I finally spoke up at my family's dinner table in Cleveland after my brother made a joke about my weight. I just said "hey that's not cool" and he got really quiet for the rest of the meal. Now it's been 3 weeks and he's ignoring my texts and calls. Has anyone else had a boundary backfire like this where the other person just shuts down completely?
I was dead set against spending real money on a couch cover... figured a $20 blanket would do the same thing. Then my dog had an accident on the sofa after a bad storm, and the smell soaked right into the cushions. I spent a whole weekend trying to get it out with vinegar and baking soda, but it never fully went away. Finally broke down and ordered a custom fitted waterproof cover from a place online for about $450. It's got a thick backing that actually repels liquids, zippers for easy removal, and it fits so tight you can barely tell it's there. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner, because the cost of replacing that couch would have been way higher. Has anyone else shelled out for something that felt overpriced but totally paid off in the end?
Last month I loaned my brother $600 to cover his rent after he swore he'd pay me back in two weeks. Three weeks went by, then four, and he started avoiding my calls. I finally drove over to his place in Nashville and just sat down at his kitchen table. It was the hardest conversation I've ever had, telling him I needed the money for my own car repair that couldn't wait. He got defensive at first, but after I showed him the estimate from the shop, he venmoed me half right there. Has anyone else had to chase down a family member for money they borrowed?