I discovered money was slowly vanishing from our family’s savings – I was taken aback when I found out who was behind it. Judy’s family has a tradition of setting aside funds in a “family stash jar” for surprise expenses or enjoyable trips. However, she soon realized that one family member was helping themselves to the money through sneaky means. Judy needed to figure out who it was and understand the reason behind such extreme dishonesty.
I believe this is common in many families. Yet, honesty is the foundation of ours. I have always trusted my husband Ethan, my 24-year-old son Josh, and my 17-year-old daughter Emma completely. So, it felt like a punch in the stomach when money started to disappear from our family jar. We used to keep a communal fund for emergencies or surprises, but lately, significant sums had gone missing.
When I first noticed the jar looked different from the last time I added money, I thought to myself, “Am I losing my mind?” out loud. At first, I suspected a simple miscalculation. But the missing amounts kept growing—$50 here, $100 there, and then $300 in one go. “Who could be helping themselves?” I asked, but the kitchen was empty. A sense of doubt and distrust started to creep in, which I despised. I disliked feeling this way about my family. During a chat with my best friend Misha over cheesecake and wine, she asked, “Are you sure it’s someone in the house?”
“I think so,” I muttered. “The gardener comes, but he only works outside. We don’t have anyone assisting us. It’s unlikely he’s seen the inside of the house.”
“Then it must be someone in the family,” Misha agreed. “You should install a hidden camera near the jar.” That’s exactly what I did. I placed a discreet camera in the living room, where we stored the money, though it was an uncomfortable decision.
Two days after setting up the camera, I found another $300 missing. I said, “Honestly, Misha,” and my jaw dropped. It was just gone. Disappeared. However, I noticed some of Emma’s hairpins by the jar — I hoped my daughter wasn’t stealing and that it was just a coincidence.
On the phone, she asked, “Did you set up the camera like we discussed?” I replied, “Yes, I’m waiting for my laptop to load so I can check the footage.” When the video finally played, I was stunned. Thankfully, it wasn’t any of my children.
Not even Ethan. It was Lily, Josh’s wife, secretly entering the living room, taking the money, and placing a few of Emma’s hairpins beside the jar. I gasped loudly at the sight on my screen.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure I liked Lily initially. After just a short while of dating, Josh insisted she was the love of his life. He even asked for my grandmother’s ring to propose to her, and he told me, “I’ll marry her, Mom.” I hesitated, not wanting to give up the ring so soon, but also hesitant about their rapid engagement. “It’s so soon,” I said. Yet, Josh replied confidently, “It’s what I want, and Lily feels the same.”
In the end, we decided it was better to accept their union with a small backyard wedding, even if we still had doubts. That evening, I knew I had to talk to Ethan.
I approached him as he watched TV and said, “Ethan, I need to tell you something.” He turned and asked, “What’s wrong?” I told him, “I’ve identified who’s been taking the money. I have proof if you want to see.”
“Who?” he asked, trying to figure out which of our children could be responsible. I explained, “Lily.” His expression changed sharply. “Lily?” he exclaimed. “How could she?”
“I don’t understand why she did it,” I said. “For now, I’ve hidden the jar in my closet and I won’t say more. I don’t want to spoil her birthday—it was all arranged by Josh.” Ethan nodded. “Okay, but we can’t let her get away with it,” he said.
The following days were tense. It hurt to see Lily, questioning whether I still trusted her. We weren’t fully against her marriage to Josh, but we were unsure. At dinner, she chatted and joked with us as if she hadn’t been stealing. Still, I helped my son plan Lily’s birthday celebration, keeping the real story to myself.
One day, I asked Josh, “Do you think Emma could somehow be involved?” as we washed dishes. He shook his head firmly. “No way, Mom. She