Why do family members and in-laws back home think we're rich ?

[panamania79 2]

what a great topic.........they think America is a bed or Roses and it's not. I still aint find that pot of gold @the end of the rainbow yet.

My in-laws don't usually ask me anything personally but they do ask my husband all the time. so and so school fee due, need medicine and who needs to go to the doctors. He be all stressed out about it and he is the 3rd youngest out of 7 kids but he's the one that they call on.

I tell him all the time I don't like to talk to your sister because she always begging money even though she doesn't come out and ask i know she wants to and I can support her and her 5 kids and husband.

In America I'm considered the working Poor even though the government doesn't think so I do.

Me too,but they have it stuck in their heads that we're millionaires.Oh,don't I wish.

[sj5 4]

that's what they think. I sent to my two brothers in PI last year and they kept going on and on is like they want me to send them all the time

so i cut communications with them..I have peace of mind..I mean phone peace..LOL

[JVKn'CVO 11]

When I met my wife her family were squatters, living in a tiny shack by the side of the road. They lived from day to day, with whatever small amount of money her father could make doing farm labor.

They never asked us for a penny.

I was so inspired (and humbled) I bought them a little piece of land and I am now building a simple small house for them. They are very thankful for that, and I feel fortunate to be able to do it.

They still don't ask for anything.

That was beautiful, that's so nice of you

Sorry I can't relate to the topic. I have barely little family in my home country. I have friends but they all have really good jobs. I still would like to do something nice and special for my best friends. I'm still figuring out what, probably a ticket to come visit me

Saludos,

Caro

[Jasman0717 9]

I guess I'm lucky. My family and friends would never ask me for money or to buy them anything.

Yes you are lucky. We usually get a text message at least once a week for additional money beyond what my business partner gives Claudeth's family

[SqdnGuns 21]

I struck a deal with my fiancee's family. They take care of the land and cattle that we have back in Thailand, I will send them $500 US a month, no more, no less. In essence, they are working for it.

[bora bora 1]

I struck a deal with my fiancee's family. They take care of the land and cattle that we have back in Thailand, I will send them $500 US a month, no more, no less. In essence, they are working for it.

Fair enough, right?

After reading all these posts it makes me feel lucky we don't have these issues. My husband also has little family left and they do alright themselves - his uncle is in the air force and his cousin is an engineer. Although hubby's brother is not a professional he makes money to support his family.

As far as the Nike shoes - they're SUPER expensive in Brazil, and you can get a decent pair here for $29.99. I'm sure my husband will bring gifts to Brazil, but he won't bankrupt for it. If we don't get a new laptop, no one is

[Nessa 23]

As far as the Nike shoes - they're SUPER expensive in Brazil, and you can get a decent pair here for $29.99.

Exactly. They're really expensive, US$ 300 or more for a pair of tennis shoes you can buy here for 50. If anyone ask me to buy them anything that costs a lot of money in Brazil here so I can bring it to them when I go to brazil and they'll pay me back then why not? I don't see a problem with someone asking me to buy something that cost like 5 times less here, but I'd see a problem if they were asking me to buy them stuff and just send it to them. But they know better, plus it's not like they can't afford it, but it is definitely better to pay 50 instead of 300.

[panamania79 2]

As far as the Nike shoes - they're SUPER expensive in Brazil, and you can get a decent pair here for $29.99.

Exactly. They're really expensive, US$ 300 or more for a pair of tennis shoes you can buy here for 50. If anyone ask me to buy them anything that costs a lot of money in Brazil here so I can bring it to them when I go to brazil and they'll pay me back then why not? I don't see a problem with someone asking me to buy something that cost like 5 times less here, but I'd see a problem if they were asking me to buy them stuff and just send it to them. But they know better, plus it's not like they can't afford it, but it is definitely better to pay 50 instead of 300.

Wow,that's a big price difference.In Panama they cost the same as they do here.

[Mononoke28 135]

In Colombia most of that stuff is more expensive, so don't get me started on Nike shoes, Levis or computers. The problem is that they always say "Can you bring me a DVD player/or a digital camera/or a laptop computer and I'll pay you when you get here?" Uhm... they never pay and when they do is years later after you had to bug them for them to pay you. Been there, done that, never again. They think you can afford it so why pay you for it and maybe you can forget.

Diana

[garya505 2]

When I met my wife her family were squatters, living in a tiny shack by the side of the road. They lived from day to day, with whatever small amount of money her father could make doing farm labor.

They never asked us for a penny.

I was so inspired (and humbled) I bought them a little piece of land and I am now building a simple small house for them. They are very thankful for that, and I feel fortunate to be able to do it.

They still don't ask for anything.

That was beautiful, that's so nice of you

Sorry I can't relate to the topic. I have barely little family in my home country. I have friends but they all have really good jobs. I still would like to do something nice and special for my best friends. I'm still figuring out what, probably a ticket to come visit me

Saludos,

Caro

I forgot to mention that I made sure to find some land that was income-producing. I was hoping that they would make the best of it and they seem to be doing that. The only problem we have is that my father-in-law is sometimes working there from dawn to dark, and my mother-in-law gets lonely!

[panamania79 2]

In Colombia most of that stuff is more expensive, so don't get me started on Nike shoes, Levis or computers. The problem is that they always say "Can you bring me a DVD player/or a digital camera/or a laptop computer and I'll pay you when you get here?" Uhm... they never pay and when they do is years later after you had to bug them for them to pay you. Been there, done that, never again. They think you can afford it so why pay you for it and maybe you can forget.

Diana

That sounds so familiar.The only diference is that all that electronic stuff is way cheaper in Panama.So I'll get this "We've been needing a laptop for some time now." So I'll be like okay,let's go to el Machetazo and I'll get you the kiddie on for 30 dollars.

[Mononoke28 135]

Oh! once my cousin told my mom that he was studying computers at some school and that someone had given him the monitor, another person gave him the keyboard, another one gave him the mouse and that he ONLY needed the CPU. My mom then told me this and said "that's all he needs, is that expensive?" I said "Mom, that's the ACTUAL computer itself and that's ALL he needs?" Puh-lease.

Diana

[bora bora 1]

Oh! once my cousin told my mom that he was studying computers at some school and that someone had given him the monitor, another person gave him the keyboard, another one gave him the mouse and that he ONLY needed the CPU. My mom then told me this and said "that's all he needs, is that expensive?" I said "Mom, that's the ACTUAL computer itself and that's ALL he needs?" Puh-lease.

Diana

hahaha - some people will do anything.

I've heard complaints from a Polish friend of mine about this same issue, and my mother says her friends from Ghana don't even enjoy going back since they get bombarded with requests.

I told my hubby that we only need to tell his family and close friends - in order to avoid hearing "can you bring me...?"

My best friend in Brazil did buy a camera on-line and have it sent to my address, then all I had to do was put it in my suitcase. Her nephew did the same w/ a tiny MP3 player. This is different though because no one is asking me to pay for anything (I wouldn't mind though since this friend is like family). Plus, this $150 camera costs over $400 where she lives...

[Mononoke28 135]

Not telling people you're going ahead of time is key. But once they know we're there... they're there ALL the freaking time to see what we brought. This year I'm only taking gifts for two people in my family and that's it.

Oh and you know what else gets to me, the fact that they say "let's go out to a movie or dinner or restaurant" and I'm like "sure". We order, then order drinks and stuff like that and then they expect me to pay. Last time I said I was only paying my share and they were all struggling to get money together to pay for the rest. They were not very happy that night. But I'm not an ATM machine!

Diana

[panamania79 2]

Not telling people you're going ahead of time is key. But once they know we're there... they're there ALL the freaking time to see what we brought. This year I'm only taking gifts for two people in my family and that's it.

Oh and you know what else gets to me, the fact that they say "let's go out to a movie or dinner or restaurant" and I'm like "sure". We order, then order drinks and stuff like that and then they expect me to pay. Last time I said I was only paying my share and they were all struggling to get money together to pay for the rest. They were not very happy that night. But I'm not an ATM machine!

Diana

Oh no,you should not tell any of your friends you are going back home.If you do,you'll get a crowd of people over your house handing you everything from pictures,letters,and even envelopes of cash to bring to relatives

That's what I call "Yo invito,y tu pagas," syndrome.I'll never forget the time I took my fiance's daughter out to eat and the rest of his family got jealous.Can you believe they actually got jealous over an 11 year old ? That's what I ended up telling them,I am not Lani's National Bank.