18-year-old holds her ground when parents expect her to hand over her old $1,000 laptop to 7-year-old half sister for free: ‘Why should I be the one expected to absorb that cost?’ – FAIL Blog

One thing is giving away something because you want to, and another is being told that something you bought suddenly belongs to a family member who wants it. That difference matters when it comes to a $1000 laptop you paid for yourself. 

This 18-year-old bought the laptop using her savings when she was around thirteen. She didn’t receive it as a gift. She worked out a way to pay for it herself, then took care of it for years. Now that she is starting college, she’s getting a new computer as a graduation gift. Suddenly, her parents are seeing her old laptop with new eyes. They want to give the laptop to her 7-year-old half-sister. 

Getting a new laptop doesn’t erase the fact that the old computer still belongs to her. The parents think of this as basic math: we are buying the new college laptop, so that should count as payment for the old one. But those are separate things. A graduation gift is a graduation gift. An old laptop is an object that this teenager bought herself in the past. And as long as I’m concerned, a graduation gift is not the same as buying someone’s used property from them. 

Besides, a 7-year-old is not exactly ready for the responsibility that comes with owning a laptop. And she already has an iPad, which has already brought problems. So, handing over another expensive device might be a bad idea. 

The most important thing is that being related doesn’t allow you to claim someone’s belongings for free. If the parents want the younger child to have a laptop, that’s fine; they can buy one. But they shouldn’t pressure the older daughter into absorbing the cost because she happens to own something useful.