Money: can’t live without it, but it sure causes drama. Some say it brings out the worst in people, others believe it depends on how you use it. These stories won’t give you a clear answer, but they’ll make you think about how money shapes lives—for better or worse.

A tiler once helped a classmate for free, expecting at least some tea or kindness. Instead, he got lukewarm tea and a cold attitude.A Norwegian man noticed trampolines everywhere in Texas, bought a few to resell back home, and ended up a millionaire.After a breakup, one woman’s ex tried to underpay her for their shared car—only for her to later find the money he’d hidden.

A friend married rich, divorced, and her ex not only demanded his share but even took the faucets from the apartment.Another person grew up in foster care, later earned well, and found financial stability brought peace, not problems.A family drove six hours to visit relatives who didn’t even offer tea, while others hoarded food despite guests.

Some families let jealousy fester over money. One woman’s siblings stopped visiting after she bought a house.wo law school friends’ fortunes flipped: one landed a high-paying job, then lost it; the other moved to the capital and thrived—ending their friendship.A neighbor mocked a woman’s new door, then installed a fancier one out of spite.A man inherited $400K, blew it on luxuries, and ended up broke. Others found sudden wealth attracted opportunists.One lottery winner used $300K to build a better life for her child but was overwhelmed by people asking for handouts.

A sister went from couch-hopping to inheriting a fortune, creating a stable, happy home for foster kids.Another sibling expected constant gifts simply because her sister was child-free.One woman’s boyfriend only proposed after she inherited property, making her question his motives.And some families used inheritance wisely, securing their children’s education and their own retirement.