The Money Mustache Community

Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Travis on December 27, 2014, 04:42:05 AM

Title: Christmas gift has me worried
Post by: Travis on December 27, 2014, 04:42:05 AM
My wife emailed me and said my father sent us a check for $400.  He's never given us a Christmas gift remotely close to that.  It has me a little worried.  My mother died January of last year and he retired two months later.  He's tried to keep himself busy riding his new Harley and his Shriners/Masons work, but when I see and talk to him I can tell he has his downer days.  According to my wife the card said something like "he'd like to see us enjoy it while he's around."  I can't tell if he's just getting rid of money he doesn't think he'll need or if I'm reading too deep into this.  He's only 61 and in very good health.  My wife's grandmother has been doing this for the grandchildren for several years (she's over 100) so I might be drawing the wrong conclusion.  I am going to call him tonight, but I wanted a second opinion on how to approach this.  My father and I don't talk much (just not our nature) and I don't want to come right out and ask "Are you depressed, dying, or is your 'stache just that big?"
Title: Re: Christmas gift has me worried
Post by: Nudelkopf on December 27, 2014, 04:50:16 AM
Hopefully it's all good, but I'm glad you're ringing to check. My mum gave me $3200 for Christmas and I was a little worried, so I just came out and asked why such a big gift.
Title: Re: Christmas gift has me worried
Post by: DeltaBond on December 27, 2014, 05:32:57 AM
Just a thought here, but what if you all did something WITH your dad with the money?  Might lend a chance for him to open up a little.
Title: Re: Christmas gift has me worried
Post by: Travis on December 27, 2014, 05:37:08 AM
Just a thought here, but what if you all did something WITH your dad with the money?  Might lend a chance for him to open up a little.

She's out of state, and I'm out of the country until mid January. We'll see him at the end of next month when I get home.
Title: Re: Christmas gift has me worried
Post by: DeltaBond on December 27, 2014, 09:09:33 AM
Just a thought here, but what if you all did something WITH your dad with the money?  Might lend a chance for him to open up a little.

She's out of state, and I'm out of the country until mid January. We'll see him at the end of next month when I get home.

That's plenty of time to plan something ;)
Title: Re: Christmas gift has me worried
Post by: Travis on December 27, 2014, 09:29:55 AM
I just got off the phone with him and everything seems to be okay.  He simply chalked it up to having it in his budget this year (I introduced him to YNAB).  He did say it wouldn't be a regular thing as his retirement income fluctuates, but he assured me all was well.  When I get home we'll look at going out and doing something fun.