Oops... need some advice

engr_tam · November 2010

Crap crap crap...

I was finally clearing out the bag of 'stuff' I got from my inlaws for my last birthday (goodwill time). Found a check from MIL I never cashed! It's a year later, and I'm not sure how to tell my DH about it... It's not a big check, only $30. It's my own fault. I just stash the junk in the closet until DH forgets about it and then I ship it to goodwill or the trash man (it really is stuff I cannot use and do not want - don't get me wrong, they mean well).

DH never said anything to me about MIL missing the canceled check... What do I do??? Can I shred it and say I lost it? Should cash it anyway? How do I tell DH? If I do cash it this late, MIL will likely say something to him about it. ARGH!!

TarponMonoxide · November 2010

YOu can still cash it, I think -- take it to the bank and see what happens.

EastCoastBride · November 2010

As it's been a year, I'd mention it to her first. You can just play it off like it somehow ended up in a drawer and when you were cleaning it out, you ran across it. You're so sorry, blah blah blah. What would she like you to do w/ it?

Don't cash it w/o telling her- she may have adjusted her bank account to include that money and even $30 could cause an overdraft

livinitup · November 2010

Why would everybody be so upset if you misplaced and then just found this check? I get that there is a whole back story of bad gift exchanges and maybe even some hard feelings, but it seems a bit out of proportion to a simple oversight.

I think you have to bite the bullet and admit that your ILs actually got you a useful gift and you overlooked it.

mysticl · November 2010

Try the "I put it in a safe place till I could get to the bank and forgot where that safe place was" speech. Laugh at yourself, apologize, ask her what she wants you to do.

ungraceful13 · November 2010

EastCoastBride:
As it's been a year, I'd mention it to her first. You can just play it off like it somehow ended up in a drawer and when you were cleaning it out, you ran across it. You're so sorry, blah blah blah. What would she like you to do w/ it?

Don't cash it w/o telling her- she may have adjusted her bank account to include that money and even $30 could cause an overdraft

This. It was a simple accident. And you shouldn't worry about telling DH either. Everyone goofs up.

LarissaAnn · November 2010

Just FYI, lots of banks won't cash a check that's over 3 months old.

ChavayJakov · November 2010

If it is a year old, and you have a good relationship with her (some people would get backlash from even something as simple as misplacing a birthday check), *and* you know she's not in financial stress (especially now that it is a holiday season again), give her a call and laugh about your misplacing it, thank her again and ask if it's ok to cash. If you aren't in good with your MIL, or if she could use the money more than yourself, just shred it and don't mention anything. Since she hasn't brought it up in the last year, you certainly don't have to either.

gwynnetx · November 2010

i would admit to misplacing it and ask her what she's wants you to do with it.

Oops... need some advice

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