Licensed builder replaces mother-in-law's roof without a written contract, and she fails to pay them the $18,800 they are rightfully owed: ‘She comes up with excuses and gives the runaround every time I talk to her about payment’

It's in our human nature to run with the pack and be there for the ones we love. That means that doing favors and offering our services to family in need feels innate; an instinct that wards off any alarm bells we probably should have when we offer up too much of ourselves. The child-in-law in this next story is realizing that their mother-in-law took advantage of their trust, and now she owes them $18,800 for a roof replacement job they completed on her home.

There's a stereotype with in-laws: Don't trust them, and don't expect much from them. You might have married your parents-in-law's kid, but that doesn't mean they owe you anything (even though human decency should be an expectation, not a surprise). We can put our hearts on our sleeves and shout into the void that we want to choose kindness and move through the world with a certain whimsy about us, but sometimes, that gets you thousands of dollars in debt because you didn't think to write a contract up for a reno job you're doing for your in-laws. Maybe the stereotype is true!

Trusting loved ones should be easy, but people like the mother-in-law in this next story sure make it hard. Scroll below.