Woman keeps $20k in 'friend fund' with 4 other women, refuses to pull out her share to help husband with $60k down payment: 'Your wife sounds financially illiterate'

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    AITA for asking my wife to spend all her savings?
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    Im a 34 yr old M married to the love of my life a 33 yr old F. My wife is kind, nurturing, and motivated in her career. She does a lot for me at home since i work LONG hours. We married 4 months ago. Dated for 8 yrs.We're both easy going and have the same sense of humor and rarely argue.
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    I make 4x more money (I'm in Healthcare) but she makes a good salary as well. Since I make 4x what she does I tend to pay for most things (dinners, weekend trips, mall shopping) which I absolutely do not mind. With bigger purchases we pay for things together in proportion to what we make. she's usually OK with paying her share of things (1/4 of the rent and groceries) and will sometimes offer to pay for dinners and dates.
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    She's VERY close with her best friends (she has 4).They're great people, But theyre basically attached to the hip. and talk daily in a group chat. Which is fine, everyone needs a support system. I have similar friends.
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    Her and her 4 friends have a combined savings account together for "investing in something together". They've each been putting in a few hundred dollars per month EACH. I've known about this for years and didn't love the idea initially, which I expressed. But she was adamant she wanted this and at the time we weren't hurting for the money and it was ultimately her money and her decision.
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    We are now looking to buy a home (in one of the most expensive real-estate markets in the US) she expresses that she doesn't have much in her own savings but has 20k of her own money tied in with her friends combined savings.
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    Over the last year they've been told by 2 financial advisors that 5 people attempting to invest together in real- estate or stocks or a business wasnt a great idea. And they also recommended to split the funds to 5 separate accounts since the account is under 1 of the friend's names and there are tax implications for having that
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    amount of money to her name (100k). The homes we're looking at need around 60-70k for a down payment. I stated I was willing to spend nearly all my savings for the down payment for a home (50k). So I told her she should pull that money from her joint friends account to help with the down
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    payment. It's a huge purchase and I don't think it should be my burden alone. She got really upset and told me "I don't want to touch that money, I promised my friends it would be for investing together, we should look for a less expensive home then, maybe a fixer upper" she then stated, "it would be easier for you to accrue the money back since you make so much more."
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    This was VERY frustrating and I told her, "its unfair i have to spend nearly all my savings and you dont. your friend fund is stupid, and it's stupid not to use that money for OUR future home."
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    AITA for asking her to use HER OWN cash from her "friends" account, break that promise to her friends so we can buy a nice home together?
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    starbiebarbie99 • 21h ago wait so she and her friends have a shared savings account that they've been adding to together with the intent of eventually investing in as in the money is currently just sitting there in one persons account? NTA that is absolutely ridiculous. I could see
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    the value in having a shared bank account between close friends for the purpose of going on trips and vacations together since you could just pull money for deposits instead of playing the venmo game but this is ridiculous and makes it seem like she cares more about planning for her future with her friends than with her own husband. YIKES.
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    Also maybe I just live somewhere really expensive but I'm shocked that 60-70k isn't already the minimum down payment possible on a fixer upper.
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    Specific-Syllabub-54 21h ago Nope and I would seriously reconsider buying a house or if you do make her sign a postnuptial. If you can pony up $50k and you have essentially been footing all the bills all so she can save money with her friends. The sad part is that money is just sitting in an account and not being invested and your wife and her other two friends have zero claim to any of the money unless there names are on the account
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    Outside_Guidance4752 · 20h ago .• NTA married or not I would not buy a house with someone who would rather have an uncertain investment fund with friends than help me with the down payment of our shared house and considers my savings our savings and her savings her savings. Also I don't fault you for calling the fund stupid, because it sounds stupid since 2 financial planners have said it's ill advised and told them to split it up again.
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    PurpleStar1965 • 21h ago Never wipe out your savings for a down payment. Especially when buying a house. I swear I had more unexpected house expense in the first year than I did in the next decade. Also -NTA. You pay 75% of everything. But I assume the house will be in both your names. Her contributing to the down payment just makes sense.
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    forgeris 21h ago NTA, you might want to explain to your wife that either you combine finances for big purchases (like house), or you will make it only your asset with her having zero claim on it. It's not how family finances work, and this friends savings account IS stupid.
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    • ExpressionMundane244 20h ago She pretty much doesnt has her own savings, but has 20k in an account that its not even on her name? I dont care how good friends they are, but this is super dangerous!!
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    I understand having an account with friends for trips or other activities. But for investing? Why? Makes no scense. Even worse: this money is sitting there without any investments or plans!!!
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    Honestly, I would not buy a house. with her until she put the same effort (not the same money, but the same willing and work in this). You want to use all your savings in a house for both of you, while she doesnt want to contribute. Its not like she doesnt have the money. She does! Her priorities are her friends and this so called "investment account", rather than you and your life together. She showed you her priorities. Its up to you to listen to her.
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    Listen_MamaKnowsBest • 20h ago NTA. Your wife sounds financially illiterate. She is being illogical and not prioritizing her family.
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    BestChickEver ⚫20h ago Are the other friends married? Any chance this is their joint Escape My Bad Marriage Fund?
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    1962Michael • 21h ago ESH. You've known her 8 years and married only 4 months. You're BOTH AHS for not discussing every detail of your finances before you got married. Both AH for expecting the other person to change stuff after marriage that wasn't discussed before.
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    You're AH for demanding she give up her nest egg. Obviously she is in an inferior financial position here, and she may need to have a bit of money of her own saved up, in case the relationship does not last. It is possible that these women think of this as a "divorce fund."
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    Your wife is AH for trusting anyone to hold $20K for her like this. I'm assuming none of these friends are professional bankers or investors. It was always a bad idea, but at this point that is or should be joint assets and it's not right for her to withhold all of it and expect you to pay everything.
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    Finally, you're AH for suggesting that her $20K is the difference between you having a "nice home together." That small amount will not affect the financing of a house. If it does, you are over- extending yourselves.

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