Confronting the source of this painful rumor only deepens the wound, revealing a painful clash of values and misunderstanding within the family. What should be a simple truth becomes a battleground for respect, dignity, and the longing to be seen for who they truly are.
I recently bought a car from my aunt and uncle and paid full price for what it was worth ($18,000). I had no problem paying that because I know the car was maintained well and honestly I would not give a family member a discount on something that big either.
The problem is my grandma has been boasting to everyone that my aunt gave me the car for free. Idk why she is saying that but it really pissed me off. I worked hard to pay cash for that car and I do not want people thinking I get handouts.
So I went to her and politely asked her not to tell people that. Instead she flips it on me and says, “Oh so you want everyone thinking your aunt and uncle made you pay full price? What kind of person does that?
Family is supposed to take care of family.” Then she literally shut the door in my face like I was the problem. I told her straight up that it makes me look bad, someone who works 60 to 80 hours a week, if people believe I am just getting handouts.
Conclusion
The original poster (OP) is deeply frustrated because their grandmother is spreading false information, claiming the OP received a car for free from their aunt and uncle. This directly conflicts with the OP’s belief in earning what they receive, especially after working hard to pay the full market price for the vehicle.
Is the OP justified in demanding their grandmother stop spreading misinformation to protect their reputation as a hard worker, or should they prioritize maintaining family harmony by allowing the exaggeration, even if it misrepresents the financial transaction?
Here’s how people reacted:
I can’t stand people who care more about perception than reality. You can believe what you want, but you are not forcing me to live in your world and I will call you a liar to anyone who says something to me based on her lies and will prove her wrong. I don’t abide this type of BS and worrying more about who perceives things certain ways.
Yes grandma, I want everyone to think that, because that is what happened. Who does that? Well, aunt and uncle do. And I would do so as well, considering it’s a car and worth over 15k.
If family is actually supposed to do that, then I guess you can pay me back the 18k I gave aunt and uncle. Then you can tell anyone they gave it to me, since I didn’t pay anything. But as long as I paid 18k for that car, I don’t want people to think I got it for free.
It’s hard to see any rationale on your grandma’s actions. Unless your aunt has told her that it was a gift, it’s an AH thing to lie it being one. Be sure to check what’s your aunt’s take on this.
Also, ask around from your family if grandma is okay. It might be that she’s got a dementia or her medication is off. Sometimes health issues cause hallucinations and other weirdness in elderly people, so she might genuinely believe the car to be a gift.
Say it loudly where gma can hear .. if she says anything .. say well gma , you couldn’t remember I paid aunt & uncle what their car was worth – so I figured your mind was going – Love ya .. and walk away ….
being old don’t give you a excuse for being a lying crabby old woman
\> from a crabby old gma lol
I imagine there must be some reason why she’s not getting mad at Aunt and Uncle. My guess is that Grandma wants to make her friends think that your family is wealthy enough to gift cars to each other.
Just tell people she has dementia and that you actually paid full price for it. She must be thinking of the time her parents gave her a car for free.
I highly doubt anyone is even going to care, it’s just not that interesting lol