AITA: Brother gets blamed for not giving ‘spoiled’ sister money he saved up for his house

“Family sticks together” is a noble idea, but not when it’s weaponized to manipulate someone into sacrificing their happiness

Such is the case of a Reddit user named Beautiful_Raccoon226, a 28-year-old IT professional who took to the 'Am I The A*****e' forum to share a jaw-dropping tale of sibling rivalry and standing up for oneself in the face of relentless family pressure.

Reddit user reveals how he 'took care of himself' while his sister was the 'golden child'

Reddit user Beautiful_Raccoon226 begins by painting a vivid picture of his childhood dynamic with his younger sister Kelly (26).

'When I got into college, I worked part-time jobs to pay for my expenses while juggling a full-time course load", while Kelly enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle.

“Kelly was getting handed new iPhones and vacations paid for by my parents every year,” he wrote. Meanwhile, he was left to navigate life largely on his own.

He doesn’t begrudge her the perks—at least not outwardly. “I didn’t complain because, hey, that’s just how it is sometimes,” he admited. But the favoritism laid the groundwork for a much larger rift.

Reddit user's parents call him 'selfish' after he refuses to help sister

Fast forward a few years. The Reddit user graduated, built a solid career in IT, and worked tirelessly to save for a dream house. But Kelly’s life took a different turn. A surprise pregnancy and a boyfriend-turned-ex left her in a precarious position.

"My parents were freaking out because they didn't want her to "ruin her future", and guess who they turned to for help? Yep, me." Cue the parents’ solution: Let big brother bail her out.

“They basically told me I needed to give Kelly the money I’d saved up for my house so she could ‘get back on her feet,’” he recalls. Let’s be clear—this wasn’t pocket change.

This was years of disciplined saving for his future. But when he refused, the family backlash was swift and merciless. “My parents called me selfish and heartless,” he says.

Still, he stood his ground. "Eventually, they mortgaged their own house to help her out, and I thought that was the end of it," he mentioned. 

The housewarming showdown: 'She said I stole inheritance money'

Despite the family tension, things seemed to settle—for a while.

Our narrator finally achieved his dream: a house of his own, complete with a yard. He even invited his family to a housewarming BBQ. But instead of congratulating him, Kelly stole the show in the worst way possible.

He noted, "Kelly showed up late, barely said two words to me, and then started complaining about how “unfair” it was that I had a house while she was “stuck in a crappy apartment.”

The real kicker came later.  "Two days later, I find out from a mutual friend that Kelly told everyone at the BBQ that I only have the house because I stole inheritance money from her."

“WTF?!” he exclaims. “There is no inheritance. My parents are still alive, for crying out loud!”

When confronted, Kelly didn’t deny it. Instead, she doubled down. “Well, maybe you should’ve helped me when I needed it,” she smirked. He wrote, "I lost it. I told her she was toxic and selfish and that I was done with her."

'Family sticks together'—but do they?

The latest chapter in this family saga involved Kelly’s babysitter quitting. Now, the "parents are begging" him to "help out with watching her kid".

Their logic? “Family sticks together,” and he needs to “be the bigger person".

But after years of being treated as an ATM and a scapegoat, he drew a hard line. “I told them no,” he says, firmly.

He mentioned, "Now the whole family is blowing up my phone, calling me a jerk and saying I’m punishing an innocent child because of my issues with Kelly.”

While his nephew’s well-being tugs at his heartstrings, he’s adamant: “But, like, this isn’t my responsibility, right? I work full-time and have my own life. So... AITA for refusing to help after everything she did to me?"

Internet shows support for the brother

Reddit’s verdict was almost unanimous: NTA (Not the Asshole). Readers praised user Beautiful_Raccoon226 for setting boundaries and refusing to enable his sister’s behavior.

One commenter summed it up perfectly: “She could’ve avoided all this by taking responsibility for her own mess. You owe her nothing, especially after the garbage she pulled. Let your family whine; they can deal with her now.”

Another user added, “NTA, your parents can babysit THEIR grandchild.”

One viewer pointed out, "Absolutely NTA. You’re responsible for YOUR actions. These are NOT YOUR actions."

A follower observed, "NTA. Kelly is the one who needs to learn responsibility and how to take care of her own child. Don't let your family guilt trip you into enabling her entitled behavior any longer. You deserve to enjoy your new home without any toxic drama!"

One comment stated, "NTA. Kelly needs to take her baby daddy to court for paternity and child support. Neither she nor her child is your issue."

One user said, "NTA. Would it be possible to go low/no contact with your family? I'm sorry you have to deal with this OP. Congrats on getting your first home 🥳 That's quite the achievement!!"

"NTA. Kelly sounds like she’s been riding the “family favor” wave for a while and now wants to act like you owe her something. Not your responsibility to bail her out, especially after how she’s treated you," explained an individual.

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