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Man Puts Off Buying Wife Much-Needed Car, Turns Out He Secretly Loaned The Cash To His Mom Instead
Man Puts Off Buying Wife Much-Needed Car, Turns Out He Secretly Loaned The Cash To His Mom Instead

Man Puts Off Buying Wife Much-Needed Car, Turns Out He Secretly Loaned The Cash To His Mom Instead

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Trust is the foundation of any relationship, but what happens when major financial decisions are made behind your back? That sort of thing can lead to all sorts of unpleasantness and even a lasting rift between the person who made the call and the one left in the dark.

One woman was shocked to learn that the cash she and her husband had set aside to buy a new car had suddenly been lent to his mother—all without so much as a conversation about it. Furious, she turned to netizens to let off some steam.

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    Infidelity doesn’t have to be romantic to hurt, as this woman found out the hard way

    Woman in a brown jacket, looking concerned at her phone beside a damaged car, representing financial stress.

    Image credits: Drazen Zigic / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    After her car was totaled in an accident, she and her husband saved up $7.5K to buy a new one

    Text about husband's secret loan to mom, wife struggles without reliable car after accident.

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    Text about planning to buy a car and a $500 ATM withdrawal limit, related to a $7.5K loan.

    Text about a man loaning mom $7K to pay employees, keeping it secret from wife wanting a car.

    Man in white shirt on sofa holding phone and credit card, illustrating a secret $7.5K loan situation.

    Image credits: Splloganathan / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    She kept sending her husband options, but he suspiciously declined every single one without any justification

    Text discussing a hidden $7.5K loan to pay mom's employees without wife's knowledge.

    Text message revealing frustration over lack of car purchase, guy secretly loans mom $7.5K instead.

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    Text reveals frustration over secret loan for mom's employees, causing tension over delayed repayment and unfulfilled promises.

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    Man and woman in a kitchen discussing finances, with focus on money loaned to mom.

    Image credits: DC Studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    A week later, she found out he’d loaned the $7.5K to his mom, they’d kept it a secret from her, and the money had been spent

    Text about a plan involving an online bank and buying a used car, related to a secret $7,500 loan to mom.

    Text message about secret $7.5K loan to mom for employee payment, seen with bank support chat receipts.

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    Text about a man secretly loaning his mom $7K to cover payroll, proposing she repays it with an extra $1.5K.

    Text explaining a husband secretly loaning $7.5K to his mom, impacting his wife's desire for a car.

    Text of a man discussing secretly loaning $7.5K to his mom, affecting plans to buy a car.

    Final update text about loan repayment with interest, leading to car purchase.

    Image credits: Twigs-Rain

    She’s since turned to netizens to ask if she’s overreacting to her husband and mother-in-law’s betrayal—despite eventually getting the cash back

    OP begins her story by telling the community that she wrecked her car in an accident and, despite having another car, it’s not reliable and a 2-seater, which makes it difficult to load her two toddlers into. After saving up for another car, the couple realized they couldn’t withdraw the cash they’d saved up from an ATM because of withdrawal limits.

    As a workaround, they decided to send the cash to OP’s mother-in-law so she could draw it for them or at least get a cashier’s check. OP then explains that her mother-in-law is a business owner, and she was short on payroll, so OP’s husband secretly agreed to loan his mom the money they’d sent her.

    OP says she couldn’t figure out why her hubby kept declining every car she sent him and even complained to his mother about it twice in conversations they had, but the mother said nothing. Well, a week later, OP’s husband came clean, and she was furious. She turned to netizens to ask if she was overreacting to the betrayal.

    In an update to her original post, OP says her husband had made the agreement with his mother to get the loan back with interest, so the couple could shop for a slightly more expensive car. He told OP he realized he messed up and should have talked to her about it first. In the end, OP says they finally got the money back and got a new ride.

    When people think of infidelity in a marriage, they usually picture secret text messages, late-night phone calls, or sneaky behavior that leads to an affair. But what if I told you that cheating isn’t always about romance? Sometimes, it’s about cold, hard cash.

    Woman holding money, related to guy secretly loaning mom $7.5K.

    Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    In her article for The Guardian, Zoe Williams writes that a survey by US News & Report sketched out how widespread so-called “financial infidelity” is. 

    Some 30% of couples questioned by researchers described lies they had experienced or told in their relationship, the main one being secret purchases (31%), followed by hidden debts (28%) and dishonesty about income (23%). 

    In his piece for Forbes, Bobby Hoyt offers some advice to married couples on how to keep the peace when it comes to cash. Hoyt recommends talking about money early and often, tracking your spending and investments, creating a realistic financial plan, setting the same goals, and rewarding yourself for your money wins. 

    Trust in a marriage isn’t just about staying faithful—it’s also about honesty in all areas, including money. When one partner repeatedly makes financial decisions without transparency, it can have long-term consequences. At least in OP’s case, her husband’s behavior was a one-off, but she’d probably do well to keep an eye on her mother-in-law.

    What would you have done if you’d found yourself in OP’s shoes? Do you think this was a major betrayal or just a misguided decision? Let us know your opinion in the comments!

    In the comments, readers agreed that the woman wasn’t overreacting, and one went so far as to say her mother-in-law can never be trusted with their money again

    Online banking discussion about obtaining a cashier's check amid secret loan to mom for employees.

    Reddit comment discussing secret loan and financial advice about guy loaning mom $7.5K without wife's knowledge.

    Reddit comment on a husband secretly loaning $7.5K to mom, affecting his wife's trust and car purchase plans.

    Forum comment questioning a $7k loan for payroll, implying it was planned.

    Comment reads: "You should be upset. Be upset and don’t feel guilty. Hopefully you get the money back.

    A Reddit comment criticizing a guy for secretly loaning $7.5K to his mom instead of buying a car for his wife.

    Reddit comment reads, "nah this is theft," discussing secret loans.

    Guy loans mom $7.5K secretly, doesn't tell wife who wants a car, Reddit comment suggests tough approach for repayment.

    Reddit comment on a financial secret causing tension over a $7.5K loan.

    Comment on financial abuse related to a secret loan to mom without informing the wife.

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    Ivan Ayliffe

    Ivan Ayliffe

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    After twenty years in advertising, I've decided to try my hand at journalism. I'm lucky enough to be based in Cape Town, South Africa and use every opportunity I get to explore everything it has to offer, both indoors and out. When I'm not reading, writing, or listening to podcasts, I spend my time swimming in the ocean, running mountain trails, and skydiving. While I haven't travelled as much as I'd like, I did live in !ndia, which was an incredible experience. Oh, and I love live music. I hope you enjoy my stories!

    Read less »
    Ivan Ayliffe

    Ivan Ayliffe

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    After twenty years in advertising, I've decided to try my hand at journalism. I'm lucky enough to be based in Cape Town, South Africa and use every opportunity I get to explore everything it has to offer, both indoors and out. When I'm not reading, writing, or listening to podcasts, I spend my time swimming in the ocean, running mountain trails, and skydiving. While I haven't travelled as much as I'd like, I did live in !ndia, which was an incredible experience. Oh, and I love live music. I hope you enjoy my stories!

    What do you think ?
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP needs separate bank accounts at a physical bank, in her name only.

    Petra Peitsch
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That was my main WTF-momentt? How on Earth don't you have a physical bank, even if you are doing your personal or business things mostly online? Anyway, you have to have a physical bank witzh real people in it.

    Load More Replies...
    Gwyn
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP needs to seriously educate herself about banking. There were other ways to do this. Don't send your money to other people's accounts.

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    Mark Childers
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It sounds like the guy genuinely thought he was doing the right thing. They are young, after all. But boy did he learn a lesson I hope he remembers forever. Lots of lessons.

    marcelo D.
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the guy didn't do or though he was doing the right thing. He might have though it was good to lend his mother the money, but the second he decided to lie to his wife every time he brought it up, he knew perfectly well he wasn't doing the right thing.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP needs separate bank accounts at a physical bank, in her name only.

    Petra Peitsch
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That was my main WTF-momentt? How on Earth don't you have a physical bank, even if you are doing your personal or business things mostly online? Anyway, you have to have a physical bank witzh real people in it.

    Load More Replies...
    Gwyn
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP needs to seriously educate herself about banking. There were other ways to do this. Don't send your money to other people's accounts.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Mark Childers
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It sounds like the guy genuinely thought he was doing the right thing. They are young, after all. But boy did he learn a lesson I hope he remembers forever. Lots of lessons.

    marcelo D.
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the guy didn't do or though he was doing the right thing. He might have though it was good to lend his mother the money, but the second he decided to lie to his wife every time he brought it up, he knew perfectly well he wasn't doing the right thing.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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