Twin Earning €32,500 Resents His Microsoft Brother Making €70K After He Requests €13 Back For Drinks From Their Hotel Room

Meet a set of identical twins, both bright and talented but on very different paths. One is an ecologist in Ireland, making €32,500 a year. The other is a software engineer at Microsoft in Dublin, raking in around €70,000 annually. The disparity in their earnings is striking, and it’s fueled a simmering resentment in the twin who earns less.

While the lower-earning twin understands that ecology isn’t a high-paying field, his resentment isn’t just about money. It’s about how his brother handles finances despite being in a comfortable position. The high-earning brother seems to live in a constant state of financial anxiety, often complaining in their family group chat about how expensive everything is. He comes off as tightfisted, even while saving large sums of money.

One particular incident that stands out was during a visit to the high-earner’s city. Their mother and the lower-earning twin booked a hotel room just a short walk from his apartment, figuring he could drop by for a quick visit. Instead, he showed up with a backpack, taking advantage of the spare bed for free. That evening, he graciously bought a round of drinks at the hotel bar, totaling €13. A few days later, however, he had the audacity to ask both his mom and brother to reimburse him for those drinks.

The weekend only got more eye-rolling from there. The lower-earning twin borrowed their mom’s car for a scenic drive while she went shopping. He took the initiative to fill the tank afterward, shelling out €60 for petrol. Yet, his brother didn’t even think to offer to chip in. It seemed like generosity was a one-way street in their relationship.

On another visit to Galway, they attended a market featuring a ferris wheel. When it came time to buy tickets, the lower-earning twin asked his brother to cover the cost, promising to send him the money back immediately. Instead of a simple ‘sure,’ he was publicly berated for always expecting his brother to pay for things. The lower-earning twin couldn’t help but feel humiliated, especially since he had treated his brother to lifts in the past without any offer of petrol money in return. If his brother ever bought him a coffee, a request for money back would come through on Revolut shortly after.

The situation reached a new level of frustration when the high-earner mentioned that his partner was building a house. He wouldn’t even be responsible for rent, only utilities, while benefiting from a high salary and working remotely. In stark contrast, the lower-earning twin was paying over €800 a month for rent and bills, along with hefty medical expenses, all living on that €32,500 salary. No wonder he felt resentful!

Despite several attempts to voice these feelings to his brother, conversations often devolved into arguments, often with their mother siding with the high-earner. This has really driven a wedge between the two of them. It’s become increasingly difficult for the lower-earning twin to ignore how his brother’s attitude around money makes him feel. The irritation has built up to the point where he finds himself increasingly resentful.

Now, he’s left wondering whether it’s unreasonable to feel this way about his brother’s behavior. Is he the bad guy for feeling this resentment over their financial dynamics?