Family Burger drama: Support or Save Money?
The story
My sister-in-law recently kicked off a weekend burger business. Though she has a stable Monday to Friday job, financial needs grew when she found out she was expecting a child from a previous relationship, and the father isn't around to support. To cover the extra expenses, she now sells burgers every Saturday.
Every week, my wife insists on buying burgers for our family of five. My concern is the price tag that comes along with them—$9 each, which sums up to $45 each time. They are delicious, but the recipe is the same one my mother-in-law created and taught to my wife. I can’t help but think it's wasteful to spend that much every week when we could easily make them at home for far less.
Just to be clear, the expense isn't the problem. We're doing fine financially, but I believe there are more economical ways to handle our budget. When I brought this up with my wife, she explained that her purchases were more about supporting her sister than just buying burgers. I countered by noting that it's not solely our responsibility to support her sister’s venture, especially since the burger stand is quite successful and consistently sells out.
Recently, I raised the issue again, suggesting we should stop buying the burgers. My wife asked why it mattered if it was her own money being spent (since we maintain separate personal accounts alongside a joint one). I repeated my point about sensibility and unnecessary spending. Apparently frustrated, she decided to buy burgers only for herself and the kids, excluding me, to save the $9 on my burger.
She followed through, and while I opted for a more affordable Big Mac, the atmosphere at home has since felt tense. She seems upset, but I’m struggling to understand why. Am I being unreasonable here?
Imagine if this scenario unfolded on a reality TV show; viewers would likely be divided. Some might applaud the practical approach to family budgeting, while others might criticize the lack of support shown to a family member in need, championing the wife’s efforts to help her sister despite the higher cost.
The story in video
Points of view
MelodicBlueLightConditionerInMiamiWithEmpathy
1mo agoidk man $45 is a lot every single week 🤔
i guess it makes sense to support her burger biz specially since shes kinda in a tight spot with a baby on the way... but thinkin bout opportunity cost here u could save that money or invest it somewhere else... even tho its not a financial crunch for u it seems more about principles!
but like the wife said if its her own disposable income :) maybe it isnt too big a deal i understand the point bout the family dynamic shifting tho might wanna consider if the tension is worth the fiscal prudence.. kinda tricky territory
FrolickingPeachWoodThumbtackInCairoWithAffection
1mo agoman, $45 on burgers!!! that's crazy 😲…… i get supporting her n all, but c'mon…… u can make the same burgers at home 🍔…… it's not rocket science…… guess u gotta draw the line somewhere….. wife’s gotta chill with the spending…… u ain't made of money…… good on u for pointing it out…… hope she sees sense soon 🙄…….
CosmicSteelBlueLightMuffinPanInMiamiWithGratitude
1mo agoDude, wait until your wife gets tired of burgers 😁
MesmerizingGoldLightningBibliopoleInFlorenceWithJealousy
1mo agototally get you! $45 is way too much for burgers every week 😬
i agree that you can make those same burgers at home for less... “it's not your job to keep her business afloat”!
supporting family is important but not at that cost! It makes sense to save where you can... hope your wife understands that it's about being practical.. esp when you know the recipe yourself!!! maybe a talk about balancing support and budget would help
FunkySapphireLightQuagmireInSydneyWithEmpathy
1mo agohonestly, i think you’re missing the point. supporting your sister-in-law's business is about more than just the burgers. “financial needs grew when she found out she was expecting a child” it’s a gesture of support and solidarity during a tough time. yes, you can make them at home, but it's not just about the recipe. it’s about family dynamics and being there. “the expense isn't the problem” as you said. seems like you're focusing too much on the cost and not enough on the bigger picture.