Woman Earns Good Money, MIL Is Upset She Can’t Take Full Advantage Of It: “But You Are Rich”

“Beggars can’t be choosers.” Living by this self-explanatory proverb is expected from every sensible adult. Asking for help from someone means taking whatever they offer you with gratitude, even if it doesn’t fully resolve your need. 

It’s a principle that’s absent in this woman, who needed help with paying her rent. When her son and daughter-in-law offered half of the money, she began questioning their decision. Worse, she also blamed her own children for not being “rich” enough. 

You will find the entire story below, along with reactions from readers who didn’t hold back.

Demanding more from someone who has already offered their help is never a good look

Elderly woman inspecting dollar bill, illustrating entitled behavior after rent payment dispute with daughter-in-law.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

A woman approached her daughter-in-law to ask for some financial assistance

Entitled woman compels daughter-in-law to pay full rent, acts entitled after receiving only half the amount.

Middle-in-law compels daughter-in-law to pay rent in full, acting entitled after receiving partial payment.

Young woman looking frustrated while talking on phone, expressing entitlement about rent payment from daughter-in-law.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

The daughter-in-law offered to pay half, but it wasn’t enough

Woman compels daughter-in-law to pay full rent, acts entitled after receiving only half from joint account discussion.

Text excerpt showing a woman discussing rent payment with her daughter-in-law who paid half, highlighting entitled behavior.

Woman compels daughter-in-law to pay full rent, acts entitled after receiving only half the amount requested.

Text excerpt showing a woman insisting her daughter-in-law pays full rent after receiving only half, acting entitled.

Image credits: LushGlinty

Having a sense of entitlement could be a way to mask a feeling of unworthiness

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Encountering an entitled person may automatically lead to assumptions of a possible narcissistic personality, which is understandable. After all, believing you’re deserving of something you’re not shows you have an inflated sense of self-importance, which is one of the many signs of narcissism. 

However, this may not always be the case. According to author and relationship therapist Steven Stosny, Ph.D., acting entitled may also be a sign of low self-worth. 

In an article for Psychology Today, Stosny explained that self-important people act the way they do to “hide a deeper sense of unworthiness.” According to him, clients who display a sense of entitlement “rarely feel loved.” 

“If you’re angry, you perceive threats to some presumed entitlement,” Stosny wrote. “And if you’re entitled, you’re bound to be angry, as the rest of the world will resist your sense of entitlement.”

Stosny’s statement on anger may explain the mother-in-law’s arrogance when her daughter-in-law told her she was only getting half of her rent money. She may also be feeling inferior about having to practically beg for her rent money, which is why she may have masked it with the entitled behavior she displayed. 

What makes it more complicated is that the mother-in-law is a parental figure, and technically holds the “power” in the relationship dynamic. However, it does not give them the license to engage in toxic behavior. 

In such scenarios, maintaining self-respect is essential. According to licensed clinical social worker Brooke Schwartz, LCSW, taking the high road would be the best reaction. 

The woman did just that by calmly explaining why they could only give her mother-in-law 50% of the rent money. She simply hung up the phone without responding aggressively, which made her appear more sensible.

Commenters gave candid responses, primarily criticizing the MIL and offering suggestions

Screenshot of an online comment discussing entitlement and control over money related to paying rent in full or partially.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing a woman compelling daughter-in-law to pay rent in full and acting entitled.

Comment about a woman insisting her daughter-in-law pays full rent after receiving only half, showing entitled behavior online.

Comment on forum stating pay 50 percent rent directly to landlord, highlighting entitled attitude over rent payment dispute.

Text conversation screenshot showing a comment about paying rent and making coffee at home, highlighting entitled behavior.

Comment with woman compelling daughter-in-law to pay full rent, acting entitled after receiving only half the payment.

Text post discussing family money boundaries and privacy about income, related to entitled rent payment conflict.

Comment on a forum post discussing a woman acting entitled after her daughter-in-law pays half the rent.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing rent payment and budgeting related to a woman compelling her DIL to pay rent.

Text post discussing a woman compelling daughter-in-law to pay rent in full and acting entitled after receiving half.

Comment about mother-in-law demanding rent from daughter-in-law in online discussion thread.

Comment on Reddit post saying a woman demands her daughter-in-law to pay rent in full but acts entitled after receiving only half the amount.

Text message screenshot showing someone telling another to pay rent in full, expressing entitlement after receiving half payment.

Text excerpt discussing a woman compelling daughter-in-law to pay rent and acting entitled after receiving partial payment.

Screenshot of a comment discussing a woman compelling her daughter-in-law to pay rent in full and acting entitled after receiving half.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a mother-in-law demanding full rent payment and acting entitled after receiving half.

Comment advising two approaches when a woman demands her DIL pay full rent, showing entitlement after partial payment.

Screenshot of an online comment showing user lsp2005 saying "This will never end" in a plain text format.

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