College graduate sends her dad $1000 a month so he can pay his bills, gets angry when he goes on an expensive honeymoon with his wife: 'I paid for their wedding rings.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Aug 27, 2026 8:30 PM EDT

Her dad needs to start supporting himself instead of relying on his adult daughter. 

It is extremely emotionally difficult to be the child of a financially unstable adult who is trying to do better for themselves than they were able to. You go to college, you work hard to get a high-paying job, and you can afford to support yourself, but your parent and their needs are always looming in the background. You feel guilty that you have luxuries that they can't afford, and that they can barely afford to pay their rent. So you do what you can to help them out, even when you're not actually helping. Sending money to your dad who hasn't been able to hold down a job in 30 years feels like you're helping him, but it's actually just enabling his bad behavior. He's not going to change if he knows his adult child will support him for the rest of his days. He will ride that gravy train until the end of the line, even if it means manipulating his own kid instead of going to work. 

Reddit user Accurate-Tax-1269 took to the internet this week to ask whether she's wrong for feeling angry about her dad going on an expensive honeymoon without her while she paid for his wedding, and he couldn't even bother to get her a graduation gift. Not to mention, he's using the rent money to go on this vacation!

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  • 01
    A senior couple relaxing on vacation
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    A couple enjoying their honeymoon, paying for it with the rent money his daughter has been giving them. 

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

  • 02

    Am I the bad guy for reacting harshly to my dad and new wife taking a honeymoon when we can't pay rent?

    Context: My dad and his now wife just got married and went on a week long honeymoon right after even though we can barely pay rent and will not be able to once they come back since they used every dollar to go away. We haven't gone
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 03
    on vacation since 2019 and I haven't said a word of complaint since I know money is tight and vacation isn't a top priority, but it still hurt to hear him talk about all the fun things we would experience one day when i knew it was all BS.
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 04
    Fast forward to last year, i suggested he propose since they have been together a decade and i thought it would make her happy even though she can be the nastiest person on earth and say the most cruel things unprovoked, i thought maybe this security would
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 05
    make her feel better and be nicer. I only just graduated from college and have been helping with the bills and necessities since i was 17, and now helping with over $1000 a month when my boyfriend and i could easily get our own small place for less than that,
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 06
    but i am not the kind of person to leave my family in a situation where they wouldn't be able to pay the rent anymore if i left so i stayed and do what i can (and more than im comfortable with) to help.
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 07
    They also promised to buy me my class ring as a graduation gift, but now 3 months after the fact there has been no gift and no talk of ever buying it which also hurts. I honestly assumed (naively, i know.) that they would not go on a
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 08
    A ring in a box on a wooden table
    via Roberto motoi

    The class ring that her dad and his wife promised they'd get for her after she graduated, but never actually delivered.

    Licensed media provided as editorial context.

  • 09
    honeymoon after the wedding because of our financial status, and if they did that i would be included in some way since we haven't done anything fun in nearly a decade and since i contribute so much to the household and literally
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 10
    sell my belongings to help in the household when needed. I paid for their wedding rings. I asked my dad if he could buy my graduation gift before they left for the trip as some sort of solace for myself, and he rejected it, stating that it
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 11
    could be bought anytime even in the years to come, which really hurt since it's something i would want to wear and use now the most, and probably not reach for too often in the coming years when i'm at a corporate job etc
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 12
    Anyway, during the wedding i was introduced to literally nobody on her side of the family and literally had to ask to be included in the family photo after they took all the other pictures and started going back to the reception. (also, someone paid for their entire
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 13
    wedding, reception and ceremony as a wedding gift, which goes to show how not well off we are.) Now i am home in our rental taking care of everything while they are off on a week getaway with no responsibilities and having a fantastic time. i just cannot help
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 14
    but feel extreme resentment and anger towards them both. I understand the concept of a honeymoon and that it does not include me, but all of the events leading up to it make me feel extremely used, hurt and unappreciated which i feel could've been
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 15
    helped by at least buying me my promised graduation gift or inviting me for a few days. So, AITA?
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 16
    A woman sitting on a couch, holding her head
    via Blake Cheek (Unsplash+)

    A sad young woman who has been supporting her dad financially since she was 17, while he spends her money and refuses to give her anything for her accomplishments. 

    Not actual story subjects.

  • 17
    Purple-Atolm Why aren't you living on your own with your boyfriend?
    via u/Purple-Atolm
  • 18
    Accurate-Tax-1269 OP I honestly have just felt guilty about leaving my dad behind when i know they wouldn't be able to afford where they're currently living without my help. I thought i was a bigger part of the family than i am i guess and this is making my question my morals o
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 19
    Infinite_Shame4716 Move out! Clearly they don't appreciate you or know how to make good financial decisions. Why drain yourself and your accounts for people like that. I do not believe in family to the degree of I yourself and your boundaries. You're allowed to care about yourself and let them face the consequences of their choices
    via u/Infinite_Shame4716
  • 20
    uwupingu NTA. They're honeymooning with what money lol.
    via u/uwupingu
  • 21
    Accurate-Tax-1269 OP this months rent LOL
    via u/Accurate-Tax-1269
  • 22
    ironchef8000 Here's where you're at. Your dad has attached his leg to a boat anchor and is getting ready to throw it overboard. The only issue now is whether you get caught in it too. The ball is in your court. Time to leave.
    via u/ironchef8000
  • 23
    Reverendskid "I am not the kind of person to leave my family in a situation where they cannot pay rent anymore Idk, maybe you should, & start building your own life without feeling guilty about it.
    via u/Reverendskid
  • 24
    Fine-Let7335 NTA but definitely naive. How would they buy you a class ring if they can't even pay the rent without you? Just leave. You're not their parent. It's time for the adults to grow tf up and figure it out.
    via u/Fine-Let7335

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Tags

family drama marriage wedding drama honeymoon graduate wife husband wedding rent bills dad family financial support money college
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