Dear Ann Landers,
Every time we go to visit my mother-in-law's house she complains about how much groceries for my family of 6 costs. She rations out the food and I get yelled it if I eat too much. I am afraid to eat anything in her house and am often hungry. The frustrating part is she is really not struggling for money. They recently retired, but they also just bought an expensive second home by the ocean, travel all over the world, buy expensive things, gets way more retirement money every month than we earn, and they also inherited a lot of money. We are a family that struggles every month to put food on our table. It frustrates me when she complains, and I think it is rude. We recently started bringing food with us, yet she still complains about money. I feel like I am going to lose it. How do I handle this tactfully and at the same time get her to stop complaining? - Money matters

Dear Money,
Somehow this letter does not ring true on my radar. Granted, some people are squirrelly about money, but the sources of income you say these people have cover all the categories of funds a person can have except perhaps for winning the lottery. I will respond to the question you ask, however, assuming it may be legit.

Your mother-in-law's approach to food, not to mention complaining, is inhospitable, rude, and mean-spirited. You do not mention what your husband, their son, has to say about her history of behavior. I would think that would be a central factor in this discussion. Was she always like this? What does he think of the way she behaves? Was she hostile to his marrying you? If I were in your position, I would end the visits. To be hungry and insulted can be no one's idea of a good time.
- Margo