12/20/2025
I (25F) have two siblings, my older brother Alex (28M) and my younger sister Lily (19F). My mom recently came up with this idea for a “family christmas gift” that we would all chip in for. She told us it was something that would benefit everyone and wouldn’t reveal what it was, just that she needed us to send her $500 each by the end of the month. Now $500 is a lot of money for me. I just started a new job and am still trying to save up after struggling financially for a while. I told my mom I needed more details before I committed, but she kept brushing me off and saying it was a surprise. A few days ago, I found out the truth. Lily let it slip that the family gift is actually a down payment on a new car for Alex. Apparently, his car broke down recently, and he needs a replacement. My mom thought it would be a good idea for all of us to pitch in and get him something nice for Christmas. I was furious. Alex is 28, has a stable job, and makes way more money than I do. On top of that, my mom never asked any of us if we were okay with this. She just assumed we’d all go along with it. When I confronted her, she said it was only fair since Alex does a lot for the family and deserves it. I told her I wasn’t contributing and that it was ridiculous to call this a “family gift” when it’s only for Alex. She got upset and said I was being selfish and ungrateful. Alex chimed in, saying I could afford it if I “really cared” and that I was just jealous of him. Even Lily sided with them, saying it’s not a big deal and I’m ruining Christmas by making this an issue. Now my whole family is mad at me. They’re saying I’m cheap and that I’m being petty over something that’s supposed to be a nice gesture. I feel bad for causing tension, but I also feel like I’m being taken advantage of.