Freeloading sister-in-law, living rent-free in brother's home, demands payment for a short 3-hour babysitting favor while his wife gardened, despite never contributing, couple debates kicking her out: '[She has] no sense of gratitude'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Nov 6, 2025 5:00 PM EST

To many people, a favor is the time and energy they gift you, no matter how big or how small…However, it can't be considered a gift when one expects something in return. Although, we certainly believe that there is a some sort of 'favor' hierarchy that exists, even if it's only within our subconscious. Donating an organ to save a life cannot be seen with the same value as babysitting your brother's 3-year-old child…An important mental note to make before reading this unique story. 

This woman is fed up with her sister-in-law, who has been staying with her brother and his family. Not only has she not even offered to contribute to rent, groceries, or utilities…you get the point, but when asked to babysit her niece for a few wholesome hours, she has the nerve to ask for a payment after an half-heartedly agreement! Because a roof, endless food and a warm shower definitely shouldn't compensate the costs of playing with your baby niece for the afternoon…? (That was sarcastic, if you couldn't tell) 

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  • Just as she expects her family to help her out in a time of need, they too, should be able to ask that of her…and in this case, it's the bare minimum! Her ungrateful attitude has thrown a spanner in the works, and her older brother and his wife are forced to sit with the uncomfortable decision of whether or not they want her staying with them any longer…

  • 01
    Young adult babysitting
    via danielmegiasstock

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for not paying my SIL to watch my child?

    I (30F) am married and have a 3-year- old daughter. My husband works full-time while I stay at home.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 03
    I recently started doing content creation mostly videos about my garden and bits of our daily life.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 04
    My sister-in-law (26f) currently lives with us temporarily while she looks for a place she can afford near her work.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 05
    We don't charge her for anything she gets free food, rent, and utilities. One day, I asked her if she could watch my daughter for a bit while I harvested some vegetables in the garden.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 06
    My garden isn't that big, so I was done in less than 3 hours. Later that day, she asked if I could give her something for babysitting basically asking to be paid.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 07
    To be honest, that was the only time I asked her to watch my kid. We never restrict her from anything in the house, and she lives there rent-free.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 08
    I felt it was unfair for her to ask for money after such a small favor.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 09
    I told my husband about it, and he got upset, saying his sister has no sense of gratitude and that maybe it's time she moved out.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 10
    He even confronted her, but she just walked away without saying a word. AITA for refusing to pay my SIL for watching my daughter for a few hours, even though she lives with us for free?
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 11
    Disastrous_Cress_701 So she lives with you for free, no bills no rent no anything and won't even watch your kid for a couple of hours a week? Nta and your husband is right. it seems like she has gotten too comfortable mooching off y'all
    via Disastrous_Cress_701
  • 12
    Woman waiting for money.
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    OP Living-Doll-192 Exactly. She's been staying with us for 4 days now, and she's supposed to stay until she finds a new place of her own. My husband and I agreed to let her stay as a way of helping her out so she wouldn't have to spend too much.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 14
    DrPudy808 NTA. She sounds entitled & certainly not grateful. Kick her out.
    via Disastrous_Cress_701
  • 15
    OP Living-Doll-192 Yeah, that's kind of how it felt. We really didn't mind helping her out, but the way she reacted made it seem like she didn't appreciate it at all.
    via Living-Doll-192
  • 16
    Curarx She's been there 4 days, that should go in your post. Otherwise it seems like she's been there for months without a contribution
    via Curarx
  • 17
    cuzguys It sounds like you also took advantage of the situation. It took you 3 hours to gather some vegetables from a small garden.
    via cuzguys
  • 18
    Curarx She's only been there four days so no it's not like she's been getting a bunch of free stuff
    via Curarx
  • 19
    1 porridge ESH you can't even host a family member for 4 days without expecting them to do stuff for you? Everyone in this story sounds horrible to be around
    via 1porridge
  • 20
    Famous_Ad_7341 She's only been there four days. OP should have put that in the post but it seems it was written to be deliberately misleading.
    via Famous_Ad_7341
  • 21
    altonaerjunge Info: was she informed how Long she would Had to Look after your child? Did it Impact her her Work ?
    via altonaerjunge
  • 22
    I_am_aware_of_you 3 hours of your day??? You find three hours of your day a small favor? Keeping alive a kid that is t yours a small favor? Short notice as in minutes before a small favor...? Oh how I want to try you on that... I would have a field day to see when you break on small favors
    via I_am_aware_of_you

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groceries family drama utitlities favor gardening sister-in-law kick-out askreddit charging husband babysitting rent family Reddit free children apartment
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