed on her, and whether he’ll ask first the next time he commits them both.
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