Teenager’s parents withdraw money from her savings without asking—they think they're entitled to it

Parents have the responsibility to guide their children with money until they are old enough to manage it themselves. However, this doesn't seem to be the case for one teen. An 18-year-old girl, u/throwAwayWho818, shared on Reddit how her parents withdrew nearly a thousand dollars from her savings without her consent. "Your money is our money," they claimed, and even demanded more the following day.

The teen, who had been working for her father for over a year, had saved most of her earnings in an account her parents couldn't access. "My relationship with my parents is rocky because their marriage is toxic, and my sibling (10M) and I are often caught in the crossfire of their unresolved issues," she shared, explaining their rocky family dynamics. While she lived with them for now, she planned to eventually move out with her sibling. "Recently, things had been calm between us, so I thought maybe I could trust them more. They've always said my money is mine, so I didn't see this coming," she added.

When her parents asked how much money she had in her account, the teen, trusting them, showed them the balance. "They grabbed my phone and ignored my questions about what they were doing. I overheard them transferring $990 (the daily limit) into their loan account without my permission," she explained. When she expressed her displeasure, her father laughed and instructed her to transfer another $990 the following day. "They didn't explain why they were taking the money or ask for my help beforehand," she added.

Later, her mother admitted that the money was needed for their mortgage. The teen told her they could have simply asked instead of taking it without permission. "She said, 'Your money is our money, and you're getting the house when we die, so what's the problem?' That really hurt because I've worked hard for my savings to secure my future and help my sibling, and now it feels like all my work is pointless," she wrote. Although she understood her parents were under financial stress, she felt "like an ATM instead of their daughter." She later refused to give them more money for their mortgage even though she acknowledged that she lived under their roof. "Maybe I'm being selfish by prioritizing my savings instead of helping them during a tough time. Am I in the wrong for saying no?" she asked on Reddit.

Many took to the comment section to talk about the complex situation. "Call the bank, and tell them your phone was taken by your parents to do a fraudulent transfer. Police may be involved because of the amount. Theft is theft. Your parents have no boundaries and have shown they will steal from you given the chance. I'd put a lock on your credit report, check it constantly and make sure they haven't used your social for anything they shouldn't have. Same for your brother," said u/igwbuffalo "Seriously, I know you are paid well, but find another job. Otherwise, your dad will likely start taking the money he wants straight out of your paycheck," added u/Motor_Dark6406. "They should have asked. I assume if they had asked you would have helped them. At least I would have," expressed u/Simple-Plankton4436.