Ask Amy: My pal held on to a examine that belonged to me for a month

My journey buddy and I met for our month-to-month lunch date. At lunch, she requested me if I had ever obtained the insurance coverage cost and after I mentioned no, she produced an envelope from the insurance coverage firm addressed to me, however despatched to her mailing deal with due to a clerical error.
She jokingly mentioned that she was making an attempt to determine how she may money the enclosed examine, which was for nearly $10,000! I replied it’s towards the legislation to money a examine that’s in another person’s identify.
I put the examine in my bag, and we began speaking a few totally different subject. Now I’m questioning if I ought to have requested for a greater rationalization about why she didn’t inform me that she had the examine a month in the past when she first obtained it.
My pal grew up in India and got here to the USA 40 years in the past in an organized marriage.
She and her husband are retired after lengthy careers. I do know that her husband has been very controlling relating to cash, and that she sends cash residence to family members. She generally tells me she continues to be baffled by American customs.
I’m relatively dissatisfied by how she dealt with this, however ought to I ask for an evidence, or simply be joyful that she gave me my examine?
Journey Insured: Sure, you ought to be joyful that you just obtained your examine, and sure — you need to talk about this yet one more time along with your pal.
It’s best to clarify to her that the delay in receiving the examine created a whole lot of fear for you. Within the weeks that she had your examine in her possession, you additionally misplaced the chance to deposit and use that substantial sum in your personal wants.
You must also ask her how issues are for her at residence. Does she have cash worries? Her husband’s tight management over her funds would possibly make her desirous to have her personal unbiased funds. Is there a manner for her to do this?
Having full management over cash generally is a type of entrapment. Your pal travels with you (away from her husband and residential), however does she really feel caught in different methods?
Pricey Amy: My husband’s household are extraordinarily outgoing and social individuals. They like that each one gatherings embody as many individuals as doable. In terms of social gatherings, they haven’t any boundaries.
My husband and I are extra introverted and like small gatherings. On a couple of event, now we have had my in-laws over, and whereas they’re right here, they are going to take a name on their cellphone from one other member of the family and invite them to “come on over” to our home. Each time this occurs, I’m blown away by the rudeness!
It’s not that we don’t like or need to see the opposite members of the family (we undoubtedly do), however we choose to have smaller, extra private gatherings generally, and we discover it extremely impolite to ask different individuals to another person’s home!
Am I fallacious in pondering that is impolite? What ought to I say when this occurs?
— Extra is Not At all times Merrier
Extra: Presumably, your in-laws could be unaffected should you invited “extras” to their residence. They could anticipate or welcome this, and never see it as impolite in any respect, however as an extension of their clan’s open-door observe. Of their residence, they get to create no matter surroundings they select.
You may have the identical proper. Your husband ought to take the lead together with his household and clarify how this habits impacts each of you. After which if this occurs in your house, you’ll need to interrupt the habits earlier than the rudeness units in, saying, “Oops, no — we’re going to maintain this gathering smaller.”
Pricey Amy: You advised “An Previous-Normal Grand” that you’ve got a Submit-it over your desk saying, “Unsolicited recommendation is at all times self-serving.”
I recommend that you just put up one other: “Categorical statements are at all times fallacious.”
Not a Fan: I promise to observe my dictum … should you’ll observe yours.
© 2023 by Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company.