My SIL’s Family Maxed Out Their Credit Cards & My Wife Demanded I Pay Them—I Said No, So She Did It Herself and Regretted It

My wife, Rachel, asked me to bail out her sister Lana, whose lavish lifestyle led to maxed-out credit cards and debt. I refused, prioritizing our savings for a house and retirement. Days later, I discovered $2,000 missing from our joint account—Rachel had given it to Lana for a new car. Furious at the betrayal, I confronted her. She defended her actions, claiming it was “our” money. To protect our finances, I opened new accounts, limiting her

access. Rachel called it financial abuse and stormed out with a packed bag. Days later, Lana called, demanding more money, implying I owed them. Rachel then called, hesitantly asking for more funds to prevent Lana’s eviction. I refused, pointing out their misuse of the $2,000. Her uncertainty hinted at regret, but I told her to call when she figured it out and hung up. Staring at my phone, I questioned if I’d done the right thing, grappling with the fallout of broken trust.