I'm so annoyed by Mother in Law's bragging over her future hybrid car. How to get her to stop?

Question

Ok so my hubby and I don't drive a new car, it's almost ten years old. We made a deal to loan money off her boyfriend and pay him back so we can get a second car. Her boyfriend decided he's going to help her buy her a Toyota Prius because she drives like a mad woman. She is going to have to pay monthly payments which are going to be at least $300 a month ontop of at least $200 a month in gasoline. I am getting so annoyed hearing her say how she put down a deposit and she's going to get her Prius soon. She already had her other car reposessed and my husband had to cover for her and go retrieve the vehicle that she HID at her boyfriend's house. She's a criminal, I know.

Anyways, I don't think hybrid cars are a great deal for someone who is always complaining about being broke, who had a car repoed not even 1 year ago, and who cannot afford her utility bills to begin with. It's just going to add an extra few hundred to her expenses, even if she saves money on gas, she'll still have a car payment.

So everytime we see her, she is in lala land about this car she has on hold for when it comes in. What can I say to get her to stop? It's getting rediculous, and no, I'm not jealous. I'm just ticked that this woman needs two cars and she's a single mother (and she has to brag to someone less fortunate about it!)

Answer 1

this is a sure way to get her to shut up- tell her to stand in front of her car and you take the key and than use your imagination.

my mother in law is the queen of ***** and someday i wish i permanently shut her up

Answer 2

Count your lucky stars that this small matter is the only problem you have with your MIL. This is petty. She is a grown woman and if she has the means (by using other people) to get a Prius then so be it. Past behavior shows that she won't have it for long anyway.  

Answer 3

Tell her straight up to stop talking about it, and if she still speaks of it after that, ignore her.

Answer 4

Ignore her talk about the car, start talking about something else as soon as she finishes talking.

Answer 5

spend your time elsewhere figuring out how to get along without borrowing money from her boyfriend. ( that connects you more to her) You want to be independent of her ( and anyone else) so you can be free. You are very right about her not being able to afford the prius .

Answer 6

Ask if she's aware that the radiation given off by all those batteries causes cancer!

Answer 7

None of this has anything to do with you. Ignore her.  

Answer 8

You can't change another person, only your approach and reactions.

Just let her have her moment and allow her to make her own choices. If she goes into debt or is unable to manage her life, that is HER problem, not yours.

This woman I knew, who was talking about getting a Yellow Mustang for years. She talked about it and it was her dream. Did she need another car, no. But she worked for this car.

Finally when she was in her 60's she got this car! She was so happy and drove it when it was nice out.

Less than a year later she died from complications from heart surgery... She was able to get her dream car in her lifetime.

Answer 9

Stop worrying about such trivial things, there may be many many more issues to come so pick and choose your battles and don't stress YOURSELF out over nothing.  If you want to be happy in your life and have a good marriage try to get along with everyone in your family.

ETA: why don't you watch the movie "Hush" with Gwyneth Paltrow, you'll LOVE your MIL after that.