Relationships with in-laws can often go one of two ways, they either become an adoptive family who are supportive, kind and an extension of your loved ones.
Or, in worst-case scenarios, they drive a wedge between you and your partner with their interfering, pot-stirring and unreasonable demands.
Unfortunately for one woman, she's experienced the latter with her sister-in-law asking her and her husband to contribute to their wedding – despite living with the couple for free.
The anonymous user, whose username is Intelligent_Rub4510, explained that she and her husband (who she calls Tom) share a home with her sister-in-law and her fiancée after they lost their jobs during the pandemic.
Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here.
The pair initially promised it would just be for a month, but it's been a year and the couple show no signs of moving out.
The woman took to Reddit to explain her dilemma, writing: "Tom has gotten a new job that doesn't nearly pay as much as his old one.
"We have tried to convince SIL to get a job or help around the house but she insisted that the stress of Covid as made her unfit to work and Tom agrees and refuses to make her get a job even though his job doesn't let him make enough for them to a get an apartment in the near future
"Recently SIL and Tom started planning their wedding and had the nerve to ask us to help fund an expensive wedding in a beach in a foreign country. This happened while I was preparing to kick them out.
"This isn't the first time something like this has happened most of my husband's family doesn't have high paying jobs and asking me (the high earner of the family) to pay for stuff has been an ongoing thing."
The woman said she refused to pay for the wedding and told the couple they'd need to pay for the expensive wedding themselves.
Despite her refusal, the woman's husband and Tom tried to convince her to pay for the occasion, while her sister-in-law "stormed out of the house" when she said no.
She continues: "[She] has been complaining about me to anyone who would listen.
"My husband has always been the one insisting on keeping them around every time I bring up kicking them out. But now I feel like he has pushed it too far this time.
"So now the family is divided in half with most of my relatives taking my SIL's side And I am being attacked online my SIL's friends and close family. Me and my husband are giving each other the silent treatment over this."
The post has since gone viral and garnered over 150 comments on the forum.
A user said: "What is wrong with these people? Why would your husband be okay with this? Does he not see your financial success and stress as his own?
"I get wanting to help family by not letting them go homeless…but a wedding isn’t an immediate need. It’s a luxury. And aren’t parents usually the ones expected to foot the bill if any family does? Idk, my family would never, but I’ve heard from other people that’s supposed to be a common practice."
Another echoed their sentiments, writing: "If you don't have kids with your husband you may want to consider breaking it all off. This type of behaviour isn't going to stop it seems and you may grow to despise these people. Don't normally jump to suggesting divorce but right now as you have described it, you are an ATM for that family. Don feel guilty for being successful and a hard worker."
While a third commented: "Absolutely not. They sound ridiculous. If they don't even have their own place they don't need to be getting married yet. What's the plan? Get married then come back to live in your house? Give them the boot girl."
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
