UGHHH!!!! (Long Vent)

Mjlove10

SO, my 18 year old sister talked me into getting her a cell phone on my plane 5 months ago, when my mom refused to have her on her account  because she ran up a $800 phone bill. My sister is in college (which sadly, we never thought she would ever do... Good thing she proved us wrong) and works at bath and body works. When i agreed to putting her on my phone, she was getting 20+ hrs a week and promised to pay her portion of the bill.

well, about 2 months ago, they cut her hours down to about 4 hours a week, because they were over staffed and her School schedule got in the way. So being a good sister and trying really hard to make college life easy for her, we made a deal that she would watch my daughter every fri for 4 hours a day, and i would pay her bill for her.

Last fri, i get home after taking her home and realize my $200 Partylite candle is MIA. So i text my sister asking where it is. She responds, "OMG, sorry i forgot to tell you. I accidentally knocked it over when i was playing with jayla and it shattered so i threw it away."  Annoyed, i let it go. Whatever.

TODAY! While at work, i receive a text saying " Do you have insurance on your laptop" OMG!! PLEASE TELL ME YOUR JOKING! I get home today... and my 3 month old laptop screen is completely shattered on the right hand side! She, layed it on the floor, to go get my daughter a drink, forgot it was there and stepped on it. IM SO UPSET! Ofcourse my FI's first reaction was.. "Well, shes gonna have to buy you a new one". My sister makes $100 a week, if shes lucky. It would take her a lifetime to buy me a new one. Im so upset. I cant make her do that. The laptop, is usable, im on it now.. but its not my "Pretty New laptop any more"

I know it was an accident, but shes so careless with my stuff, that i work very very hard for

PhiSigFly

UGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!! 

That's so hard... You kinda need to talk to her... Let her know that you REALLY appreciate her watching your daughter BUT... Maybe you could make a joke about how it'd be cheaper to hire a babysitter because she keeps breaking your stuff, and just stress that she needs to be more careful. 

I'm sorry, that really sucks and it's so hard to talk to family (especially little sisters) about stuff like that.

em01092

Yeah that really blows. Your sister sounds like she just does not understand that you work hard for your things, since she is not working full time, and maybe does not appreciate what she/you have. 

I would sit her down and be like look: "Please try to take more care with my things. Accidents do happen, but what if these things had happened at someone else's home, if you had a babysitting job? The only reason you are 'off the hook' is because you are my sister."

IMO, she should start doing something ELSE to pay for this damage, or lose the phone. That's what would have happened to me! She could always look for another job too. I know times are rough right now but its worth a shot. 

Good luck!

meganb1977

Agree with em.  Ask your sister to do additional tasks/chores for you to compensate you for the damage.  Perhaps you can get the screen fixed and it won't cost as much as replacing the laptop?

cdbishop

I am so sorry! That really does suck.  I agree that maybe you should talk to her about her actions.  You are doing her a favor by having her on your cell phone plan.  Maybe with the semester over soon she will be able to get more hours at work or a second job to make some extra money and pay you back.

Mjlove10

Well, good news is my FI found a screen on Amazon for $80... Much cheaper then i thought it would be. My sister is giving me $20 a pay check until it is paid off and i had a talk with her. Ive always called her Fred Flinstone because there is nothing graceful about my sister. She has always been very clumsy and heavy handed. haha.

Thanks for all the advise girls!