'Things went off the rails': 50-year-old woman loses her entire pension and savings to a scam artist, then turns to son for financial support, his wife refuses to help her

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Apr 14, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

If you don't want to keep working until you're 90, you need to have a solid pension and savings to hold you up during your old age. And this is not news to anybody. The moment we start our first real job, we are aware that we must also start saving money for those later years.

Those who fail to do that, or manage to somehow spend those savings before they actually retire, usually have two options to fall back on – They can either work until they are 90, as mentioned above, or they can turn to others for financial support, usually their families. And since most people cannot physically work forever, they choose the latter option, and as you can imagine, this option can be the cause of quite a lot of family drama.

Now it's time for a question – If you knew that your parents were financially irresponsible with their pension and savings, what would you have done if they turned to you for financial aid? Would you have helped them out, or would you have turned them away, and let them face the consequences of their own actions?

Advertisement

  • The couple in the story below is split between these two options. The husband's mom stupidly lost all her savings to a scam artist, so she turned to her son for help, and he was ready to help her out. His wife, however, was less eager to support her struggling mother-in-law, and claimed she should face the consequences of her actions. 

    Who is in the right? Keep scrolling to read the full story, and let us know what you think in the comments below.

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10493567232
    via perfectwave

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    "AITA for being furious that my husband and his mother hid that she lost her pension to a scam and now expect me to financially support her?"

    So, my MIL (mid 50's) has always been a bit... much. She's a lifelong hypochondriac, constantly convinced she's dg, despite doctors telling her she's fine. Over the years,
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 03
    I've learned to smile and nod while she goes on about her "spells" and "energies." But recently, things went off the rails.
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 04
    She started seeing a soothsayer who convinced her that her workplace was full of "dark energy" draining her life force. She was advised to resign immediately and
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 05
    "devote herself to healing." Against all logic, she quit her stable job, cashed out her pension Turns out, a few months ago, she met another soothsayer
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 06
    who told her her "life force was being drained by bad energy" and that only a cleansing ritual ―for a fee could save her. Long story short: she gave away nearly her entire pension
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 07
    and savings to this scam artist. Did not tell anyone while going though her "cleansing". But here's the kicker: my husband knew. She told him, swore him to secrecy, and he
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 08
    agreed because "she was embarrassed". Months ago. And he said nothing. He claims he didn't want to stress me out and that his mom was "just going through something."
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 09
    Fast forward to now: she's broke, has no savings, no income, and is suddenly turning to us-well, me-for help with groceries, medication, rent, everything.
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 10
    And when I found out? Only because she confessed when she had no money left. I absolutely lost it. I told my husband it's insane that he kept this from me and that I
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 11
    feel like I've been blindsided into being responsible for someone else's mess. He says I'm being "heartless" and "it's not her fault-she was manipulated." But I say she's a
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 12
    grown adult who made a choice and hid it while expecting us to clean it up. So now I'm scrambling to keep our own household afloat and
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 13
    make sure she's not starving, all because of a decision I had zero say in. AITA?
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10493568000
    via Alexas_Fotos

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 15
    ed_lv ΝΤΑ Honestly, to me this is divorce worthy. Your husband committed "financial infidelity" and now expects you to pay for it.
    via ed_lv
  • 16
    If I were in your place, I'd be contacting the lawyer and looking for a way to get out of this marriage ASAP. Otherwise, you'll have his mother take and take while you're breaking your back to support her. F that.
    via ed_lv
  • 17
    throwra_numbers 123 OP I'm really considering it, but i feel that they will say i left because she needs support.
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 18
    Unhappy_Energy_741 NTA. I'd be outta there so fast. Let mom's baby boy take care of her.
    via Unhappy_Energy_741
  • 19
    notAugustbutordinary Why are you scrabbling and not your husband?
    via notAugustbutordinary
  • 20
    throwra_numbers123 OP This fool put himself under debt counseling, also without telling me, so his finances are under administration. He couldn't try even if he wanted
    via throwra_numbers123
  • 21
    Glassgrl1021 She needs to be looking for resources to fix her own mess. You are in no way responsible and I would serious consider divorce over this. Help her by sending links to food banks and public assistance.
    via Glassgrl1021
  • 22
    throwra_numbers 123 OP She doesn't qualify because over here, if you have ever been employed by the government, you don't qualify for any of the above until you are 60.
    via throwra_numbers123

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family drama aita kids mother wife reddit story parenting husband mother in law scam family Reddit financial support money women parents children Father
Scroll Down For The Next Article