Money can complicate family dynamics in unexpected ways. In this situation, a couple resorts to pretending they’re broke to avoid constant requests from family members for financial help. What began as a minor lie to conceal their inheritance has spiraled into a full-blown deception. Now, the facade is becoming harder to sustain, and the person recounting the story is unsure how to proceed.

Here’s what they shared:

My husband and I have been pretending to be financially struggling, and surprisingly, it’s working out. The reason we started this was that my family tends to see anyone with money as a source of financial support. A few years back, we came into a decent inheritance, and almost immediately, our family began subtly suggesting that we should help everyone out. To avoid these constant demands, we decided to act like we were in financial trouble. It started with small things, but soon enough, it turned into a full performance. We claimed we couldn’t afford to go out to dinner or cover basic expenses. My family believed us—they even started feeling sorry for us, offering clothes, canned goods, and sometimes, cash.

One time, my mom saw me driving a new car. She hesitated, then approached me cautiously, asking where I got the money for it. I told her it was just a rental for work. She didn’t look convinced, and that’s when it hit me that keeping up this pretense was getting more difficult. Now, I’m stuck wondering—do we finally confess or continue with the charade?