My rich sister committed a major hand-me-down sin against me
"There's cheap, and then there's taking advantage of your own sibling."
Parenting
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Hand-me-downs have long been a staple in many families as a practical and easy solution to save money, especially when kids are constantly growing out of things.
However, a recent online post has shed light on how this simple act can sometimes be exploited, once the receiver no longer need the items themselves.
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The income disparity
A mum shared her frustration after discovering that her sister, who she had been giving her son’s outgrown clothes and toys to, was reselling them instead of passing them on to another family in need or returning them.
This revelation particularly stung because of the massive income difference between the two.
While the poster said she makes $40,000 a year, her sister and her husband have a combined income of $300,000; implying the rich sister didn't need the money from re-sales.
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The innocent conversation that revealed the faux pas
Initially, the mum hesitated when her sister asked to have her son's old clothes and toys.
Her son is five years older than her sister's twin boys, so she had plenty to spare but hoped to save them for a potential future child, but she still decided to help her sister out.
“I thought nothing of it,” she admitted - until a conversation with her mum changed everything.
Her mum suggested the OP sell some items online to make extra money, mentioning that the sister had already made a good amount selling the poster’s son’s clothes and toys on Craigslist.
Of course, she was immediately furious and decided to confront her sister, who told her that she had 'only' sold the stuff her children had outgrown.
Not satisfied with this response, she asked for the remaining hand-me-downs back so she could sell them herself, as she needed the money a lot more.
But her sister refused, arguing that once given, the items were hers to do with as she pleased.
They're currently at a stalemate and so the Redditor has asked people to weigh in on the situation.
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"You're also petty and resent her money too"
“Your sister sounds like an entitled b**ch,” one user wrote, getting straight to the point.
Another added, “There's cheap, and there's taking advantage of your own sibling. The sister is a major a**hole.”
But some felt the woman was being unreasonable, saying she couldn’t expect her sister to remember what came from whom, and others said she was within her right because the OP didn't have another kid.
“She probably would have offered them back if you did have a second kid or one on the way, but I think she's right that it's not her responsibility to gift you back clothes that you already passed on. Plus she might not have even remembered who gave her what,” one person said.
“No, she should have known to give the stuff back when she was done with it, she knew it was yours,” a commenter clapped back. “But, on the other hand, she's clearly smarter than you are, and you resent it. You're also petty and resent her money too.”
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Originally published as My rich sister committed a major hand-me-down sin against me