Anonymous wrote:My siblings and I have decided to each pitch in 12k and pay off my parents mortgage. This would enable my dad to retire which is needed because of his declining health. My parents paid for all 4 of us to go to college and paid for our weddings so we all feel like this is our opportunity to pay them back. My sister in law has a decent amount of money from a tech start up she was apart of over 15 years ago and this makes my brother and her the wealthiest of us siblings. I am "borrowing" 6k from them and will pay them back when I can. This means I am giving 6k and they will give 18k to even out the proportions. I told my brother "hey thanks I appreciate this."and he said this: "No problem but don't thank me thank SIL its her money that enables us to do this!". I was kind of taken aback and light heartedly said "ya well its your money since you're married."and he pushed back "ummm well I didn't know SIL in 1998 so this is most definitely her money." and kinda laughed it off. I was really offended he would make it a gift from "her" and not "them". It makes me feel like Im taking out a loan vs borrowing from family. Am I right to be offended?
Don't be offended but thank her personally, if you feel it's necessary to thank someone. I don't think you need to since it is family, a loan, and benefitting your parents. Your brother obviously doesn't feel ownership of the money his wife brought into the marriage. That's between them.