Older woman looking angry with adult woman

Her Mother Earns Six Figures, Owns Her Home, and Travels Regularly, and Is Now Asking Her Daughters to Hand Over Half a Million Dollars From Their Grandparents’ Trust or Risk Losing the Relationship

ByKristin Stones

Her grandmother passed away two months ago, and the trust her grandfather created years ago has now become irrevocable. Half goes to her uncle and half was designated for her father, who died of cancer before her grandmother. His share is now divided equally between her and her sister. The money represents her grandparents’ lifetime…

Woman holding her head like it hurts and looking annoyed

She Gave Her Landlord Three Rent Checks Before Moving Out, the Oldest Is Four Months Old and Still Undeposited, and Her Landlord Has Not Responded to a Single Message Since Telling Her Where to Leave the Keys

ByKristin Stones

She gave her landlord three rent checks before moving out, and none of them have been deposited. The oldest is now about four months old. The money is sitting in her account, which sounds like a good problem to have, but three outstanding checks floating for months has made it genuinely difficult to budget. She…

Man holding his head and looking like he's regretting something

He Sold His Cadillac STS Three Years Ago, Handed Over the Signed Title, and Got Pulled Over Recently to Find Out the Buyer Never Transferred It and the Car Is Still Registered in His Name

ByKristin Stones

He sold his 2008 Cadillac STS three or four years ago after the transfer case failed and the repair estimate came in higher than the car was worth. He gave the buyer the title and keys and moved on. Then he got pulled over recently, and while the officer let him go, he mentioned in…

Young woman looking confused in the grocery store

She Used a $100 Birthday Gift Card for a Simple French-Tip Manicure, Went to the Grocery Store a Few Days Later, and the Cashier Canceled Her Benefits Transaction and Said She Had Money for Her Nails but Not Food

ByKristin Stones

She had just turned 20, her mom gave her a $100 gift card to the only salon in town for her birthday, and she used it to get a simple French-tip manicure. No extensions, nothing elaborate. A few days later her food benefits loaded and she went to the grocery store to buy her usual…

Man sitting in a chair leaning over looking stressed and upset

His Gambling Lost Him His Savings, His Retirement, and Accumulated Hundreds of Thousands in Debt, He Withdrew $45,000 From Their Joint Account, and Is Filing Chapter 13 While She Tries to Protect the Finances He Never Had Access To

ByKristin Stones

Her husband is 34 and is entering treatment for a gambling addiction that consumed his savings, his retirement accounts, and resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit card debt and personal loans. He also withdrew $45,000 from one of their shared accounts. She is not looking for advice about the marriage. She is…

Woman sitting on couch holding money and looking at her empty wallet

She Makes Enough to Cover Her $850 Mortgage and Has Fewer Expenses Than Her Sister, Is Spending $1,500 a Month on Discretionary Costs, and Wants Financial Help With No Bank Statements, No Budget, and No Questions Asked

ByKristin Stones

Her sister is 29, earns roughly the same salary she does, has a cheaper mortgage, and fewer necessary expenses. She also cannot afford her $850 monthly mortgage payment. When she finally said that out loud, the follow-up question was obvious. Where is the money going. The answer was more than $1,500 a month in discretionary…