So this has happened to me a few times in my life and although it’s mildly disappointing I just think it’s weird more than anything.
An older family member offers to pay for something you’re struggling to afford but then never stumps up the cash.
So for example when DH and I bought our first house together my DM was adamant we needed curtains downstairs, but the windows are a strange size and no one can see in from the street, so we were putting off buying them because there were other things we needed to buy first. DM rings me up one day and says ‘if you buy some curtains I’ll send you the money’, so I go out and buy them, ring her up and tell her how much they cost and she says ‘oh, good I’m glad you finally got them’ and changes the subject.
Another time MIL insists DH must have some new trainers for the gym, he’s not bothered and wants to keep using his old ones which are fine, she says ‘look, just buy some and I’ll give you the money’ so he does and next time he sees her he says ‘I bought those trainers, they were £40’ and she says ‘ok, here’s £10 towards them’.
There’s a few more examples I can think of but I just find it annoying because it’s always things we wouldn’t have bought otherwise, do other people’s parents do this?