My brother asked me to pay for my Mum's Mother's Day lunch - even though I was more than 1,000 miles away
A woman has revealed her shock after being sent a bill for a family lunch - that she didn't attend.
Melissa Noble, an Australian content writer, could not join her family for a Mothers' Day lunch - which fell on May 11 in Australia - because she lives more than 1,000 miles away.
But the mother-of-three was sent a bill for $70AUD (£33) after the lunch.
Melissa, who has two sisters in addition to her brother, said: 'Each time there's a birthday or a special occasion like Mother's Day or Father's Day, I'm sent a bill for that individual's meal out.
'Even if I'm not there.'
Writing on Australian parenting website Kidspot, Melissa explained that the family of six have always prioritised 'making each other feel special' with 'week-long' birthday celebrations and 'presents and outings galore.'
She said: 'It's something that I've always loved about us – the fact that we prioritise making each other feel special.
'But… the way we're going about recently is getting a little pricey and unsustainable.'
Given that she comes from such a large family, the birthdays and special occasions throughout the year obviously add up, equating to a major expense.
Meanwhile, Melissa has a family of five to support at home.
While she was already concerned about the growing financial burden, the final straw was her brother's presumptuous message after the Mother's Day lunch she could not attend.
Melissa lives in Victoria in southeastern Australia while the lunch took place in Queensland in northeastern Australia - almost 2,000km away.
She explained that her brother sent a message with his bank details, adding: 'So, ahh, mum's Mother's Day lunch came to $70'.
Shocked by the figure quoted, the content writer replied: 'Did you say $70? What did she eat? Lobster?'
It turned out that her mother hadn't indulged in lobster but had enjoyed a three course meal.
Melissa was quick to insist that she's not a 'scrooge' and is always happy to contribute to gifts for her family members' birthdays.
She also added that she never charges her brother and sisters when her parents are in Victoria when there's a special occasion to celebrate.
Yet, with three young children of her own and squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis, she has grown sceptical about her siblings' expectation that she should pay 'for someone's lavish lunch or dinner out' when she's not even present.
Unsure, however, if she was being unreasonable, she turned to friends to ask their opinions.
One replied: 'Are you kidding? I would be so pissed off if someone invoiced me for a lunch or dinner that I wasn't even present at.'
Reassured by her friend's response, Melissa volunteered a potential solution to the pricey problem.
Her plan, she said, is to address it with her family and make clear that, while she's happy to contribute towards a gift, she's 'no longer footing the bill for fancy three-course meals out multiple times a year.'
Placing a positive spin on it, she said that whoever is lucky enough to be able to attend a celebratory family lunch or dinner should be the one to pay.
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