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Trust between family members can be easily tested.
In this story, a man keeps a tip jar near his front door, with a notebook where he records the money that goes in and out.
He later discovered that some of the cash went missing from his tip jar after his brother’s family visited.
He asked everyone, including his wife, brother, and brother’s wife, if they took the money.
But the conversation quickly turned tense and defensive.
Check out the full details below.
AITAH for accusing my house guests of stealing money from me?
My brother, his wife, and their three kids stayed at my house for a few days.
Near my front door, I keep a tip jar. I use it for pizza deliveries, DoorDash orders, and similar things.
I usually keep $20 bills in it and a small notebook next to the jar.
I write down how much money is in it. I subtract any tips I use.
This man discovered that his tip jar was missing $40.
Before my brother’s family arrived, the jar contained $120.
At the end of every week, I count the cash in the jar. I make sure everything matches my records.
After they had been staying with us, I did my usual count.
I discovered that $40 was missing. I had not ordered any food that week.
There should not have been any money taken out. Nothing was recorded in the notebook, either.
He asked everyone who had been in the house, and they said they didn’t know about it.
I asked my wife if she had used any of the money. She said no.
So I called my brother and asked if he knew anything about the missing cash.
He said no. He claimed he did not even know I had a tip jar. His wife said the same thing.
I then suggested that maybe one of their children had taken money from the jar.
That was when the conversation became hostile.
Now, his brother got mad at him for blaming his kids.
My brother got angry. He said it was impossible.
The kids were not even tall enough to reach where the jar was kept.
I responded that, I could not think of anyone else who could have taken the $40.
Assuming he and his wife were telling the truth.
He still thinks one of them took the money.
At that point, he got even more upset. He accused me of calling him a thief.
He hung up on me. I still think it is possible that someone in his family took the money.
No one else was inside my home except for them. AITA here?
Uh oh, that’s an uncomfortable conversation to have with family. But was the argument really worth $40?
It’s understandable why OP had questions, but bringing up missing money can quickly make people feel accused.
Maybe it’s best to let this one go and keep valuables somewhere safer next time. What do you think?
Let’s see how others reacted to this story.
This person thinks the brother was lying.
This one shares their honest opinion.
Here’s another personal remark.
If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a mom who wants her daughter to help pay for her own cell phone, but her daughter says she can’t force her to get a job.
People are accusing the brother.
Finally, here’s a suggestion.
When cash disappears, so does peace of mind.