My Parents Expected Me to Spend My Money on Them Because I Am Childless, but I Refused

I’m single, childless by choice, and financially successful. While the rest of my family isn’t struggling, they aren’t nearly as well-off—and over the years, they’ve constantly turned to me whenever they need money. I’ve paid for vacations, home renovations, debts, and countless other expenses for my parents, my sister, and her family.

I love them deeply, but lately I’ve started feeling less like family and more like their personal ATM.

Recently, my parents asked me to pay for their dream cruise. It was extremely expensive, and for once, I felt uncomfortable spending that much, so I politely refused.

My mother’s reaction shocked me. She called me furious and yelled, “Why can’t you spend this much? Can’t you give us a gift? We spent so much money on your college and education. You don’t have a husband or children—what do you even need all that money for?”

I was stunned and heartbroken by the greed in her voice. It’s not like I’ve never helped them before—I’ve paid for vacations and many other things in the past—but thousands of dollars for a luxury cruise felt excessive.

Now I’m left wondering if they see me as their daughter or just a source of money. I feel hurt, angry, and deeply conflicted. Part of me wants to cut them off completely, while another part hopes they can understand how their behavior has made me feel.