 (Nick Galifianakis for The Post) | Adapted from an online discussion. Dear Carolyn: A few months ago, my extended family — mother, stepfather, stepbrother, stepsister and her family — decided we should all take a family vacation to a popular resort location. I thought it sounded like a fun idea — I don't know my stepfamily well since my mother just got married to their father a year ago, but they're very nice and I'd like to get to know them better. I did make it clear during early planning that my family would not be able to afford the hotel they picked, but that shouldn't stop the others since we're all going to be at the beach during the day anyway and we'd be staying a three-minute walk away. My stepsister and parents have decided everyone should stay at the more expensive hotel because it keeps the family in one place. When I reminded them of our budget, my stepsister offered to pay the difference. This is no small offer — almost $2,000 — considering that $2,200, excluding airfare, is about what we're planning on paying for the entire week. I know they're well off, but we couldn't possibly accept that big a gift from someone we barely know. My mother is hounding me to let my stepsister do this and said I was ruining everyone's vacation and should be ashamed of myself. My husband is wavering, but I think it's totally unnecessary and I don't want to spend my vacation feeling like a mooch. I feel strongly about this, but I seem to be the only one. What am I not seeing? Who is being unreasonable here? — On a Budget | 
