Woman Discovers $7,000 Missing From Niece’s College Fund She’s Been Quietly Building For Years

Family and money don’t always mix, and when they do, things can quickly spiral out of control.

In a post to r/AITA_WIBTA_PUBLIC, one woman shared a story about supporting her single-mom sister and contributing to her niece’s college savings over several years.

But after prom season rolled around and thousands suddenly disappeared from the account, a tense standoff began to unfold.

Suddenly, boundaries got blurry, and the generous act is now raising big questions about trust, priorities, and responsibility.

Money disagreements can destroy families

Woman with glasses looking stressed at desk, reacting to niece's college fund used for prom without permission.

Image credits: Kaboompics.com/Pexels (not the actual photo)

And this woman feels like she and her sister are already having problems

Text excerpt about a woman discovering her niece's college fund was used for prom without permission.

Woman discovering niece used college fund for prom expenses without permission, showing surprise and concern.

Woman discovers niece’s college fund she helped build was spent on prom without her permission.

Text stating disappointment that a niece's college fund was used for prom instead of agreed college expenses.

Text about niece's prom appearance describing dress, hair, makeup, nails, and shoes for special prom event.

Young woman in a navy blue prom dress adjusting a corsage, symbolizing college fund used for prom without permission.

Image credits: Tony Meyers/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Woman finds out niece's college fund was used for prom limo and photo shoot without permission.

Text excerpt about expensive prom photos prompts woman to question how niece's college fund was used without asking.

Text excerpt about woman managing college fund and discovering $7,000 missing without explanation, related to college fund misuse.

Text excerpt showing a woman explaining her sister used the niece's college fund for prom expenses without asking.

Text excerpt about woman discovering niece’s college fund was partially used for prom without permission.

Woman with concerned expression talking on phone, reflecting on college fund used for prom without permission.

Image credits: Jörn Rockstroh/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Woman shocked niece used college fund for prom without asking, feeling betrayed after helping build the fund.

Woman upset after discovering niece used college fund she helped build for prom without permission.

Text showing a woman confronting her niece about using the college fund for prom and refusing to lend $2k during a meltdown.

Text screenshot showing a message about family conflict over niece's college fund used for prom without permission.

Text excerpt about niece unknowingly using college fund money for prom, causing family conflict and regret.

Woman upset after discovering niece’s college fund was used for prom costs without her permission.

Woman discovers niece's college fund she helped build was spent on prom without permission.

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Image credits: promcollegefund

In this economy, a college fund can be life-changing

Image credits: olia danilevich/Pexels (not the actual photo)

The fact that the woman is actively contributing to her niece’s future is definitely admirable. Higher education is getting more and more expensive in many places across the world, including the United States.

Here, the average tuition for out-of-state students at a public, four-year college or university for the 2024-2025 school year was $30,780. In 2023-2024, that figure was $29,840. This means tuition has increased 3.2% year over year.

Costs for dorms, meal plans, and transportation add up quickly. While institutions may handle these expenses differently, the average public, four-year college or university charged $13,310 for room and board.

Oftentimes, grants and scholarships don’t cover everything. The average projected loan balance over 4 years for undergraduates (subsidized and unsubsidized) was $26,360, while graduates (also, subsidized and unsubsidized) were expected to take out $78,080.

However, the legal aspects of this case might be murky

Image credits: Kaboompics.com/Pexels (not the actual photo)

But it’s unclear how this conflict might end, should it escalate even more. Even its legal aspects might not be entirely clear.

For example, civil dispute experts at Miller Monroe Holton & Plyler say that, “A common misconception about ownership of joint account funds can lead people into trouble. Ownership of a joint bank account is shared between two people. However, even though they share ownership of the account, the account holders do not necessarily share ownership of the funds in the account. In other words, the mere presence of funds in a joint account does not mean that the funds are owned jointly. This distinction may seem like semantics, but it can significantly impact the use of the account funds.”

According to them, when one account owner withdraws or spends joint account funds without the other owner’s knowledge or consent, they may be liable for misusing those funds.

When evaluating the management of a joint account, one must consider who owns the funds, whether the owner approved of the use of funds, and whether the funds were used in the owner’s best interest.

Hopefully, the family can answer these and other important questions by themselves without hiring any lawyers.

As her story went viral, the woman joined the discussion in the comments, and people couldn’t understand her sister’s actions either

Comments discussing niece’s college fund being used for prom expenses without permission.

Comment discussing suspicion about misuse of college fund money for prom expenses without permission.

Woman looking shocked at laptop after discovering niece's college fund was spent on prom without permission

Comment advising a woman to control niece's college fund and prevent unauthorized use, emphasizing fund management and trust.

Screenshot of an online comment asking about the woman's contribution to her niece’s college fund.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing a woman upset about her niece using the college fund for prom expenses.

Woman shocked to learn niece's college fund she helped build was used for prom expenses without permission

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Comment advising a woman on handling niece's college fund used for prom without asking, focusing on scholarships and saving.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing misuse of a niece's college fund for prom expenses without permission.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing concerns about a niece’s college fund being used for prom expenses without permission.

Comment text on a white background about financial trust concerns involving a niece's college fund and prom expenses.

Text conversation about a woman discovering niece's college fund was used for prom without permission.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman finding out niece’s college fund was used for prom without permission.

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