My in-laws charged me $200 for Thanksgiving dinner, they’re richer than me and terrible cooks, people say it’s ‘cruel’
A PREGNANT mother has been left torn about attending a family Thanksgiving dinner after being asked to pay for the food.
She explained that her in-laws want her to give them $200 worth of food stamps to cover the cost of groceries for the meal they are hosting.
The 20-year-old expectant mom took to Am I The A**hole forum to ask for opinions after being offended by her husband’s relatives.
She explained that her sister-in-law and her wife would be cooking as the family takes turns hosting Thanksgiving dinner each year.
“My husband and I agree that they are not the best cooks,” the mom wrote.
“They are demanding they do the cooking - they always underbake the casseroles and it’s too soupy, we offered to help with the cooking and they denied it.
“Despite knowing I’ll have to politely pretend I liked the food I was okay with going until SIL [sister-in-law] called my husband and asked when we are taking her shopping for Thanksgiving so we can pay for the groceries, she wanted about $200 in my food stamps.
“I’m on food stamps because I’m poor and SIL has a nice job and her wife’s family is very wealthy and well off. I told my husband to tell her no.
“We couldn’t even if I wanted to give it because I don’t have that much money, I’m pregnant and we have a child, the money runs out quickly.”
The woman revealed her 57-year-old mother-in-law also called her to ask that the food stamps be given towards Thanksgiving.
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She refused and said giving the $200 would leave her hungry.
“They definitely have the means to pay for it themselves,” she said.
“MIL [mother-in-law] said I need to stop eating so much and spending the food stamps, fyi [for your information] the stamps are in my name only.
“Then MIL proceeded to complain that I’m basically the reason that she has to give the $200 herself and that I’m putting her through a hard time by not contributing.
“I am offended that they would act like they’re entitled to the food stamps.
“So I decided I won’t bring my child to their Thanksgiving and I’m having my own with just my husband and our child.
“I used the last $40 of food stamps that I had and was able to get a turkey and all the sides with coupons.
“I don’t want to go to their Thanksgiving this year but my husband does.
“Should I just let bygones be bygones and bring my family to their Thanksgiving and have our own with good food after?”
A stream of responses empathized with the woman and reassured her that she wasn’t being unreasonable.
One person wrote: “It is ridiculous to expect guests to pay. Sure perhaps ask for a single potluck type dish or something, but anything else is just stupid.
“And $200? That seems like a huge ask unless you are paying for the whole thing and for a fair number of people. It should be up to the hosts to pay the bulk in any case.”
Another commented: “Let your husband go alone and enjoy the time with your child. It's one thing to ask guests to bring a side dish or two.
“It's something else entirely to demand to host the meal and then require your guests to pay for the food.
"If you wanted to buy a Thanksgiving meal, there are restaurants you can eat at with better food for much less money.”
A third said: “Have your own Thanksgiving. From a poor background myself, I unfortunately know what food poverty is like, and it's appalling.
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“How dare they ask for your food stamps and then berate you for standing your ground.
“Your husband should be backing you up, like a team, not still trying to wangle his way to their Thanksgiving.”
