My in laws financial traps.

I knew it would eventually happen and it did.

This weekend.

So for years now I have warned of the dangers of overexerting your finances. Adding a car loan to your budget. Spending too much on vacations. Putting vacations on credit cards. Adding or upgrading your Internet and cable. Spending more than you are earning. Even leaving lights on or not trying to conserve resources that you pay for can catch up to you.
I have several times in the past brought up my in laws as examples of what not to do to your financial situation. Every time we went to visit they seemed superior to all of us "peasants" who could not afford what they could BARELY afford. 60 " flat screen t.v.s, Electric couches with cup holders, refrigerator with a computer built in, new Sinks installed, 2 newer cars (one bought on mothers day) with car loans and even a motion sensor trash can. Not to mention vacations to Vegas California Hawaii Georgia AND treating the "underprivileged" grandkids to an all expense paid vacation to Disneyland complete with 100 dollar gift cards to all 3. While my kids got by with sac lunches and minumul souvenirs. Not to mention we over drafted our bank account while on that trip.

Anyways

For years I would tell myself there would be a day where we would have more financial security than they do. Give it time and keep going. Some day they will be wanting our help. We on the other hand have not even asked for a loan but I have to give them credit. For the first 3 years of our marriage they did a good job at being, uhm whats the word, GRAND PARENTS. Buying our meals and taking us places but unfortunately they have lost their grandparent charm. I can arguably trace that to when they bought the first brand new car and when her daughter moved in.
So to get to my point, here we are. My family has increased in wealth through alot of sacrifice and good financial decisions and they decided to come visit.
We let them use our car we filled it up for them paid for a meal gave them a place to stay and even paid for entertainment! When they left I had to put more gas in the car to take them to the airport. In all I would say we spent around 150 dollars while they saved 250.

So what's my point...

Here it is. Close relatives who spend lavishly and buy things they cannot afford are going to expect you to help them when your times are good and theirs are not. They may even use the "we helped you" card (which they haven't) or the "we paid for you" that one time.

Don't let it work!!

Here are some tips to prevent yourself from being ripped off from your money hungry relatives who love to show off any artificial wealth they can.

1. Treating relatives to a meal is fine. It's also a nice gesture but don't expect them to do the same. Try at least doing it at the end of the vacation that way they don't expect you to pay again.

2. Going along with eating out, go Dutch or chose less expensive fast food places.

3. If your relatives mention they are on a budget take that as a red flag. They may be expecting you to pay for more (like mine did)

5. Unless you have smart financially secure family members coming to visit DO NOT offer your car as an alternative to a rental car. With a rental car they are responsible for gas with yours they are not and if you have relatives like I do they don't realize they should fill the tank to when they began their journey. My in laws left it empty before taking them to the airport. Which meant I filled it 1 and a half times. If they ask tell them your car needs repairs or its in the shop.

6. Do not disclose your wealth. If anything  tell them your struggling also. That way they expect less.

Lastly make note of all the times you "paid" for something just on case they try to make that argument. This is not only to stand up for yourself it's also to remind yourself.