Two sisters inherited roughly $100,000 each after their parents died; one saved most of her inheritance for retirement while the other spent hers and repeatedly cycled through boom-and-bust periods. Both now earn similar incomes, but the saver has more retirement security. The saver frequently covers shared vacation costs and promised birthday gifts that the other sister fails to reimburse or deliver. The saver is self-employed, facing college costs for two children, and feels resentful and financially strained by covering more than her fair share. Confronting the sensitive sibling about money consistently feels difficult and emotionally fraught.
My parents passed away when my sister and I were teenagers, and we are now both in our late 40s. They left us enough money to finish college plus about $100,000 each. I used those funds very frugally early in life and saved most of it for retirement. My sister burned through everything quickly and has repeatedly gone through boom/bust cycles.
We earn about the same amount, but my family is much more comfortable and has saved a lot more for retirement because of choices we each made. We like to vacation with her family, but inevitably I pay for things in the moment and she either never pays me back or short-changes me. She will also tell me she's going to send me money for my kids' birthdays, which I
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