Acts of Kindness
Man finds out his big brother has secretly been keeping his rent money for years
I can't even imagine how I'd react if this happened to me!
Laura Shallcross
09.01.20

Saving up for a down payment for a home is hard work. For some people, the idea of stashing away a considerable bulk sum of money is infeasible. For others, the goal is there in their minds, but other financial commitments prevent them from being able to reach it.

One Missouri young man, Alex Burkemper, graduated from college with the hopes of following the shining example that his older brother, Todd, had set.

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Todd was an app designer and senior software developer, and was in a fortunate financial position to be able to comfortably pay off his mortgage, car, and student loans.

Todd has an incredibly kind heart, so when Alex completed his college course, Todd asked if he’d like to rent a room in his house for a while. Little did Alex know that Todd was actually putting his rent payments in a special place for the future…

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Unsplash

In a video, filmed by the brothers’ mom, Barbra, and shared to YouTube, Todd can be seen holding his phone out to Alex while the pair are in their kitchen, and saying, “That’s yours.”

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YouTube

His phone shows a screenshot of the savings balance on his phone. The account on the screen is the one that Todd had been funneling Alex’s “rent payments” into.

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YouTube

Staring bemusedly at the phone, Alex asks, “Why?” Todd goes onto explain:

“So, you know how I started making you pay rent a couple of years ago? I just saved all your money.”

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YouTube

At this point, Todd is being a little humble, so Barbra helps him out by adding,

“He didn’t just save your money. He put some money in, too.”

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YouTube

Todd admits that yes, he was putting $150 in each month on top of Alex’s payments. At his words, it seems that the news finally sinks in for Alex, and he puts his head in his hand, moved to tears.

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YouTube

Just so that his brother is certain, Todd explains that the money is for Alex, for his new house. He adds:

“I don’t want you to have to struggle like I did, so…”

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YouTube

It’s an incredibly touching moment. Todd is clearly choked up, and it’s clear that he has a lot of love for his little brother. Alex is overwhelmed with gratitude, and can only step forward and give Todd a brotherly hug.

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YouTube

Not long after the video was shared to YouTube, Alex had an exciting announcement to make: he’d bought his house! Hercules Homes, an Estate agent that happened to have a family connection with Alex, shared a post of the young man beaming outside a stylish property, holding a large symbolic key in his hands.

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Facebook

The caption read:

“πŸ‘πŸ”‘β€This transaction was EXTRA special. A huge CONGRATS to my baby cousin, Alex, on the purchase on his new home in Lake St. Louis!! What an outstanding accomplishment! Congratulations, we are SO proud of you! πŸ™Œ Thanks for trusting us with your purchase ❀”

It’s clear that Todd’s gift was one of the best surprises that Alex could have received. Todd deserves a world’s best brother award – to behave so selflessly and help his younger bro to achieve his goals is the mark of an incredible person.

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YouTube

You’ll need tissues at the ready if you plan to watch the emotional moment that Todd gives Alex his down payment money. Check it out in the video below.

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