Marriage is supposed to be a partnership, but for one woman, it became a battle for basic respect. From the very start, her in-laws never accepted her, even pushing for a prenup because they assumed she was after their son’s money. What they didn’t know was that she was actually far wealthier than him.
Reddit user u/Potential_Low_8645 shared her story, revealing how years of hostility, exclusion, and disrespect from her husband’s family led her to finally leave—and thanks to the prenup they insisted on, she walked away without losing a dime.
A family that never wanted her around
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From the beginning, her husband’s family made it clear they didn’t approve of her. She recalled:
"One time, I joined them for dinner and brought a cake I'd made (because I was always raised to be a gracious guest). When I stepped into the kitchen and offered the cake to his mother as a thank you for inviting me, she took the plate over to the garbage bin, dumped it in, and handed me the plate back,."
Her husband confronted his mother, but she immediately played the victim, claiming she had "lost her grip" on the plate. His sister jumped in to defend her, and nothing changed.
The prenup that worked in her favor
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His family’s next move was to pressure her into signing a prenup, accusing her of being a gold-digger. She agreed, hoping it would earn their trust—but they never accepted her.
Then, in 2020, everything changed.
"COVID hit, and the business her husband owned collapsed, draining their savings. I refused to go into debt to keep it going, so he closed it down."
By 2022, her husband was unemployed and depressed, convincing her to move closer to his family for support. While he worked part-time, she became the breadwinner, covering most expenses—including buying all the family’s Christmas gifts.
Excluded from Christmas plans—and done for good
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The final straw came in December, when her in-laws made it clear she wasn’t welcome at Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas lunch.
"They didn't want me to join them because I would 'ruin the family vibe.' In response, I told him, 'Fine, we’ll do our own thing instead.'"
Her husband’s reaction? He admitted he was still going without her.
That was it.
Realizing her marriage was over, she decided to have the last laugh.
Returning gifts and walking away—on her terms
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Instead of wasting money on a family that rejected her, she returned all their expensive gifts and replaced them with cheap, petty alternatives.
Then, she put $600 aside for a new apartment and told her husband it was over.
"He was furious, saying I humiliated him and 'embarrassed him in front of his family.'"
The prenup saved her—just like they wanted
When she handed him divorce papers, reality hit him hard.
Thanks to the prenup his family insisted on, he wasn’t entitled to any of her savings.
She wrote:
"He doesn't have money for rent and auto insurance. Not my problem anymore."
The internet applauds her for playing it perfectly
Users celebrated her win, praising her for standing up for herself and calling out her husband’s entitlement.
Supportive Reddit comment Reddit | u/loyalservantport
Supportive Reddit commentReddit | u/Moonlight_Glowz
Others admired her revenge gift swap, with u/Bundt-lover joking:
It would’ve been even more awesome if the shampoo had gone to the chihuahua, and the giant dog bone to the mother-in-law."
Meanwhile, u/Liu1845 had the best suggestion for a final touch:
"So thoughtful of them to insist on a prenup! I hope you send them a sincere thank you note after the divorce is finalized, lol."
A couple signs divorce papersCanva
A breakup that couldn’t have gone better
After years of mistreatment, this woman didn’t just walk away—she made sure they all felt it.
Her in-laws tried to protect their son from a gold-digger, but in the end, it was her finances that stayed intact while he struggled to pay rent.
And if anyone deserves a well-worded thank-you card, it’s them.
This article originally appeared earlier this year.
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.