In-Law Billed Me $695 for Moth Damage after Using My House like a Storage Unit – I Gave Her a Reality Check
For five years, Andy and Sarah had given up their guest bedroom, turning it into a storage room for her parents’ belongings. But once the couple discovered that they were pregnant, they asked the older couple to remove their things, causing unnecessary friction and a surprise reward.
Five years ago, my in-laws decided to downsize their house, seeking the perfect little gem for just the two of them. Naturally, they had too much stuff, so they asked if they could store some of it at ours. And why not? We had a guest room we didn’t use.
So, sure, the guest room became a temporary storage until it essentially turned into our very own rented storage unit. Boxes piled up, the bed got nudged into a corner, making the phrase ‘toss it in the storage unit’ a little too familiar at home.
Then, surprise! Sarah ran into the room waving a pregnancy test, joyfully exclaiming, “I’m pregnant, Andy!” This unexpected blessing had us dreaming about baby names and nursery colors. The guest room – aka ‘storage unit’ – HAD to go.
During Sunday brunch, while announcing the big baby news to Sarah’s parents, I addressed the elephant in the room. “Mom, Dad, we need you to move your stuff out of the guest room as soon as possible. We’re turning it into a nursery.” Their response? A casual “soon,” as if it were tomorrow’s to-do.
Weeks of waiting turned into anxious days until Sarah encouraged me to put my foot down. So, I approached my in-laws with a firm deadline: the end of the month. Her parents finally started clearing, but then drama struck. Imagine the scene! My mother-in-law, Janet, pulls out a moth-damaged fur coat from a box. Her reaction? Hysterical shrieks blaming us for the damage.
“Really? Andy! Sarah! I can’t trust you with anything! You and your dirty house ruined my favorite vintage piece!” To which my calm reply came, “Janet, you left this in a box for five years. If it was so precious, you should’ve cared for it better.”
Things got messier. The next day, I received a bill for $695. I kid you not; a replacement fur coat invoice! Well, if she wanted to play this game, I could provide some entertainment.
Jumping into action, I sent Janet an invoice of my own. Five years of storage at $150 a month totaled a neat $9,000. The money, I sweetly noted, would go toward her grandchild’s nursery. No response. Days passed until her husband, Greg, sheepishly arrived to pick up the remaining clutter. At last, one stressor off our plate.
Sarah and I turned that space into an inviting nursery, a haven for our impending joy. But then, get this: Janet listed the damaged fur coat online as a rare vintage piece for $1,200!
Head-shaking laughter erupted. “She’s claiming it has ‘natural wear and tear’ and asking for $1,200!” Sarah groaned, scrolling through her phone.
Then Greg called, apologizing for the chaos. Over coffee, he handed me an envelope with a $9,000 check. “Consider this for the storage. It’s the least I can do,” he said, clearly mortified by their antics.
Sarah and I celebrated with a taco night—on Greg’s unexpected generosity. What would you have done in my shoes?
