My in-laws are wealthy—and famously stingy. The kind of people who order freely and forget their wallets with Olympic-level consistency.
So when my mother-in-law invited my mom to her birthday dinner while my husband and I were out of the country, I warned her.
“They always pull something,” I said.
My mom just smiled. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ve got this.”
That night, they went all out. Lobster. Steak. Expensive wine. Every upgrade on the menu.
Then, right on cue, the performance began.
“Oh no,” my MIL gasped, patting her purse. “I forgot my wallet.”
“My wallet’s in the car,” my FIL said, already standing.
My sister-in-law’s phone rang. “Emergency—I’ll be right back!”
One by one, they disappeared.
My mom was left alone at the table… with the bill.
Except she didn’t panic.
She smiled.
She waved the server over and ordered dessert. Then she asked for the most expensive bottle of red wine on the list.
When the manager approached, she gestured calmly toward the window. Outside, my in-laws were sitting in their luxury car, watching her through the glass, waiting for the meltdown.
“My family has a strange sense of humor,” my mom said pleasantly. “They’re sitting out there to see if I’ll get flustered.”
The manager followed her gaze, instantly recognizing the car.
She continued, “My son-in-law’s father is a regular here. He told me that if this ever happened, I should just put everything on his house account—including a generous tip for the staff.”
The manager nodded without missing a beat.
“Of course, madam.”
My mom enjoyed her cake. She sipped her wine. She took her time.
Then she called a taxi and went home.
The entire dinner—plus the premium bottle and a 30% tip—was charged straight to my father-in-law’s tab.
He paid a fortune.
And he never said a word about it—because complaining would’ve meant admitting he tried to stick his own guest with the bill.
Lesson learned.
