But instead of panicking or reaching for her purse, she casually ordered a dessert and then asked to speak with the restaurant manager—who, as luck would have it, happened to be one of her former students. He was now the owner of the place.

Together, they cooked up a plan. The manager personally called each of my in-laws and told them, in no uncertain terms, that they needed to return immediately to settle the bill—or the police would be notified. Mortified and caught red-handed, they rushed back to the restaurant, red-faced and flustered, and not only paid the full amount—but were slapped with a 25% “inconvenience fee” on top. After that night, something remarkable happened.

For the first time ever, my in-laws began paying their own way. No more vanishing acts. No more mysteriously forgotten wallets. Turns out, even the rich can change—if the lesson hits them squarely in the wallet.