I need help... my mother in law asked if i'm okay paying for a dinner for 8 people?
The original poster (OP) was contacted by their mother-in-law (MIL) a few weeks ago with a request to organize a surprise birthday dinner for the OP's husband.
The MIL provided a guest list and asked the OP to make the reservation, which the OP happily did. The MIL also suggested renting a luxury car for $1300, which the OP declined, citing affordability issues as they already had separate birthday plans.
Now, just days before the reservation, the MIL unexpectedly texted the OP asking if they would need help paying for everyone’s dinner, leaving the OP feeling uncomfortable and unsure how to respond to this sudden financial query.
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The central conflict revolves around the OP's discomfort stemming from the mother-in-law's escalating financial expectations regarding an event she initiated.
The OP feels pressured by the sudden request for financial contribution after already handling the organizational tasks.
The dilemma is how to address the MIL's implicit expectation of subsidy: should the OP firmly state that guests should cover their own costs, or is there a more diplomatic way to manage the finances of this surprise dinner?
Strong Takes and Sharper Words from the Crowd:
What started as a simple post quickly turned into a wildfire of opinions, with users chiming in from all sides.