My mom is 61 and has always spent money like it was meant to be enjoyed immediately. Trips, spa days, beauty treatments—anything labeled “self-care,” she was all in. Whenever I questioned it, she’d brush me off with the same line: “I worked very hard for this money, so I deserve to spoil myself.”
Over time, it became obvious she wasn’t saving for the future at all. And honestly, I assumed that meant there would be no inheritance—nothing left behind except receipts and travel photos.
Then recently, she called me sounding terrified. She told me she was seriously ill and needed expensive treatment. She said she had no savings left and begged me to pay her hospital bills and cover the costs.
I refused.
I felt cold doing it, but I also felt like she’d made her choices. I thought, You can’t spend your entire life treating money like a party and then expect someone else to clean up the mess.
But before she hung up, she said something that made my skin crawl: “You’ll end up feeling sorry.”
I didn’t know what she meant. I just ended the call, shaken and angry.
Two days later, I found out the truth—and I couldn’t believe it.
It was a trap.
Yes, she really was sick. Yes, she really did need treatment. But she wasn’t broke. Not even close. She still had plenty of money—enough to cover everything and then some. She had lied about being out of savings because she wanted to “test” me and see if I would step up for her.
And when I said no, she decided that proved I only cared about her money, not her as a person.
So she told me she was disappointed in me… and she’d decided to leave her inheritance to charity instead.
Now I feel furious and manipulated. I hate that she turned something serious into a loyalty test. And I won’t lie—part of me feels entitled to that money, and I’m not ready to watch it go to some charity because of a game she decided to play.
What would you do in my position? Any advice on how to handle this without losing my mind?
