Sister-in-law

Do not continue this line of chat. Put a stop to it. She is trying to get control of you so that your think in your head about her and what comment she might make every time you shop.

give one of the answers that others in this thread have suggested such as

no what about you? or Just the usual nothing of special interest, what about you?

I was brought up to think it was bad manners to ask anyone anything to do with money eg cost of something, how much they earn, how much they owe etc. It's private.
Maybe in those days so many people were poor it was wrong to embarrass them.
I admit I do sometimes ask now, especially if it's something I'm also thinking of buying or selling .
But your sister in law sounds a bit over the top, Oldwoman. She's obsessed.

ask her the same thing!! has she been out for any meals at restaurants or has she bought anything new. sounds like bullying to me.is she older than you?

Give her something to chew over next time she interrogates about what You do with Your money - just flippantly say "oh well, since the timely win on the Health Lotto it's a relief that money's no object for the foreseeable future......" Then hang up pronto!

Ha!Ha!Ha!

(There's a devil in all of us......)

How about " I knew you'd ask so I have my receipts here by the phone. Do you want me to read all of them or just the edited highlights? "
With luck, that should induce some embarrassment!

Sister in Law
My Mother used to do the same to me! My mother would say, “Oh, you’ve got new shoes!! How much were they?” and I’d go into a detailed explanation why I needed them and they were in a sale. Then one day I decided my money was earned by me and what I spent it on was up to me. So I learned to smile and say, “Yes, they are new. I love them!”
Take no notice of your SiL and answer her question with “nothing”. Try asking her the same Q‼️

Funnily enough I have a sister-in-law who used to do this too. When she would say " Oh that's a new top, where did you get that, what did it cost?" I would reply " If I told you I would have to shoot you" (as a smart joke of course). She stopped asking after that. We get on like a house on fire.

oh god ALL of the above (older sister ALL of eighteen months ) blighted my life for soo many reasons 60 now maybe might get a grip soon how pathetic of me

Maybe it's a sister in law thing. Mine will say every time, within half an hour of meeting up " it's alright for you, you've got a work pension". She forgets that I paid into it for all my working life and she never bothered to pay in for own pension. I just ignore it now but would love to say something witty to her.

I can't think of anyone asking if I had spent any money recently, but a number of people ask how much I have spent on things - none of their business!!! If she asks again I would as someone else mentioned and say no - nothing you are being PC and using what you have / recycling.... What a cheek...

You could tell her you purchased groceries if that's alright with her and then tell her to mind her business it's nothing to do with her what you buy unless she is paying for it.

Not a bad question to start with, quite gossipy and fun. My lovely Mil liked to hear about clothes etc we had got recently. However, when it’s followed by an intrusive cost enquiry, it’s just rude.

ah but Teddy123 your daughter is watching you frittering away her inheritance on geegaws............

Just plain rude, odd & unnecessary! My daughter now does the same thing with me. In fact there's no no way it would go shopping with her. It was always a "do you need it" when I held up something I fancied for inspection and that somehow vastly reduced the pleasure of shopping for stuff you like as opposed to need.

Anyway, in the end I think I told her to mind her own business! It still baffles me as to why she cared what I spent since it came out of my purse, not hers. Blimey if she had any knowledge of my stash, she'd have a fit ....

Don’t accept the premise of the question (about what you have bought) but be ready with a complete change of subject next time she rings. I.e. ;

SiL ; What have you bought this week?

You; Ooh, I meant to ask last time, how is so and so after their operation/ holiday/wedding/house move/ birthday party?

Do it every time she rings and asks. Sidestepping means you don’t have to answer back and risk offending.

Alima is right.....Cheeky mare! Tell her you will spend your money on what you like....or question her in the same way...and see if she likes it!

When she asks just say 'no, have you?' Then ask her the same questions she usually asks you. She may start to realise how offensive it is

Lol...what a cheeky so and so.
It's an odd thing to ask.

Like others .... My instant response would be to ask why she needs to know

Quick check to confirm that both my sister's had read this post- they had. We all ask each other what's new, how much? Always have and I expect we always will. No offence ever taken. Maybe that's the difference between sisters and SiLs.

Nothing worth mentioning, seems a good retort to me.

Is this a new thing, or has your sister-in-law always done this?

I would have told mine to go chase herself years ago, if she had asked questions like this, which neither my SILs have ever done. I had quite enough of it from my mother, who I felt obliged to answer.

My mum had the perfect answer to questions from as she put it nosey people “ if it was any of your business I’d tell “ and obviously it isn’t any of her business

Can't see the problem! If you don't want people to know, don't tell them! Simples! You can always answer with "No! Cant afford it!"

I have a close relative like this OP, she came from terrible childhood poverty but is very wealthy now. However, she is always talking about money and how much x,y or z person has got. She isn’t tight with money herself but clearly that fear of being poor again will never leave her.

This is about your SiL and her own insecurities, I’d either just say you haven’t bought anything or answer the question by asking what she’s bought. Maybe she just wants to show off!