Today, I agreed to help out with my boyfriend's sister's baby shower. They forgot to inform me that "helping" meant splitting the cost of everything. I now owe his family $275. I don't know how to back out without looking cheap. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I was yelled at and humiliated by my otherwise awesome brother-in-law for my supposed lack of effort in the planning of a baby shower for my very pregnant sister. The kicker? Her huge, break-my-bank semi-surprise baby shower has been in the works for a month, and is happening this weekend. FML
Today, I summoned the courage to talk to my friends about the money they owe me for my photography services at their wedding. We had agreed on a fair price, but now they're pissed, claiming that I'm being selfish, and should consider it my wedding gift to them. FML
Today, my sister attempted to get me to fund her daughter, my godchild's, birthday party. I told her I would give her 200 (which isn't much). Our mom "intervened" by cussing me out for being a cheap ass piece of shit. I was about to give her $200, which is A LOT in our currency when exchanged. FML
Today, instead of going to a romantic dinner with my boyfriend like I'd planned, I ended up babysitting his queasy little sister. FML
Today, my sister asked me to help her set up for my niece's birthday party. Being the lazy person that I am, I got my niece to blow up the non-helium balloons. Apparently she's allergic to latex and I'll be the one paying for the hospital bill. FML
Today, after a weekend of helping my sister-in-law move out of our house, vacuuming and mopping her bedroom and bathroom for her, scrubbing her walls and cleaning her shower, transporting her furniture, and getting her carpet professionally cleaned, to cover costs she offered me $14. FML
Today, I asked my boyfriend to help me with groceries, since the last of my money went to last week's groceries. His response was to start a fight, then tell me it's my fault my daughter acts the way she does, which is when he finally got me to break down and cry. I'm pregnant with his kid, and I also pay 90% of our bills. FML
Today, I told my family that I’m pregnant. My sister is upset and refuses to accept she’ll have to help with the baby. I’m a single mom going to college and living at home, and will need help. FML
Today, after sacrificing multiple weekends to help my kid brother with his various projects, I asked him to help me with one of mine. He nearly blew up at the thought of losing an evening of his free time on a simple task, so I postponed it to later, which means never. FML
Today, I can't seem to let go of what my family had done. Years ago, they spent hundreds, if not a thousand, for gifts on a family friend's baby shower, yet have bought nothing for my shower, which was two months ago, not to mention none of them attended the shower either. They've had the registry for 5 months, and I'm due in 3 days. FML
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Top comments
Murilirum 23
It's not looking cheap if you didn't know it meant paying money. $275 is a fair chunk of change and not something you should just give out because someone else says you should. Also, why is a baby-shower requiring a collective acquiring of $275 per person?!
StraightUpBaller 14
Just speak with the sister and explain that you misunderstood, and if you can't afford it explain why.
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Comments (93)
Sheh_fml 25
You helped them. If anything, THEY owe you money for the work. I hate when people aren't up front about money. I don't have enough cash for stupid surprises, so just tell me immediately what you expect me to pay.
quarterbird 18
If you never agreed to help pay for the shower, it's not looking cheap. You should have said that you weren't going to pay as soon as you figured out that the plan was to have you pay half. The longer you wait, the worse it will be. If you're too spineless to speak up for yourself, ask your bf to sort it out or suck it up and pay.
curiouslilbird 19
Ugh, I am cringing just reading about this bait-and-switch scenario--this is nerve-wracking! Perhaps say something like "No one said anything to me about financially helping out--I was offering my time and effort because I am not very well-funded at the moment."
Oh_My_Gosh_015 4
What a thoughtful response!
worldclassrager 41
They may think of you being a bitch but just get out or if you really don't want to look bad try doing a lay away...
B00K_L0V3R93 31
OP, just simply tell them you did not realise 'helping out' meant splitting the cost, you don't have the money and you don't feel like you should have to fork over so much money for an event that is not yours. You will not look cheap, but if you do who cares. Tell them you will organise, set up, plan but will not contribute money. Easy peesy. If you can't say, get your boyfriend to but it would be better coming from you. I think it is extremely unreasonable of them to expect that of you. Good luck OP.
Selene1090 26
I've never heard of a baby shower where someone other than the people throwing it pay for it. And I've been to quite a few.
stieglar 17
You could just break up with him.
Apparentlyacunt 18
Anyone who thinks you look cheap for not paying $275 towards someone elses party has seriously warped perceptions. Anyone who expects another person to pay towards a party they are organising, should consult and make decisions with whoever they expect to bankroll it, before spending an obscene amount of money. You don't look cheap, they just look like bad scroungers!
bad_boyfriend 10
They are taking advantage of you and know that you will feel obligated. **** those type of people.
S_Gnu 17
Objectively it's definitely not "looking cheap," but given the pettiness with which a lot of people run their lives, particularly for family matters, I have no doubt at all that OP's family would make him/her out to be a terrible person for backing out.