Joint Accounts
How Do I Make My Husband Stop Giving Money to His Parents?
He’s enabling their terrible financial decisions, and it’s putting a strain on our relationship
Dear Joint Accounts,
My husband’s parents are absolutely terrible with money. They have a history of mismanaging their accounts and making bad spending decisions, and they’re constantly in and out of debt.
They also frequently ask us for financial help, which is putting a strain on our relationship. I’ve been happy to loan them money in the past, but it’s become increasingly clear to me that bailing them out is just enabling them to keep making bad decisions. My husband thinks I’m being cruel, and that he has an obligation to help them whenever they ask for money. How do I convince him it’s time to use some tough love on his parents?
Sincerely,
Irritated with In-Laws
The best approach here probably isn’t to tell your husband how to handle his family, which will only make him defensive. But this isn’t really about how he handles his family, anyway; it’s about how his family’s decisions are affecting your relationship. If he thinks you’re being cruel, maybe he needs a reminder that you’re in this, too.
